Page 24 - Atlanta Public Schools Student Handbook

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quality, individualized support for students. Services provided by school nurses require a referral and parental/guardian consent for individualized screenings (e.g. vision, hearing, dental). Referrals of individuals with health problems or suspected health problems are accepted from parents/guardians, school personnel, students, and health care providers in the community and may be submitted to the school-based health services professional or central health office personnel. For additional information, contact Comprehensive Health Services Director, Dr. Valencia Hildreth, 601 Dr. Thomas Cole Jr Way, SW. Atlanta, Georgia 30314, Phone 404-802-2674,
Fax 404-802-1608. Visit the Health Services website at: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/page/193
Medicine
Atlanta Public Schools is committed to the health and safety of its students. Medication and/or medical procedures required by students should be administered by a parent/legal guardian at home. Under exceptional circumstances, prescribed medication and/or medical, health-related procedures may be administered by the school principal, their designee, the school nurse, or self-administered
by the student per written physician’s orders and written parent/ guardian authorization. The parent/guardian must complete and
sign the Administration of Medication/Medical Procedure form to acknowledge that the school assumes no responsibility for medications or procedures that are self-administered. Medication classified as controlled must be administered at home and is excluded from the self- administered medication process. Medications that are classified as controlled may only be administered at school with a current physician order indicating medical need and must be administered at school by a school nurse or approved designee.
School nurses or other employees may administer auto-injectable epinephrine to students upon the occurrence of an actual or perceived anaphylactic adverse (allergic) reaction by the student, whether or not such student has a prescription for epinephrine. School nurses or other employees may administer levalbuterol sulfate to students upon the occurrence of an actual or perceived respiratory distress, whether or not such student has a prescription for levalbuterol sulfate. Naloxone may be administered as an emergency intervention for a suspected opioid overdose. Any school employee who in good faith administers or chooses not to administer these medications to a student in such circumstances shall be immune from civil liability, pursuant to Georgia statute. See Policy JGCD.
School Social Workers
School social workers serve as the link between the home, school, and the community. They work to ensure that students remain in school and graduate, reach their fullest academic potential and grow socially and emotionally. As part of the educational team, social workers support students’ thriving in schools by removing barriers that interfere with their academic performance. They are professionally trained to provide services to students who face serious challenges to school success; including, but not limited to, mental health and behavior difficulties, school adjustment issues, poverty, discrimination, abuse, addiction, bullying, divorce of parents/guardians, and loss of a loved one. School social workers are available to provide support when needed. For additional information, contact your school social worker or Social Work Services, 404-802-1927 Fax: 404-802-1205.
Mental Health Support
Atlanta Public Schools prioritizes the mental well-being of our students and offer a range of programs and services to support their emotional health.
• Talk it Out: A free confidential textIng service available 24/7. Students may call 1-844-935-0933 Talk It Out offers support for stress, anxiety or Just when you need someone to talk to. Licensed therapIsts are available anytime, and the service Is safe and non-judgmental. For more information, speak with your school social worker or check flyers around the school.
• Signs of Suicide: A proactive program designed to identify early warning signs and risk factors while connecting students to qualified school staff who can provide support to prevent suicide.
• Youth Mental Health First Aid Trainings: Training sessions for staff, students and families to equip them with the tools to offer mental health support.
Each school is partnered with mental health professionals who provide in-house, cornmunity-based therapeutic support. For students identified as needing mental health services a variety of community mental health wraparound providers are available to offer tailored support.
For more information about the mental health service providers working n collaboration with the district please vIsit: https://www.atlantapublicschools.us/Page/45966
If you’d like your child to receive mental health support at school through wraparound provider please contact your school social worker or reach out to Social Work Services at: 404-802-2247.
We are committed to ensuring all students have the mental health resources they need to succeed.
School Nutrition Information
The primary goal of the Nutrition Department is to provide all students with healthy school meals that meet their daily nutritional needs and support optimal academic performance at school for student success. For more information visit:
http://www.atlantapublicschoolsnutrition.us. Child Find
The purpose of Child Find is to identify, locate, and evaluate children and youth, birth to age 21, who are suspected of, or have a disability or developmental delay, in order to provide free and appropriate Special Education services. Child Find at APS offers comprehensive special education services to eligible students ages three through 21. Parents/ guardians of students, who suspect their child may have a disability, should contact the teacher, principal, or the RTI Point of Contact. All referrals are considered confidential, and services are provided at no cost. The parent/legal guardian retains the right to refuse services and is provided other procedural safeguards under federal and state law.
Public school services include screening in areas of suspected disabilities, such as vision, hearing, autism, motor skills, speech, language, and general development. Evaluations in the schools are provided for several areas of suspected disabilities, including learning disabilities, speech and language development, orthopedic impairments, vision or hearing problems, intellectual disabilities, emotional behavior disorders, autism spectrum disorders, health impairments, traumatic brain injuries, and significant developmental delay. For more information concerning eligibility criteria and referral procedures, contact the Department of Special Education at 404-802-1602 or visit the District’s website at www.atlantapublicschools.us
Section 504 Rights and Procedural Safeguards
Notice of Rights of Students and Parents Under Section 504:
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, commonly referred to as··section 504,” is a nondiscrimination statute enacted by the United States Congress. The purpose of Section 504 is to prohibit discrimination and to assure that disabled students have educational opportunities and benefits equal to those provided to non-disabled students.
Any student or parent or guardian (“grievant”) may request an impartial hearing due to the Atlanta Public Schools’ actions or inactions regarding a child’s identification, evaluation, or educational placement under Section 504. Requests for an impartial hearing must be in writing to the APS Section 504 Coordinator: however, a grievant’ s failure to request a hearing in writing does not alleviate APS’ obligation to provide an impartial hearing if the grievant orally requests an impartial hearing through the Section 504 Coordinator. The APS Section 504 Coordinator