School Health Information & Nurse Education (SHINE)
Montana Pediatrics’ new School Health Information and Nurse Education program was born out of the need for expanded support in caring for the health needs of students within the school setting.
We know that in some settings, a school nurse may be a student’s most available form of healthcare, yet it is estimated that in 26 of Montana’s 56 counties don’t have a single nurse in any school1. Even if a school has a nurse, it’s common to split their time with other schools during the week, often leaving student health up to other staff members like administrators, office support, teachers, and more.SHINE offers school health personnel of all backgrounds the opportunity to learn more about caring for varying conditions and diagnoses common among Montana students. This program started in 2023 as DiSH-MT®, which focused on supporting students with Type 1 Diabetes, however after learning more from school health personnel we’ve built SHINE to focus on supporting students with anxiety, asthma, complex medical needs, and more.The SHINE program is right for you if you:
- Work in a school setting in Montana
- Are a nurse, administrator, teacher, or other support staff member who may be responsible for the health needs of students during the school day
- Are a coach or volunteer who may be responsible for student health during after-school activities like sports or clubs
SHINE typically meets on the second Thursday of each month from 3:00-4:00pm. Sessions are hosted on Zoom and feature a 20-30 minute presentation by a topic expert followed by a 30-minute open discussion time where participants can ask questions, share experiences, or seek guidance from the group about any student health needs they may have. We are committed to fostering a community of school health personnel from all corners of Montana that is supportive of one another and leverages the varying strengths each individual brings.
2024/2025 SHINE Sessions
October 10, 2024
Supporting Students with Type 1 Diabetes
Presented by Anna Barash, MSN, RN, CDCES – Research Nurse and Diabetes Educator at the Benaroya Research Institute
Watch RecordingNovember 14, 2024, 3:00-4:00 PM
Supporting Student Mental Health in the School Setting
Presented by Crystal Amundson MS, LCPC, RPT-S and Heidi Morris, LCSW
Watch RecordingDecember 12, 2024, 3:00-4:00 PM
Increasing Support for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) Within the School Setting
Presented by Jennifer Banna, Center Coordinator for Montana Family to Family
Watch RecordingStay informed of SHINE updates
1 Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. “School Nurse.” DPHHS, https://dphhs.mt.gov/schoolhealth/schoolnurse/SchoolNurse.
