Pediatric Health Conditions in Schools A Clinician's Guide for Working with Children, Families, and Educators

As the rates of chronic health conditions in childhood increase, school-based professionals regularly encounter children with chronic health conditions in the school setting. Students with chronic health conditions often require accommodations, assessment, intervention, and close collaboration with medical providers and families. However, most school-based clinicians (school psychologists, counselors, social workers) responsible for addressing the special needs of these children have no prior experience and have never taken coursework related to common pediatric conditions. Pediatric Health Conditions in Schools is a practical guide for school-based clinicians working with children with chronic health issues.

Section I provides a broad overview of school-related issues for working with children with long-term health problems. This includes a review of common medical conditions and terminology and cross-cutting issues related to social, emotional, and academic functioning, as well as the role of the school-based professional in collaborating across systems of care. This section also reviews legal and policy issues, as well as alternative educational settings for students with chronic health needs. Section II focuses on prevention, assessment, intervention, and consultations strategies for both individual students and entire school systems. Finally, Section III includes chapters for common groups of medical conditions. Each chapter provides an overview of the condition(s), common school-related concerns, risk and protective factors and cultural considerations, and includes practical strategies, resources, and handouts for the school-based professional. Case examples are used throughout the book to illustrate key concepts and implications for the school setting.

Allison Dempsey, PhD, is a licensed psychologist whose work focuses on children and families with complex and costly medical needs in the fetal, neonatal, and early childhood periods. She is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Director of Behavioral Health Programs in the Colorado Fetal Care Center and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital Colorado. She has extensive experience working with children who have chronic health conditions from early childhood to young adulthood.