There are now even more reasons to make the New York State Center for School Health (NYSCSH) a tier-one resource if you are concerned with providing a safe, healthy learning environment for students. Long known as a trusted source of information and professional development for school health nurses, health educators, medical directors and school administrators, the NYSCSH has recently added several new features to help users improve their practice.

Perhaps the most exciting development is the introduction of a new Learning Management System (LMS). Professionals accessing NYSCSH’s comprehensive catalogue of training resources and webinars will now be able to create free online accounts where they can store all of their associated learning in one place. They can build a library of courses taken for quick review, plus save links to resources and their own printable pre- and post-test results. All new training content on the NYSCSH site is mobile-ready for easy, on-the-go access. 

NYSCSH also offers webinars with Continuing Teacher Leader Education (CTLE) credit at no charge. They include the NYS Department of Health approved training on Opioid Overdose Prevention and Epinephrine Auto-Injectors in Schools which were created specifically for NYS school staff. The newest webinars and presentations released by the Center include “Creating LGBT Inclusive Schools” and “E-Cigarettes and Vaping.” Their recently improved webinar platform allows users to participate in interactive activities within the webinars, and offers a full user experience with the chance to review learning in real time. After passing a post “knowledge check,” users can obtain their CTLE code and print their certificate immediately, as well as archive the document in their LMS account.

“The LMS allows our users to measure their own learning growth over time,” said NYSCSH Director Linda Khalil. “It also allows us as content creators to measure our training success, so we can constantly increase the quality and effectiveness of our offerings.”

“We’ve recognized that our audience demographic is changing,” she said. “Health professionals have become more active on social media. As the field becomes ever more challenging and fast-moving, there is a greater need for networking, relevance, interactivity and just-in-time learning. We are addressing those needs with multiple solutions, through a variety of communications channels that our audience can access when and how they prefer.”

To meet these changing needs, NYSCH has recently initiated a new Facebook page, @NYSCSH, with Group pages for School Nurses, School Health Education Teachers and School Medical Directors. The pages provide opportunities for professionals to connect directly, share information and support one another. 

NYSCH is part of the Department of Exceptional Children at Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES. If you are not yet familiar with NYSCSH, now is a great time to check out their website at www.schoolhealthny.com and share the information with your own health team.