Head Lice Coordinator

Summary:
The Head Lice Coordinator assists the school nurse and administration to coordinate three annual head lice checks at Neil Cummins School. The job entails enlisting two volunteers from each classroom to check the heads of every child in every class. The Head Lice Coordinator’s responsibilities also include re-stocking supplies for classroom envelopes used in the checks and placing notices in the Pink section to inform parents of lice checks.  Occasionally, the Head Lice Coordinator acts as a liaison between parents and school nurse to answer parents’ questions.

Calendar of Responsibilities:
Usually three checks of the children are conducted each school year. The initial head lice check is conducted in the fall right after school starts; the second occurs after the winter break; and the third check occurs in the spring after spring break. Head lice checks are also scheduled on an as needed basis.

• Coordinate with school principal and school nurse dates for head lice checks. Head lice checks are done on Fridays so that parents have time to get their children lice/nit free over a weekend.  The school nurse should be available throughout the day on the Friday of a check, as well as on the following Monday to recheck and re-admit students who have undergone lice treatment.  The nurse should also schedule a mandatory training session for all new lice checkers on the morning of a check.
• Place a notice in the Pink page alerting parents and volunteers of the upcoming head lice check. This notice should be included in the School News section of the Pink page. Indicate the date and time of the checks, time of head lice in-services and your contact information. See attachments for examples of prior notices submitted to the pink section. Copies of the educational material can be sent home with backpack mail  (or as an electronic flyer) as well. There are two different educational handouts in the file cabinet that can be sent home to educate parents.
• Attend the job fair at the beginning of the school year with sign-up sheets for each classroom (see attachments). Be available to answer questions from prospective volunteers. Being at the fair is an excellent way to get volunteers before they are all booked up.
• Attend the initial headroom parent meeting held in September to help headroom parents understand the program and enlist their help to recruit volunteers.
• Stock classroom packets: Classroom packets are kept in the nurse's office in a file box on top of the file cabinet. Additional forms and head lice supplies (lice combs) are kept inside the top file cabinet drawer. The coordinator should replenish forms and supplies as needed including:
• Class list: Coordinate with school secretary to get a classroom list for each class.
• Pics: For checking children's heads. Bundle in lots of 20 (covers 10 children, 2 pics/child). Class numbers will vary from class to class. Number of pics in each envelope will vary depending on the class size. Grades K-3 usually have up to 20 students. The 4th-5th classes can have more students by law, but usually that number never exceeds more than 25. It is best to check the class lists for appropriate numbers. Usually 2 bundles per class are enough pics for K-3. Three bundles per class are enough for 4th-5th. These wood skewers may be purchased at Cost Plus, Longs Drugs, or Mollie Stone’s. Additional skewers not used in the packets are kept in a drawer under the bed in the nurse's office.
• Lice identification card: Additional cards may be purchased from the National Pediculosis Society. Their web site is www.headlice.org. See sample card. These cards are use to educate parents and students as to what lice and nits look like.
• Forms: There are two forms that volunteers that work in the classroom need to use. One form, (blue) is for the volunteers to list any children identified with head lice/nits and this form is given to the school nurse when the child in question is brought to the nurse for secondary screening. Once the child’s lice/nits have been confirmed by the nurse, the second form, "Notice to Parents" (found in the file cabinet) are dated and sent home with every child in the infected child's class. See sample forms attached. The nurse should give the parents copies of the "Treatment Release" form and the educational material. The treatment release form is a nice check list for parents to bring back on the following Monday indicating all the steps they must go through to eliminate the head lice and break the cycle of infestation.

Works with:

• Principal: To coordinate dates for school wide checks. Screen any letters or information (new) sent out to parents or teachers. The principal also helps screens children who are thought to have head lice when additional help is needed.
• School Nurse: To coordinate dates for school wide checks.  The school nurse is present on Fridays for checks and should also schedule time on Monday morning to re-check those children sent home with lice/nits on the previous Friday. The nurse also notifies parents that their child has lice/nits and instructs them on how to get rid of the head lice and break the cycle of infestation.
• Office secretary: Makes class lists.

Helpful Tools & Tips:

• Computer drafting messages and communication
• E-mail list of head room parents
• Copy machine to duplicate forms for head lice room packets and educational material.

• Questions? Email us at headlice@nc-pta.org