August 21 is National Fentanyl Prevention & Awareness Day

It is a day to raise public awareness of the dangers of fentanyl and to prevent overdose deaths. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl contribute to nearly 70% of overdose deaths. Over the last few years, nonfatal and fatal overdoses involving fentanyl have continued to rise. Counterfeit pills, often containing illegally made fentanyl, are increasingly involved in overdose deaths. Illegal drugs and counterfeit pills can contain deadly levels of fentanyl without a person's knowledge, increasing the risk of overdose or death. Fentanyl is commonly mixed with drugs like heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine and can be made into pills that resemble other prescription opioids.

Parents, talk to your kids about the risks of counterfeit pills. These fake pills can look like the real thing but may contain deadly amounts of illegally made fentanyl. Tragically, nearly 25% overdose deaths among adolescents in the U.S. involve counterfeit pills. This National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day, empower yourself and your kids with the info you need to stay safe: https://www.cdc.gov/stop-overdose/caring/fentanyl-facts.html

Harm Reduction Starts with Prevention

Determining if your child is experimenting with substances can be quite challenging. The signs of drug use in teenagers often resemble typical behavior seen in young adults, sometimes overlapping with symptoms of mental health issues like depression or anxiety.

Learn ways to spot signs of drug/alcohol use and key indicator signs with a helpful PDF document created by Facing Fentayl, a nonprofit organization bringing awareness to the dangers of fentanyl.

Polk County Public Schools provides health care services through registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and clinic assistants. Our registered nurses oversee health services at multiple school locations.

Who are PCPS nurses and what services do they provide?

Polk County Public Schools nurses are registered nurses licensed by the Florida Board of Nursing. They are experienced in pediatric, public and mental health nursing and have strong health promotion, assessment and referral skills. As specialized nursing professionals, they advocate for children’s health and safety within the educational setting. PCPS nurses are committed to ensuring students are healthy, in school, and ready to learn.

PCPS nurses provide the following:

  • Coordinated delivery of health-related services to students
  • Support that contributes to students’ educational success and the reduction of health-related barriers to learning
  • Health-related education for students and staff either on an individual basis or in group settings
  • Consultation with and training of clinic assistants and other school personnel regarding health issues, procedures, and medication administration
  • Scoliosis screenings, referrals, and follow up for sixth-grade students
  • Reviews of immunization and health records for compliance
  • Collaboration with school social workers to help students and their families access community resources
  • Home visits as needed to assist families with health-related concerns
  • Participation in the development of the school district’s health policies and guidelines

What is the Hearing Screening Team and what does it do?

At Polk County Public Schools, we have a dedicated Hearing Screening Team that performs annual hearing screenings for all students in kindergarten, first, third, and sixth grades, as well as any other elementary students new to the state of Florida. The results of these screenings are kept in the students’ health records at their school.

Pure tone audiometric screenings are done at each school. Students who exhibit difficulty with the screening will be rescreened two to four weeks after the initial screening. At that time, if hearing difficulty is evident, a tympanometric screening will be done.

A district audiologist will then review the screening results of the students who appear to have hearing difficulties. Referrals will be made for medical and/or audiological follow-ups based on the screening results. The parents of the students who need follow-ups will be notified of the results by mail. The school district audiologist can answer questions about the screening results and recommendations made.

Need Help?

Senior Manager Audrey Kelley Fritz
Phone: (863) 291-5355
Office Hours: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

[email protected]
Hazel Health

PCPS is partnering with Hazel Health, a telehealth provider for K-12 schools, to expand mental and physical health services for students.

With parental authorization, students can immediately speak with a licensed medical professional or mental health clinician right from home or in school. During Hazel’s virtual visits, students can receive treatment for common ailments such as stomach aches and headaches, as well as mental health counseling for anxiety, depression and other issues.

Hazel services are provided at no charge for all students at this time.

Learn More About Hazel Health Services