April 2023

Vol. 2, Issue 4 

Hello, school nurse friends! You are in the home stretch now with roughly one month to go before summer break is here! We look forward to seeing some of you during our virtual School Nurse Workshops and at MEGA this summer. We appreciate you and all of your hard work and dedication this school year. Thank you for helping make your school a happy, healthy place where students can learn, grow, and thrive.

The Monthly Spotlight

Autism Acceptance Month

Autism Acceptance Month is a time for us to raise awareness to promote autism acceptance, celebrate each individual's unique differences, and encourage inclusivity and connectedness for people with autism.1 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder caused by differences in the brain.2 Though some people with ASD have a known difference, other causes remain unknown. For more information, please join us in listening to Dr. Jennifer Sheehy-Knight's presentation on Caring for the Student with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As said by Dr. Temple Grandin, "The world needs all kinds of minds."


  1. CDC - Autism Acceptance Month Toolkit
  2. CDC - Autism Facts

Child Abuse Prevention


Child abuse is a serious public health problem throughout the United States. According to the CDC, at least 1 in 7 children in the United States experienced child abuse or neglect within the past year; however, this is likely an underestimate due to many cases being unreported.1 In 2015, there were over 21,000 reports made to Alabama's Department of Human Resources (DHR) involving more than 30,000 children.2 The health consequences surrounding abused children are substantial. Child abuse and neglect are preventable, and resources are available. Children's of Alabama's CHIPS Center is devoted to promoting health and healing for those affected by suspected child abuse and neglect.3 For more information on services available at the CHIPS Center, visit the CHIPS Center website.


  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  2. University of Alabama at Birmingham - Department of Pediatrics
  3. Children's of Alabama - CHIPS Center

Distracted Driving Awareness


Because April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, we wanted to take a moment to shine a light on one of the fastest growing safety issues on our roadways today. Distracted driving is any activity that can take a driver’s attention away from their primary task – driving.1 According to Drive Safe Alabama statistics, a texting driver is 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash than a non-texting driver.1 Reckless and distracted driving is 100% preventable, so let’s do our part to make Alabama's roadways safer for everyone.


  1. Alabama Department of Transportation - Drive Safe Alabama

Did you know...

Visit our website for more info

If you have any questions concerning school nurse workshops or any other school nurse resources available at Children's of Alabama, please reach out to our School Nurse Liaison, Ginger Parsons, via telephone at (205) 638-6287 or email at ginger.parsons@childrensal.org

Need help educating your students and parents?

Check out KidsHealth


  • Printable resources with advice on children's health, behavior, and growth from before birth through the teenage years
  • Information on a variety of topics including how the body works, homework help, and more
  • Approved by doctors, and has separate sections written specifically for parents, teens, and kids

If you have any suggestions on future content you would like to see featured in our newsletter, please reach out to us via email at healthedu.safety@childrensal.org.

Inside Pediatrics 


Inside Pediatrics is a free monthly podcast series featuring specialists at Children’s of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Episodes cover topics related to child health and wellness, research and treatment, and frequently complement articles appearing in Inside Pediatrics magazine.

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