School Health Personnel: Roles, Responsibilities, and Collaborative Care Model

A coordinated school health team addresses physical, mental, and social determinants of student success.

Key Roles

Role	Primary Functions
School Nurse (RN)	Direct care (illness/injury), chronic disease management (asthma, diabetes), screenings, immunizations, health plans (IHP, 504), education, liaison.
School Counselor	Academic/career/social-emotional counseling; crisis intervention; SEL programs; college/career readiness.
School Psychologist	Psychoeducational assessment (IEP/504); behavioral intervention; consultation; crisis response; mental health services.
Health Educator	Curriculum development (nutrition, sexuality, substance prevention, mental health); teacher support; community partnerships.
School Social Worker	Family/community liaison; McKinney-Vento (homeless), foster care; abuse/neglect reporting; resource connection.
Nutritionist/Dietitian	Menu planning (NSLP/SBP); special diets; nutrition education; wellness policy.
Dental Hygienist/Dentist	Screenings, sealants, fluoride, education; referral for treatment.

Collaboration

Multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), regular team meetings, shared data (with FERPA/HIPAA compliance), unified referral pathways.