American Association of School Administrators H1N1
CDC Resources
Current Guidelines from Texas Schools
Dealing with Stress, Anxiety and Fear around H1N1
Department of State Health Services Region 7 Epidemiology and Surveillance
Department of Agriculture
DSHS Resources
Flu Tracker
General Information
Health Departments
HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan (updated June 2006)
Implementation Plan for National Strategy
Implementation Plan for Texas Strategy
Miscellanous Resources
ProMed Mail
Reporting and Surveillance
Resource Tool Kits
School Dismissal Guidance
Signature Science, LLC training and packet
State Local Emergency Officials Organizations
Texas Association of Regional Councils
Texas Association of Regional Councils Emergency Preparedness
Texas Education Agency Guidance
Texas Government
Texas Online Emergency Preparedness
World Health Checklist for Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Planning

Beginning in April 2009, the State of Texas began responding to the outbreak of the H1N1 virus. When this strand was introduced there was limited knowledge of the severity which prompted the Department of State Health Services to recommend school closures in those areas believed to be affected by H1N1.  With new information and research it is evident that this flu strand contains moderate symptoms that resemble those in seasonal flu and school closures will no longer serve as the preferred method of limiting transmission. Due to the potential of outbreaks this school year, in addition to seasonal flu and other emergency concerns (i.e. hurricanes and or flooding), we encourage districts to review their emergency preparedness plans. TEA suggests the following information pertaining to H1N1 this school year.

District Level Staff should consider:

• In anticipation of district or campus closure, preset local or campus “trigger points” for absenteeism recommended closures and review of the waiver procedures on the Texas Education Agency website. Local districts may consider teacher absenteeism, staff student ratios, student absenteeism or local ability to sustain educational capacity. Waiver applications for both missed instructional days and low attendance are available at http://www.tea.state.tx.us/waivers/waiverapps.html. For more information about waivers, please contact the Waivers Division at (512) 463-5917 or by email at mike.peebles@tea.state.tx.us.

• Effective communication plans district wide and between the community and the district. These entities should include the local/regional health official, county judge, emergency personnel, volunteer organizations to assist parents, and local/regional food banks (pantry) for assistance with breakfast and lunch supplements for students. Additional information can be found on the Texas Department of Agriculture website http://www.squaremeals.org/fn/render/parent/channel/0,1253,2348_2380_29978_0,00.html#29978

• Review and utilization of the resources linked to Department of State Health Services, Centers for Disease Control and Instruction and Curriculum links from TEA. 

Campus Administrators should consider:

• Increasing supplies and awareness for infection control including use of hand soap, hand sanitizers, tissues etc. Downloadable H1N1 prevention posters in English and Spanish are available at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu/swineflu.pdf and http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/swineflu/3cs-sp.shtm
• School staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.

• Holding community meetings to review procedures for limiting transmission of the flu (seasonal and H1N1), protocol for staying home when ill and any other pertinent information.

• Review  the resources from the  Department of State Health Services www.texasflu.org, and additional resources at www.tea.state.tx.us   

Parents are encouraged to:

• Monitor their children those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use of fever-reducing medicines.
• Review  the resources from the  Department of State Health Services www.texasflu.org, and additional resources at www.tea.state.tx.us

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• TEA Resources
• School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist
• TEA H1N1 Flu Information
• Influenza Information for Child Care, Schools, Colleges and University
• CDC Guidance for Response to Influenza for Institutions of higher Education
• Preparing for Flu:  Communication Toolkit for Institutions of Higher Education
  

1. Addendum to Texas Department of Agriculture School Food Authority Community Organization Agreement in order to participate in either the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) or Seamless Summer Option (SSO); and
2. Form FND #129, Waiver Form for School Closure Due to H1N1. Instructions for completing the form are available here

Please contact TDA at H1N1@TexasAgriculture.gov or 888-TEX-KIDS with any questions regarding serving reimbursable meals during an H1N1-related school closure.

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Daily Teleconference Calls with Governor's Division of Emergency Management Situation Report

Anyone can participate in these GDEM Situation Report toll-free teleconference calls as a listener and for Q&A at the end by calling (866) 233-3852 and then entering PIN #998263.  These will be taking place at 3 pm (central) each day.  Please feel free to pass the teleconference details on to all districts in your region.

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• Center of Disease Control and Prevention-one stop resource
• CDC Key Facts on H1N1
• Center of Disease Control Pandemic
• Center of Disease Control and Prevention
• Interim Guidance on Antiviral Recommendations for Patients with Confirmed or Suspected
• USDE Key Facts
• Key facts about flu (CDC)
• School Dismissal Monitoring System
• Flu from the Contra Costa County
• Technical Report for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators on CDC Guidance for Schools Responses
• CDC Guidance for state and local public health officials

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Department of State Health Services

• Texas DSHS Pandemic Influenza Plan Operational Guidelines
• CDC Guidance for state and local public health officials
• DSHS Texas Flu
• DSHS Information for Public
• DSHS Information for Professionals (scroll down page)
• FAQ for General Public
• Guidance for Childcare
• How to Stay Home Safely
• Influenza Information for Families and Individuals
• Returning to Work or School Guidance
• Technical Report for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators on CDC Guidance for Schools Responses
• School Dismissal Monitoring System

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• Question and Answers
• Fact Sheets for Schools to Prevent Spread of Flu
• Fact Sheets for Teachers to Prevent Spread of Flu
• Facts Sheets for Parents: Actions for Parents if school is dismissed
• Fact Sheet for Parent: Protect your Child and Family from Flu
• Fact Sheet for Parent: Children at High Risk for Flu Complications
• Posters: Stop! Do you Feel Sick?
• Posters: CDC Posters for Schools and Flu Prevention
• School Template Letters: Steps for schools to take during current flu conditions
• School Template Letters: Steps for schools to take during more severe flu conditions

• Pandemic Flu Model Planning Tool Response Matrix (WORD Document that can be adjusted for district)

• School and Community Guide-Practical Information on Crisis Planning (Mitigation & Prevention Preparedness, Recovery and Response)

• Template for Pandemic Flu Planning Tool for Schools

• School Response to Pandemic Flu Flow Chart

• School Action Steps for Pandemic Flu

• Basic Components of Pandemic Planning

• Pandemic Flu: A Planning Guide for Educators

• Pandemic Flu: A Planning Guide for Educators

• School District (K-12) Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist

• Personal and Family Preparedness Tools (English)

• Personal and Family Preparedness Tools (Spanish)

• Interim Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza

• Summary version of Interim Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza

• Proposed Guidance on Antiviral Drug Use during an Influenza Pandemic

• Interim guidance on the use and purchase of facemasks and respirators by individuals and families for pandemic influenza preparedness

• Dr. Betz MD, MPH Realistic Community Pan Flu Strategies: Pre-Pandemic Plan (P3) PowerPoint

Pandemic Action Kit for School Contents and Resources

Notice: The information in this kit was developed prior to the current outbreak of swine flu. Although these materials may be useful, some of the included statements do not apply to the current situation. Review all materials carefully for accuracy before use!

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• INCREASE Surveillance School Line List (created by DSHS Region 7-Temple-Lacey Sanders, Disease Surveillance) When applicable, submit to your local Health Department.

• Template letter to parents that Waco-McLennan County Public Health District  created (under direction of Dr. Verner) .  This template letter can be modify for your own school district.  You will need to make the correction on the template to meet your region’s health department.  (See highlighted areas to change for your district)
  
  For Example:

  Re: Precautions for Novel Influenza in the [ ] Independent School District

  Dear Parent:

  In the last couple of days, local and national media sources have been reporting about a growing outbreak of swine flu across our nation. 

  I want to assure you _______ ISD does not have any confirmed or suspected cases of swine flu in our schools.  However, we still take this threat seriously and will continue to monitor our campuses.  In addition, the district will continue to monitor this situation through the _____________Local Public Health District.

• The Great Pandemic Resources in the United States

• Hand washing: Hand washing is a very important method to prevent disease from spreading. 

• Influenza, aka the flu

• How Does Seasonal Flu Differ from Pandemic Flu?

• Pandemic Flu Planning Checklist for Individuals and Families

• Home Care for Pandemic Flu

• Tips for Parents on Coping with Pandemic Flu

• Basics on Flu, Types, Transmission, Treatment, Cold vs. Flu

• Avian Flu Bird Flu Fact Sheet

• Stopping Germs at Home, Work and School

• Pandemic Influenza: Characteristics & Challenges

• Poster: Germ Free Zone

• Poster: Hand Washing-Stopping the Flu is up to You!

• Poster: Stop Disease (English & Spanish)

• Poster: Hand Washing-Cover your Cough (English)

• Poster: Hand Washing-Cover your Cough (Spanish)

• Poster: Stop Flu: The 3 "C's"(English)

• Poster: Stop Flu: The 3 "C's (Spanish)

• Poster: Keep Our School Healthy

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• Surveillance and Reporting

• Daily Pandemic Flu Census Log (sample)

• Weekly Pandemic Flu Census Report (sample)

• Sample letter for Bird Flu (will need to be modified for other forms of flu)

• Sample letter for the Initial Outbreak (will need to be modified for other forms of flu)

• Technical Report for State and Local Public Health Officials and School Administrators on CDC Guidance for Schools Responses

• School Dismissal Monitoring System

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• 5 Ways to keep your H1N1 in check
• Coping with stress from H1N1
• Coping with H1N1 Virus Brochure
• Coping with Stress from H1N1
• Emotional Coping-Red Cross
• Fear can impact your health more than H1N1

Signature Science Packet

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Dennis R. Macha, Jr., LPC
SDFSC Statewide Initiative Coordinator
Special Programs Coordinator - School Safety
Education Service Center, Region VI
3332 Montgomery Road
Huntsville, Texas 77340
(936) 435-8231 office
(936) 577-4734 cell

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