INFORMATIONAL

  At the request of the 1997 General Assembly, the
  Department of Education, in cooperation with the
  Departments of Health and Medical Assistance Services,
  developed a monitoring system to identify certain
  medically fragile students (Budget Act, Item 131 G). 
  This is the second year data has been gathered.  The
  monitoring system identifies students with one or more
  conditions requiring continuous, on-going specialized
  health care procedures in a licensed nursing home or
  long-stay, acute-care hospital.  The children's parents
  or legal guardians must be residents of Virginia for whom
  Virginia has an educational responsibility.

  In order to meet the objectives of this request, the
  Department is surveying local school divisions, licensed
  nursing homes, long-stay, acute-care hospitals,
  Intermediate Care Facilities/Mental Retardation (ICF/MR),
  and Part H Interagency Councils to identify medically
  fragile students who meet this criteria.  Department
  staff will review the information from all sources to
  eliminate duplications.

  We are requesting your assistance in the completion of
  the enclosed survey form to provide us with information
  on students about whom you have knowledge.  The target
  population is defined
  as children who meet both of the following criteria:

  ~  living in a licensed nursing home; or

     living in a long-stay, acute-care hospital; or

     living in an intermediate care facility/mental
       retardation; and

  ~  requiring continuous, on-going specialized health
     care procedures

  The survey requests data on the students in the target
  population during the period September 1, 1997, through
  August 31, 1998.  Please complete the survey for all
  students known to the school division, whether the
  student lives in a facility that is located within the
  division or whether the parent or guardian lives in the
  division.  Include students who are in out-of-state
  placements.  We are enclosing a list of licensed nursing
  homes and long-stay, acute-care hospitals.

  Please note that we need to hear from your division even
  if you have no knowledge of students who meet this
  criteria.

  Return the survey to Gwen Smith, R.N., School Health
  Services Specialist, by February 4,1999, (fax 804-371-8796).
  If you have any questions, please call Ms. Smith
  at 804-786-8671.  Thank you for your assistance.

  PDS/gps

  Enclosure:   A hard copy of this memo and its attach-
               ment will be sent to the superintendent's
               office.