Inner City Children

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · May 17, 2016

The school is also a mix of privilege and lower socioeconomic students as well. I don't really do anything different, but there are some students I know that do not have a real bed so I allow them to nap and for longer times. Breakfast is free for all students and lunch is free for those that qualify or their family is on some sort of government assistance. But, even with free lunch a lot of students do not like to eat here because of the "organic healthy" food. Even the pizza is on whole wheat crust. I also have students who come by after lunch and I give them extra snacks for "headaches" or abdominal pain.

For students who are actually homeless we have a counselor that can link them to services and for pregnant students that do not have many resources we send out an email to staff requesting baby items as donations.

I also hand out extra supplies to any and all students because you never know. I also carry extra tubes of hydrocortisone cream and acne cream because some students can't even afford the no-name brand from Walgreens up the street.

One thing I appreciate is that even thought this is a College town, there is an "Alternative to College Fair". They have a local plumbers union, aviation mechanics, and EMS programs that come to promote alternative paths for those that do not see college within their path right now. Sometimes it can be hard to remember that not every student can go to college or take a Gap Year to Europe right after high school. For my Seniors I try to focus on them ending the school year instead of asking what college they're going to or what plans they have for the summer.

fawnmarie, ASN · May 18, 2016

I saw a child this past Monday morning who said he hadn't eaten since Saturday night. His teacher sent him to my office with a note that stated he couldn't stop crying in class. He told me he had a severe stomachache. I asked what he'd eaten for breakfast, and he replied, "Nothing." I asked what he'd eaten for dinner the previous evening, and he replied "Nothing." I asked him to tell me what he had eaten the previous day, Sunday. He gave me the strangest look and replied "I was at my Daddy's house all day yesterday, and he doesn't have any food. I just drank water." I learned that his last "meal" was a piece of cake on Saturday night at his grandmother's house.

fawnmarie, ASN · May 18, 2016

I do feel compelled to say that working in this inner city school has caused me to reflect on my own life. For years, I felt sorry for myself because I grew up in a home where verbal abuse was the rule, rather than the exception. However, my father did have a good job, and we always had food, our own home, heat and air conditioning, clothing that fit, a washer and dryer, and our own beds and bedrooms. We could take trips. Life wasn't a bowl of cherries, but we didn't wonder where our next meal was coming from, and we didn't live in a dangerous neighborhood. There were many things that I took for granted. I can't imagine living the way some of these kid live. It's heartbreaking. And it's all they know.

Flare, ASN, BSN · May 18, 2016

I saw a child this past Monday morning who said he hadn't eaten since Saturday night. His teacher sent him to my office with a note that stated he couldn't stop crying in class. He told me he had a severe stomachache. I asked what he'd eaten for breakfast, and he replied, "Nothing." I asked what he'd eaten for dinner the previous evening, and he replied "Nothing." I asked him to tell me what he had eaten the previous day, Sunday. He gave me the strangest look and replied "I was at my Daddy's house all day yesterday, and he doesn't have any food. I just drank water." I learned that his last "meal" was a piece of cake on Saturday night at his grandmother's house.

Situations like this are one of the reasons that I have bittersweet feelings towards summer break. Sure, it's great to have that time off, but I can't help but worry about my littles that I know get their only meals of the day from the school. CPS gets called. Things may improve for a bit - but it's often not enough.

I like the idea of the school offering a meal - but i know it would not fly here. The town here offers a free rec program for any town resident child, but i don't believe it offers a meal - at most a snack.

MrNurse(x2), ADN · May 18, 2016

Situations like this are one of the reasons that I have bittersweet feelings towards summer break. Sure, it's great to have that time off, but I can't help but worry about my littles that I know get their only meals of the day from the school. CPS gets called. Things may improve for a bit - but it's often not enough.
I like the idea of the school offering a meal - but i know it would not fly here. The town here offers a free rec program for any town resident child, but i don't believe it offers a meal - at most a snack.

Could you (generic, not specific) find food services in your students' neighborhoods, such as missions and food kitchen/ pantries and refer families, then go volunteer there during some days of your summer break? The best way to address these issues is at the local level, away from the government red tape that reduces the efficacy. Unfortunately, the politics of poverty has many victims, but getting back to a sense of community can eliminate those politics. There is an immense blessing in doing this.

coughdrop.2.go, BSN, RN · May 18, 2016

Are there summer lunch programs? A lot of school districts around here have a summer lunch program where any child under the age of 19 can come for breakfast and lunch. Some districts also have food bags for students to take home.

JenTheSchoolRN, BSN, RN · May 18, 2016

OP, can you look into summer camp options for a child like this? There are many free summer camps in my area that include a free breakfast and lunch - there are lifesavers for some kids. My boss actually spends a fair amount of time trying to match up students in need with a free summer camp - or we use school funds to help pay for that student to attend a low cost summer camp.

They can break your hearts. I have to detach a little or I could not sleep at night, but even then I still have some trouble. There is only so much a person can do.

fawnmarie, ASN · May 19, 2016

OP, can you look into summer camp options for a child like this? There are many free summer camps in my area that include a free breakfast and lunch - there are lifesavers for some kids. My boss actually spends a fair amount of time trying to match up students in need with a free summer camp - or we use school funds to help pay for that student to attend a low cost summer camp.
They can break your hearts. I have to detach a little or I could not sleep at night, but even then I still have some trouble. There is only so much a person can do.

Yes, Jen, there are some summer camp options for our students. I do know of one large church in our city that has sort of "adopted" the housing project where many of our students live. I believe they actually send a bus to the neighborhood to pick up the kids. They also routinely send volunteers out to distribute sack lunches to the children. The community seems to be aware of the plight of these children, and that is a blessing. Our school's child care program is also open during the summer months, and some of the children who attend have their fees paid by DHS. So there are some options.

Alex Egan, LPN, EMT-B · May 21, 2016

Look for volunteer organizations that may seem to have a unrelated mission. My area is rural poor, lots of trailer parks (slums) every thanksgiving and Christmas the local fire company (I was a board member) Sends out food packages and Christmas presents individualized for kids that the school nurse refers to the program. If your local public services are Union they love to do that stuff, they just often lack the information.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · May 21, 2016

I work in an urban school that is 99% Hispanic, 1% all other races. I'd say about 75% of my parents are Spanish speaking, which does make my job feel impossible at times (especially because it's difficult for me to get help calling these parents, all our bilingual employees are too busy with their job to help).. All of the students in my school receive free breakfast and lunch at school, and we do participate in the Backpack Buddies program to sent food home to food insecure children (every Friday). The district has some good programs that take the kids on field trips for glasses, if you can get all your screenings in on time AND get the parents to consent. Sadly, there are some parents that do not allow the kids to go on the field trip.. for reasons I still don't understand (pride? fear?).. Some parents are on top of everything, while others can't be bothered. Many are simply under-educated and overwhelmed by life and have never known anything other than their current situation and either have no ability, or ambition, to change their situation. It's sad, and I can only hope their children build better lives for themselves.

One thing I think all these children have is the advantage to be bilingual (by 4th grade they are all completely transitioned to English- and most speak both languages fluently by then)..

I hate that they miss out on so many things the suburban districts offer. The school I work does not offer art to all students (some are invited to an after-school art program), nor do they have music class. Entire feeder patterns (Ele, middle and high) don't have librarians, so these kids have no real experience in using a library for literature and research... the kids at my school enjoy PE in a small classroom, because we have no gymnasium... and only 1 PE teacher. Some kids only see PE every other week because they're being pulled for extra support for testing. It's sad to me, because I feel like these kids are missing out on childhood and a positive elementary experience. And don't even get me started on recess.. which the kids at my school only get a couple times a week, if at all!

I have spent money out of my own pocket all year on clothing for the clinic, books and other things to help these kids. I want to do more..

fawnmarie, ASN · May 23, 2016

I work in an urban school that is 99% Hispanic, 1% all other races. I'd say about 75% of my parents are Spanish speaking, which does make my job feel impossible at times (especially because it's difficult for me to get help calling these parents, all our bilingual employees are too busy with their job to help).. All of the students in my school receive free breakfast and lunch at school, and we do participate in the Backpack Buddies program to sent food home to food insecure children (every Friday). The district has some good programs that take the kids on field trips for glasses, if you can get all your screenings in on time AND get the parents to consent. Sadly, there are some parents that do not allow the kids to go on the field trip.. for reasons I still don't understand (pride? fear?).. Some parents are on top of everything, while others can't be bothered. Many are simply under-educated and overwhelmed by life and have never known anything other than their current situation and either have no ability, or ambition, to change their situation. It's sad, and I can only hope their children build better lives for themselves.
One thing I think all these children have is the advantage to be bilingual (by 4th grade they are all completely transitioned to English- and most speak both languages fluently by then)..
I hate that they miss out on so many things the suburban districts offer. The school I work does not offer art to all students (some are invited to an after-school art program), nor do they have music class. Entire feeder patterns (Ele, middle and high) don't have librarians, so these kids have no real experience in using a library for literature and research... the kids at my school enjoy PE in a small classroom, because we have no gymnasium... and only 1 PE teacher. Some kids only see PE every other week because they're being pulled for extra support for testing. It's sad to me, because I feel like these kids are missing out on childhood and a positive elementary experience. And don't even get me started on recess.. which the kids at my school only get a couple times a week, if at all!
I have spent money out of my own pocket all year on clothing for the clinic, books and other things to help these kids. I want to do more..

Wow. If you don't mind me asking, where are you located? As far as education goes, our students do get art classes, music classes, and they have a very nice library. The school itself has a very good reputation, and in fact, is often lauded because of the socioeconomic diversity. Our downtown area has undergone a "revitalization", resulting in some very nice new condominium and townhome developments interspersed with the dangerous, gang-infested housing projects. I do take some comfort in knowing that the children are getting a good education, even if some of them are neglected at home. Thanks for the feedback.

lifelearningrn, BSN, RN · May 24, 2016

We're in Houston... there are schools in the district that offer the arts.. but they're "magnet" schools with special funding... the district doesn't have "minimal standards" that they require schools meet (like having librarians, music class, art teachers).. so each school administrator can pretty much mold the school how they see fit.. so in this district, some schools will offer an amazing, well rounded experience, while others will focus solely on academic scores.

Our kids get lots of reading, science and math support... but they miss out on the arts because of it. It's a funding issue, for sure.