Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1458924
9 PHOTOS: MATTHEW IDLER professional development for all school nurses, hires new staff, and helps establish protocols and policies for school health programs. Now, school nurses in the district not only tend to students' illnesses and injuries, but they also have the opportunity to go from classroom to classroom to provide health education for students. Another important benefit is that nurses can form rela- tionships with parents. Wilson says one student, a "frequent flier" to her office, recently came in with a sore throat and low-grade fever. e student's mother suspected he was (Above) Middle school counselor Carrie Maki's office is a busy place due to a sharp rise this year in the number of students seeking her help. (Below) School nurse Wendy Wilson says her local assocation has given her a say in where the rescue money goes. The counselor is in Many of Maki's students are dealing with routine middle school stuff—boyfriend and girlfriend breakups and conflicts with friends—but others, she says, "have a parent who went to jail last night, or dad beat mom." ose are the students who will need follow-ups or even emergency services. In the wake of the pandemic, Maki has more students who are dealing with the death of a family member from illness, accidents, and suicide. Wyoming has one of the nation's highest rates of suicide, which many experts attribute to the region's high rate of gun ownership and culture of rugged individualism that makes it difficult for people to ask for help. But the public school system is working to create an environment where students are encouraged to seek out the school counselor. "Most of these … families can't typically afford outside counseling," Maki says. "So if we did not have these services available at school, these students might not get what they need." A nurse in every school Students in Natrona County are getting more one-on-one attention in the nurse's office as well. "Parents absolutely love the fact that there is a nurse there every day, full-time, to take care of the kids," says Wendy Wilson, who serves students in grades 6–8. She is also the district's nursing coordinator, which means she organizes