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The Brant County Health Unit has provided helpful information and resources below to help guide parents and guardians as their children move though JK all the way up to grade 12. Resources provided below include public health resources, community resources, and links to other useful websites.
School Health resources and information for educators, such as lesson plans, handouts and grant applications, can be found by visiting our School Health for Educators page.
Before beginning kindergarten, BCHU encourages parents/guardians to take their 3-or 4-year-olds to:
Did you know The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires parents to provide proof of immunization (or appropriate exemption documents) for certain diseases if their children attend school in Ontario?
Parents/guardians must report their child’s immunizations using BCHU’s Online Emunization Reporting Tool.
Check Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule
Visit BCHU’s immunization page for information about exemptions.
All kids receive a dental screening at school, starting in kindergarten. This free dental screening is a quick (30-60 second) visual check of your kid’s teeth by a registered Dental Hygienist using a light and mirror. All students who are screened receive a dental card to let parents/guardians know what the hygienist saw.
Your child may also qualify for free dental care through the Ontario Healthy Smiles Program.
Infectious Disease Reference Guide for Schools
Principals are legally required to notify public health if a student is suspected to have or is diagnosed with a disease of public health significance (see Reportable Diseases of Public Health Significance List in Infectious Diseases Reference Guide for Schools)
Reporting a Disease of Public Health Significance
Occasionally, schools may notice an increase in absenteeism due to illness. Schools are required to report to the Health Unit when absenteeism due to illness reaches 30% of the student population. However, if a significant number of students are ill in one class this should still be reported. For example, if a primary classroom has 6-7 children off with similar symptoms within a day or two, this would be significant and should be reported. If absenteeism is below 30%, please refer to internal school protocols and contact the manager of health and safety at your specific school board.
Reporting Increased Absenteeism
Head lice treatment is free for Ontario residents 24 years and under through OHIP. Head lice treatment products are available at no cost for anyone age 24 years or younger who is not covered by a private plan. Families would need a health card number and have to get a prescription.
The Brant County Health Unit holds immunization clinics in elementary schools for Grade 7and 8 students during the Fall and Spring for:
You can see more information regarding these clinics by visiting the School Clinics page.
Our dental team visits elementary schools in Brantford and Brant County every year to check up on students’ oral health in accordance with the Oral Health Protocol, 2018 and the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 570. Prior to the screenings, letters are sent home to the parents/guardians of those students in the grades being screened – depending on the school, this could include JK, SK, Grade 2, Grade 4 and Grade 7.
For more information, visit our School Visits page.
Eye health is an important part of overall health and helps kids develop, learn and read. Every year in Ontario 7,000 kids lose the use of an eye because they weren’t properly treated for a problem. The most common problems are hard to spot without formal eye tests. We support healthy eyes by connecting parents and kids to services and information.
Babies should have their first eye exam at six months old. One eye exam per year is free for kids 19 and under with an OHIP card. Book an appointment with an optometrist.
Brant County Health Unit will visit elementary schools to complete vision screening for senior kindergarten between January and June each year.
What?
Why?
The screening is to let parents and know if there is any concern that may indicate risk factors for certain eye conditions that could require a follow up visit to an eye doctor for a complete exam.
These school screening visits allow public health to collect data on the eye health of each school. This will help plan programs and services to match local needs.
This is a mandatory program under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, Regulation 570.
What happens next?
Parents who do not want their child to participate in school-based vision screening are able to opt-out using the online-opt out form.
Please contact the Brant County Health Unit Vision Screening Program through our Dental department at 519-753-4937 ext.450 or dental@bchu.org with any questions or concerns
Find out more about vision screening in schools.
If you are receiving Ontario Works, you and your family may be eligible to get help to pay for vision care for your children, such as prescription eyeglasses and eyeglass repairs. If you have high health costs and no longer qualify for financial help from Ontario Works, Extended Health Benefits may be available to help you, including for eyeglasses. Contact the local Ontario Works office.
Kids in junior and senior kindergarten can receive one pair of free glasses through the Eye See… EyeLearn Program- Ontario Association of Optometrists program.
Those with visual and financial need, can qualify through the OneSight program.
The work of the Sexual Health Nurse at GEDSB secondary schools includes one on one appointments offering:
Schedule at schools
| Day | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | |||
| AM | Pauline Johnston Collegiate and Vocational School | Grand Erie Learning Alternatives Paris District High School |
Tollgate Technical Skills Centre
North Park Collegiate and Vocational
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| PM | Six Nations Polytechnic STEAM Academy | Brantford Collegiate Institute |
Pauline Johnston Johnston Collegiate and Vocational School
North Park Collegiate and Vocational
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HEROS (Health Educators Reaching Other Students) is a youth advocacy group geared towards students aged 13-18 years old (Grade 9-12). The program’s focus is to have fun while learning about Healthy living. Youth throughout the program plan fun interactive community activities to promote and influence other youth on the importance of healthy living, tobacco, and substance prevention. During HEROS students gain volunteer hours and receive a letter of reference at the end. We meet once a week to plan, discuss and have lots of fun.
The HEROS program starts again in October 2023, and runs every Tuesday throughout the school year from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Location: Brant County Health Unit, 194 Terrace Hill St, Brantford, ON.
HEROS Program Promotional Poster
HEROS PowerPoint Resource – Please contact Justine Swan to request a copy of the HEROS PowerPoint resource.
Volunteer Application Consent Form
For more information and to register contact:
Justine.Swan@bchu.org
226-208-7685
