Virtual Health Office

Minneapolis Public School Health Service Web Page

Licensed School Nurse

Jill Caruso

Monday & Wednesday 8:00-4:00

Friday 8:00-12:00

Office phone: 612-668-2556

Google Voice: 612-234-7226

Fax: 612-668-2560

jill.caruso@mpls.k12.mn.us

Health Service Assistant

Kelly McCarver

Monday - Friday 9:10-3:40

Attendance/Direct: 612-668-2575

Fax: 612-668-2560

kelly.mccarver@mpls.k12.mn.us

Please note that during this phase of school reopening Jill and Kelly are not working on site.

Virtual Health Office Support

If you or your student would like to set up a time to connect please send an email to Nurse Jill at jill.caruso@mpls.k12.mn.us and she will arrange a time to connect via Google Meets.

Am I Well Enough to Go to School?

Please reference this flyer to help determine if your student is well enough to attend school.

Sick Attendance Calls

If your student is ill and will absent please call the attendance line at (612) 668-2575.

Include student's first and last name
Include student's grade and classroom teacher
Please leave brief discription of symptoms

Available Health Resources

Minnesota is proud to offer at-home COVID-19 saliva testing for any person who wants to be tested, with or without symptoms, at no cost.

Minnesota and Vault Medical Services have teamed up to offer at-home saliva testing for everyone, at no cost. Go to Vault: No-Cost COVID Testing For All Minnesotans to order a test.

When you are ready to take the test, you will log in to access the the Vault virtual waiting room and do a video visit with a Vault test supervisor. They can give you instructions and make sure you do the test the right way. You will then send the test to the lab in Oakdale, Minnesota, using the prepaid package. Once it arrives at the lab, you will get your test results by email in 24-48 hours.

A message from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) as to the importance of receiving the flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic:

Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Centers for Disease Control)

Please reach out if you would like resources on how to receive the seasonal flu vaccine we can provide you with some community clinics that are offering care.

Vaccination Support

Free or Low Cost Shots for Children

Minnesota Vaccines for Children (MnVFC) Program

Click here to for more information.

Click here to view vaccine schedule.

If you do not have a regular clinic where your child has been seen before, you may want to call one of the clinics below to schedule an appointment.

Community Partnerships

Vision Resources

Under the E.Y.E.Community Initiative, your child will receive an exam by an eye doctor, and any necessary treatment –including eyeglasses. If you do not have insurance, or your insurance does not cover these expenses, you will not be charged for these services. The cost of your exam, treatment and glasses will be paid for by the E.Y.E.Community Initiative.

English: 612.775.8643

Spanish: 612.775.8644

Somali: 612.775.8645

Hmong: 612.775-8646

Phillips Eye Institue provides annual in school screening for all K,1st, 3rd and 5th grade students.

In school dental services are offered from Children's Dental Services mobile clinic.

If you would like your child to receive dental care at school please complete this form and return to the Health Office.

School Based Therapeutic Mental Health Services

Washburn Center for Children offers school based mental health services for our students. Please contact school social work team for further information.

Ms Athelgra Williams

Bethune's Full-Service Community School Coordinator

Link to Bethune Virtual Family Resource Room

Bethune is a Full-Service Community School (FSCS). A FSCS is both a place and a set of partnerships between the school and local community resources. An FSCS focuses on academics, health and social services, youth development, and community engagement to improve student learning and strengthen families and communities. Schools become centers of the community and are open to everyone – all day, every day, evenings and weekends

MPS Family Resource Center

Link to site here.

The Family Resource Center provides school-based resources and social services for families and students at Minneapolis Public Schools.
The Family Resource Centeris available to families by appointments and by walk-ins.
We partner with communityagencies and public institutions to provide comprehensive school-based, social, emotional and physical health services and learning opportunities for families and students.
Health Related Services:

Assistance applying for medical assistance and emergency medical assistance.
Assistance applying for assured access and other sliding fee programs.
Help with eye glasses vouchers.
Help navigating the medicalsystem for assessments and chronic disease care.
Help getting needed immunization and physicals.

Mental Health Services:

Help connect families with community based mental health providers.
Help families navigate medical systems for assessments.
On-site mental health clinic run by Mental Health Collective

Community Resources:

Connect families with basic need resources including: housing, furniture, household items, food, clothes, etc.
Connect families with job search tutorials, after-school education programs, community-based tutoring programs, school registration and summer programs, etc.

School Meal Box Pick-Up

BETHUNE IS A PICK UP SITE: Monday-Friday 11-3pm

Pull up to Door 6 at school

All youth 18 & under can participate.

Youth do not need to be enrolled in MPS.

Youth, parents, or siblings can pick up one box per child, per week.

School Meal Boxes will contain breakfasts and lunches for each student instructional day in the week, following the MPS 2020-21 school year calendar. Meals will include fresh produce, whole grains, and familiar school favorites. Milk will be offered on the side by request.

Find weekly menus, heating instructions and more information here.

Please reach out to Health Office if transportation is a barrier in getting to school to pick up food.