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Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists

Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists. Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools, and Families A Research Report developed by Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists. $3,725,052 ?. The amount of money LAUSD loses every year due to head lice among grammar school students alone. Mission

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Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists

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  1. Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools, and Families A Research Report developed by Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists

  2. $3,725,052 ? The amount of money LAUSD loses every year due to head lice among grammar school students alone Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  3. Mission To provide under-served children and their families with free, safe, and effective head lice screening and treatment services – keeping kids in school, taking the burden off parents, school nurses and administrators. Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  4. Nonprofit, charitable organization established in Los Angeles by Hair Fairies’ founder in order to serve lower-income families Providing free head lice screening and treatment services – primarily to children – with an emphasis on under-served areas Educating parents, school officials, community leaders, policymakers and the general public about head lice including treatment and prevention methods Treatment regimen based upon the research and information provided by the Harvard School of Public Health, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools, and the National Pediculosis Association (NPA) Developed a unique partnership with Harvard’s School of Public Health Advocates of regulations and professional standards for providers of head lice treatment and comprehensive, and affordable health insurance coverage Affiliated with well-established head lice treatment center Hair Fairies of Los Angeles, now with a treatment center in Manhattan Pediatric Scalp Care Services – Overview Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  5. Services: Free screening and treatment for head lice Education: Programs to educate parents, school nurses, pediatricians, school administrators, and the general public Research:Support scientific and clinical research efforts to identify effective head lice treatment and prevention methodologies, and track head lice outbreak trends Advocacy:Promote and lobby for policy changes regarding insurance coverage, regulation of head lice treatment professionals, and toxic chemicals used in head lice removal Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists - Objectives Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  6. Background on Head Lice • Transmission occurs through person-to-person contact, and sharing of clothing, combs, and towels and from contact with bedding and furniture used by someone with an infestation • No head lice product is completely ovicidal according to a toxicology report by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, with 50 – 90% of parasites surviving • A 1998 Harvard University study found that most strains of head lice are resistant to permethrin, the active ingredient in leading over-the-counter anti-lice products • The previously widely-used product, lindane, has been banned in California and in other places around the U.S. • The Harvard study found families spending up to $1,200 on ineffective treatments • Health insurers do not typically cover head lice treatment costs Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  7. Background on Head Lice – Survey Data PSCS’ partner, Hair Fairies, began surveying patrons in September 2004. Below and in the following slides are the aggregate results† • CONCLUSION #1: Head lice is a burden on students and parents † Based on a total 247 respondents Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  8. Background on Head Lice – Survey Data • CONCLUSION #2: Head lice affects the whole family as transmission often occurs between siblings and even to parents, creating a cyclical process of transmission if not properly treated† † Dr. Richard Pollack, Interview, March 17, 2005 Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  9. Background on Head Lice – Survey Data • CONCLUSION #3: Hair Fairies patrons preferred not to make a visit to the doctor’s office even when leading treatments proved ineffective. Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  10. Background on Head Lice – Survey Data • CONCLUSION #4: Head lice has financial costs and can possibly result in harmful exposure to toxins Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  11. “No one safe from head lice,” Ottumwa Currier, 11/15/04 (Iowa) “Sequim: School district deals with head lice in children,” Pennsylvania News, 12/08/04 (Pennsylvania) “Paying the price for lice,” Bristol Herald Courier, 12/15/04 (Tennessee) “Staffers battle to keep kids in class,” Rapid City Journal, 12/16/04 (South Dakota) “Health Matters: If head lice goes untreated, it’s an itchy situation,” Billings Gazette, 1/19/2005 (Montana) “Lice Outbreak Hits Schools, Angers Parents,” Local Channel 6, 3/2/05, Brevard County (Florida) “Head lice problem frustrating parent,” The Roanoke Times, 3/30/05 (Virginia) “Head lice ‘defy common lotions’, BBC News, 3/21/05 (United Kingdom) A National Problem…and beyond Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  12. Background on Head Lice in School • Head lice infestations result in U.S. public schools losing roughly $500 million in funding every year (L.A. Times, August 22, 2001) • Head lice is the number one public health problem in U.S. schools, according to principals (National PTA study, 1998) • According to the National Pediculosis Association, 6 million school-age children contract head lice every year • 80% of public schools in the U.S. report at least one outbreak of head lice during the school year • Students from low-income households are not more likely to become infected, but when they are, the burden of treatment is much greater • Head lice is the most contagious condition after chickenpox among school-aged children Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  13. LAUSD’s Head Lice Problem • Louse infestations are the number one reason for school absences in LAUSD, according to Karen Maiorca, Director of Nursing • A study by Cheryl Fayson, District 7 PSA Field Coordinator, found that 92% (34 out of 37) of absences due to exclusion factors at a grammar school in her District were due to head lice • An estimated 10% of LAUSD grammar school students will contract head lice during the school year (Sue Rue, CDC District Nurse for LAUSD ) • Each case of head lice results in an estimated four-day absence from school (Sue Rue) • Grammar student enrollment in 2004-05 is 358,082 • LAUSD is provided $26 per student, per day they attend school (Sue Rue) • 10% of students with head lice (35,808) x number of days absent per case (4), x the amount LAUSD loses per day, per absence ($26) = the estimated amount LAUSD loses per school year due to head lice among grammar school students only: $3,725,052 Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  14. LAUSD Constituent Information • 61% (1999) of school-age children live below the poverty line1 • 28% (2002) of children in LA County face “General Neglect”2 • Los Angeles County's poverty rate is 22% - the U.S. poverty rate is 13%3 • There are 115,000 households headed by single mothers in LA county4 • 75% of AFDC recipients are minority women5 • In LA County, an estimated 350,000 children 18 and under lack health insurance coverage • 36% of children are on Medical, but Medical does not cover head lice • The number of working uninsured is projected to grow by 300,000 to 3 million in 2005 • 72% of LAUSD students qualify for free or reduced fare lunches (Esther Wong, LAUSD Records Department) 1– 3, 5 LA County Department of Children’s & Family Services 4. U.S. Census (2000) Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  15. LAUSD Constituent Scenario • An uninsured student living under the poverty line is determined to have head lice and sent home from school • The student’s single parent working an hourly-wage job without sick or vacation time leaves work to stay at home with their child, forgoing the household’s only source of income • Over the course of the next 4 days, the parent misses work and spends time and money on ineffective over-the-counter treatments • The student misses valuable school time, the parent loses income, and the school loses revenue • PSCS’ solution of bringing free treatment to kids solves all these problems. Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  16. Proposal • Provide free screening and treatment to a pilot group of LAUSD elementary schools via a mobile unit/van that will travel to their location • Document and track screening results and cases treated, providing monthly reports to LAUSD administration and Harvard researchers • Provide educational material and prevention training to parents throughout the LAUSD and LA County • Throughout the pilot project, work closely with school nurses, LAUSD administrators, other health service providers and advocates to refine it for wider implementation at private schools, community centers, summer camps and other places where children interact in large numbers. • PSCS provides an outbreak response team available to be called in on short notice to conduct in-school screenings and treatment throughout the district upon request Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  17. Reduce the average length of student absenteeism due to head lice by 75%, from four days to zero Reduce LAUSD’s overall financial losses due to head lice (average absence of 4 days x $26 per day is $104 per case.) Protect children from exposure to toxic chemicals often used in a fruitless effort to solve the problem Eliminate the need for parents to stay home from work to care for and treat a child diagnosed with head lice Reduce the burden on school nurses by working with them to screen and treat students Goals Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  18. Initial screening takes 2 – 3 minutes, with emphasis on making an accurate assessment Nits and live lice are removed manually from the scalp with special combs and non-toxic rinses, with each treatment taking up to an hour A non-toxic, organic shampoo is then applied as a breeding inhibitor to reduce the likelihood of the re-emergence of lice before the next treatment To ensure complete removal, up to three separate manual removals are conducted over the course of 10 days Head Lice Identification and Removal Process Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  19. S-Safe products for children and the environment A - Affordable services so that income and access to health care are no longer barriers to treatment F - Friendly health services professionals who will screen and treat kids in school E - Effective, patent-pending process for eliminating head lice that is guaranteed to work Principles - S.A.F.E. Scalp Care® Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  20. All staff receive extensive training and are certified providers of head lice treatment services Our service providers and staff are carefully screened and undergo law-enforcement background checks The policies and practices of PSCS are overseen by an advisory board that includes pediatricians, school nurses, and parents of children who have been successfully treated PSCS is led by an experienced management team committed to the mission of helping kids stay in school Personnel Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  21. Hair Fairies has served over 10,000 clients since it was founded in 1999 Hair Fairies has worked with 18 LAUSD charter schools (7,200 students) and 60 private schools (15,000 students) in the LA area Hair Fairies has developed relationships with more than 3,000 pediatricians in the Los Angeles area, which represents a primary source of client referrals Accurate identification: 20% of walk-in clients are determined not to have head lice Track Record Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  22. “A huge thank you for donating your time to our school. You were so productive and helpful.” – Stephanie Schulman, Principal, Westwood Charter Public School, Los Angeles “After unsuccessfully trying to get rid of head lice – 8 hours trying and about $300 in over the counter products – we finally found Hair Fairies. It didn’t cost as much as I thought. Hair Fairies are quick, thorough and efficient. I love the parent and kid friendly environment. I’m extremely happy with the results. Hair Fairies, you are God sent! – Gloria Soble, North Hollywood “We refer many of our patients to Hair Fairies for head lice removal. We always receive positive feed back from our patients regarding their work.” – Pediatricians Jay Gordon and Linda Nussbaum, Santa Monica What Others Say About Us Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  23. Research Partnership • Established a partnership between Pediatric Scalp Care Specialists, Hair Fairies and researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health • Three ongoing research projects: 1) identification and collection of head lice samples 2) socio-economic study on the impact of head lice on families 3) epidemiological study on prevalence of head lice • Assist in creation of efficacious head lice identification and collection protocols • Consult in development of model regulations for head lice removal professionals Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  24. Keep kids in school and treat the head lice problem Ease the burden on parents and school nurses Prevent further cases through education programs Reduce LAUSD’s estimated $3.5 million in lost revenue due to head lice among grammar students Treatment is 100% guaranteed The Bottom Line Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  25. Pilot Project - Overview • Between January and June of 2006 • Select, with LAUSD administrators, 50 schools to be screened on two separate occasions and provide treatment to all affected students • At the end of the project, assess the results with LAUSD and decide on next steps • LAUSD administrators receive periodic reports • Data is collected regarding the extent of the problem in target schools • Educational material is distributed, raising awareness Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

  26. Pilot Project – Pathway to Success • Sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the LAUSD • Obtain an Operating License from the LA County Health Department • Gain the endorsement of key stakeholder groups such as the California School Nurses Association, California School Board Association, Parent Teacher Association, and California Teachers’ Association • Engage local political and community leaders to gain their support of the project Head Lice: The Impact on Students, Schools and Families

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