A significant number of children have chronic health conditions that interfere with normal activities, including school attendance and active participation in the learning process. Management of students' chronic conditions is complex and requires an integrated system. Models to improve chronic disease management have been developed for the medical system and public health. Programs that address specific chronic disease management or coordinate school health services have been implemented in schools. Lacking is a comprehensive, integrated model that links schools, students, parents, health care, and other community providers. The Healthy Learner Model for chronic condition management identifies seven elements for creating, implementing, and sustaining an efficient and effective, comprehensive community-based system for improving the management of chronic conditions for school children. It has provided the framework for successful chronic condition management in an urban school district and is proposed for replication in other districts and communities.

The Healthy Learner Asthma Initiative (HLAI) was designed as a comprehensive, school-community initiative to improve asthma management and produce healthy learners. National asthma guidelines were translated into components of asthma management in the school setting that defined performance expectations and lead to greater quality and consistency of asthma care. The HLAI incorporated evidence-based practice and introduced the role of the asthma resource nurse. Leadership, capacity building, and strong partnerships among school nurses, students, families, and health care providers were essential to the implementation and sustainability of the HLAI. Professional school nursing and evaluation were defined as key requisites to a successful initiative. Evaluation results indicated positive effects on nursing practice, fewer asthma visits to the health office, and better attendance among students who received asthma care in the school health office. The HLAI provided the basis for development of the Healthy Learner Model for Student Chronic Condition Management.

The Healthy Learner Asthma Initiative (HLAI) was designed as a comprehensive, school-community initiative to improve asthma management and produce healthy learners. National asthma guidelines were translated into components of asthma management in the school setting that defined performance expectations and lead to greater quality and consistency of asthma care. The HLAI incorporated evidence-based practice and introduced the role of the asthma resource nurse. Leadership, capacity building, and strong partnerships among school nurses, students, families, and health care providers were essential to the implementation and sustainability of the HLAI. Professional school nursing and evaluation were defined as key requisites to a successful initiative. Evaluation results indicated positive effects on nursing practice, fewer asthma visits to the health office, and better attendance among students who received asthma care in the school health office. The HLAI provided the basis for development of the Healthy Learner Model for Student Chronic Condition Management.

A significant number of children have chronic health conditions that interfere with normal activities, including school attendance and active participation in the learning process. Management of students' chronic conditions is complex and requires an integrated system. Models to improve chronic disease management have been developed for the medical system and public health. Programs that address specific chronic disease management or coordinate school health services have been implemented in schools. Lacking is a comprehensive, integrated model that links schools, students, parents, health care, and other community providers. The Healthy Learner Model for chronic condition management identifies seven elements for creating, implementing, and sustaining an efficient and effective, comprehensive community-based system for improving the management of chronic conditions for school children. It has provided the framework for successful chronic condition management in an urban school district and is proposed for replication in other districts and communities.