Voices of Meningitis Challenge
As school nurses we can play an important role in educating families in our community about vaccination against meningococcal disease, a rare but serious infection that can cause meningitis and take the life of a child in just a single day.
The Voices of Meningitis Challenge is a program designed to encourage school nurses to educate local schools and communities about meningococcal disease vaccination and recognize them for their efforts. As part of the Challenge, NASN is asking you to proactively conduct meningococcal meningitis awareness activities to reach families with this important information. Free online resources, guidance, and support are available to assist you in your efforts. I am proud to a Voices of Meningitis Champion for the Mid Atlantic Region.
Feel free to contact me at susan.hoffmann@cr.k12.de.us or 302-697-3207 if I can be of any assistance in your efforts to spread the word about this important issue.
Voices Challenge Submission Form
As activities are conducted, NASN urges you to fill out the "Voices Challenge Submission Form" highlighting your awareness efforts (multiple forms can be submitted) so your activities can be recognized and shared with your peers. You can send submission forms back to NASN via email (voiceschallenge@nasn.org) or mail them to NASN's headquarters at:
8484 Georgia Ave., Suite 420
Silver Spring, MD 20910
ATTN: Voices Challenge
All school nurses who send NASN submission form(s) will be recognized. Three school nurses will be selected to have their efforts presented at the 2012 NASN Annual Conference in San Francisco, CA **(Each winner will receive up to $2,000 to cover travel and hotel expenses for duration of meeting: ANCC regulations prohibit payment for registration fees.**) Deadline for submissions: December 31, 2012.
Remember, no effort is too small to highlight and the submission form only takes a few minutes to complete.
Voices State Challenge
In addition to NASN recognizing school nurses individually who participate in the Voices Challenge, we're also creating some healthy competition among our state affiliates. The three states with the highest percentage of participation in the Challenge (as measured by submission forms received), will win a sponsored activity during a 2012 state annual conference (up to $500).
Resources are available from NASN
http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=649
Voices of Meningitis Challenge "Tips for Success": Provides examples of activities school nurses can conduct in their own school and communities to educate parents and students about meningococcal disease and the importance of vaccination.
Educational materials: Resources that can be distributed to parents or posted within your school to help educate about the disease:
Posters[English] [Spanish] (note: posters print on legal size paper)
Brochure [English] [Spanish]
Fact sheet [English] [Spanish]
Report card sticker [English] [Spanish] (note: is for printing on Avery address labels 1" x 2-5/8" (Product # 5160)
General parent letter [English] [Spanish]
State mandate parent letter [English] [Spanish]
Presentation to parents (note: Presentations include slides notes. Save to your computer to view slides and notes using PowerPoint software.)
Web site widget (graphic with link to Voices of Meningitis Web site)
Web site widget (graphic with link to this page, the Voices of Meningitis Challenge Web page)
Voices Challenge Mailing List
Consider adding your name to the Voices Challenge mailing list to receive program updates throughout the year.
The Voices of Meningitis Campaign
Voices of Meningitis is an educational initiative of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN) in collaboration with sanofi pasteur.  The campaign brings together school nurses from across the country, along with families personally affected by meningococcal meningitis, to share their personal experiences and give “voice” to this
For more information on the Voices of Meningitis, visit the Web site at: www.VoicesOfMeningitis.org
