HARRY HUGHES, Governor                             2603

physicians have been unsuccessful. There is no hospital or
group practice operating in the county. Emergency work is
handled at hospitals 10 to 30 miles away. There are five
practicing dentists, which is about half of the required
number for the population base.

The Caroline County School System serves approximately
4,700 students. The Caroline County Health Department
administers the School Health Program. There are currently
four Community Health Nurses and three Health Aides assigned
to the nine schools in the county. Before February, 1978,
nurses staffed the two middle and two high schools. Since
1978, the nurses have gradually assumed duties in the five
elementary schools. Parents have been more receptive to
school health services than to child health clinic services,
even though the child health clinics are the only sources
for well-child care in the county.

The health problems of the Caroline County school
population are numerous. Twelve and one-half percent of
live births in 1975 were to mothers aged 17 or younger.
There is an estimated 80-97 percent rate of dental decay.
There are no available statistics on mental health problems,
however, 146 cases were handled by the Juvenile Services
Administration within the county in 1976. Twelve and
one-half percent of the school population receives special
education assistance. From July 1, 1977 through December
31, 1977 only 33 children between the ages of 6 and 20 years
received complete early and periodic screening, diagnosis,
and treatment programs despite the fact that 870 were
eligible; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That section(s) of the Annotated Code of Maryland
be repealed, amended, or enacted to read as follows:

Article - Education

7-413.

(A) (1) THERE IS A SCHOOL HEALTH PILOT PROGRAM.

(2)  THE GENERAL PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO
IMPLEMENT A MODEL PROGRAM IN TWO AREAS OF THIS STATE IN
WHICH PORTIONS OF THE POPULATION CURRENTLY ARE UNDERSERVED.

(3)  THE MODEL PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO:

(I)  IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF SCHOOL AGE
CHILDREN IN THIS STATE; AND

(II)  DEVELOP THROUGH EXPERIENCE AN
APPROPRIATE AND FEASIBLE METHODOLOGY TO ASSURE THAT HEALTH
RELATED IMPAIRMENTS TO LEARNING ARE IDENTIFIED AND TREATED;

AND