Sickle Cell School Outreach

Sickle Cell School Outreach

The Sickle Cell Center at CHOP has developed comprehensive information on sickle cell disease and how it can affect the school life of children. The information is available to teachers, school nurses, athletic departments, camps and before- and aftercare providers.

Typically, families request that this information be sent to their child's teacher or teachers and passed along to school nurses. Families may request that a member of the Center meet with school personnel to provide information about measures that can be taken to avoid or address problems that students with sickle cell disease may face.

To learn more about the program and/or to request specially developed literature for school staff, contact our Center at 215-590-3423.

Resources for Caregivers and Students (PDFs)

Sickle Cell Action Plans for School and Camp Communities (PDFs)

School-Related Websites

COVID-19 and School

Our center understands the multitude of medical and social issues that can interfere with our students’ ability to be academically successful. Our goal is to make sure that your student is able to receive a quality education in a safe environment. We recognize that COVID-19 has provided a lot of challenges to the way we think about the upcoming school year. With this in mind, we know how important it is to find ways to support you during this difficult time. In addition to the information you receive from your school district, the staff at the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Center want to offer the following resources as a guide to help you prepare for the upcoming school year:

School Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Individuals with sickle cell disease are among those who the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recognized are at an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. We strongly encourage the continued implementation of the CDC’s guidelines for schools. Learn more about CDC recommendations for schooling and those at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19: Considerations for Schools and People with Certain Medical Conditions.

Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA) Medical Research and Advisory Committee (MARAC) Position on School Reopening: In addition to reviewing school reopening plans from your school district, please use the information provided on school reopening from MARAC to help guide your decision making about returning to in-person learning. Learn more here. 

Education Resources for Caregivers: It may be overwhelming to try to prioritize concepts and skills in your child’s learning. Staff members at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have worked to identify key skills children typically work to master in the classroom at a variety of ages and grade levels. Learn more here.

Secure Online Database to Complete School-Related Releases and A Sickle Cell-Specific Education Needs Assessment (For CHOP Patients Only): This year in particular, we recognize that COVID-19 has caused a lot of changes. One of those changes is not being able to meet in-person as often as we would like in order to help prepare your student for their school year. Each school year, we ask that you complete the following school-related releases of information:

  • Authorization to Release/Obtain Patient Information (ROI)
  • Consent to Obtain/Release School Information under the Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • This year we also added an “Education Needs Assessment” to help us identify the best way(s) to support your student’s school needs.

For your convenience, our center has made these documents available through a secure online database. You can access it here. 

Here is a “How To” video to guide you on through completing the releases.

SCD Academic Hotline (For CHOP Patients Only): For assistance with completing the yearly school-related releases of information or to connect with a staff member to discuss a pressing academic concern, call the SCD academic hotline at (267) 425-0474 and a staff member will return your call to gather necessary information on how best to assist you.

Connect With Us: If your student is not treated at CHOP and you would like to learn more information about the school-related supports we have in place, please contact us via email at SickleCellCenter@email.chop.edu.