Boston Region Newsletter
News and updates for the 2019-2020 school year
January 21, 2020 (Volume 2 for January 2020)
Dear Colleagues,
I hope the long weekend was restful and you are transitioning back to work smoothly. Please find relevant State and Regional updates and resources below!
A goal of the MA DPH School Health Service unit is to promote equity in communication among school nurses across Massachusetts. This newsletter conveys important updates, news and vital information from MA DPH. It is also intended to support school nurses and enhance their practice in the specialized, independent, and often isolated school nurse role.
Feel free to notify me of any school nurse who needs to be added to the Listserv.
Please share this newsletter with other nurses in your district and/or your local area who may not be receiving the information.
Warm regards,
Mary Jane
In this issue:
1. MDPH School Health Unit Communications
- Influenza and School Closings Guidance
2. CSHS Upcoming Meetings Reminders
3. Clinical Updates
4. Resources for School Nurses and Others
- Upcoming National Certification Test Dates
- City of Boston CHNA and area hospitals' CHNAs
- Children's Vision Resources
- BORN License Requirements
5. Conferences/Training Opportunities
- School-Based Medicaid Program (SBMP) Training
- Boston Children's Programs
- Allergy & Asthma Network presents a webinar on Atopic Dermatitis
- Using SBIRT to Talk to Adolescents about Substance Use - four-part series
- Save-the-Date for Oral Health Equity Summit
6. Questions to the Group
7. Resources/Links To Be Included in Every Newsletter
- Healthy Schools Toolkit
- Asthma Toolkit for Schools
- BU SHIELD Resources
- Field Trip Tool Kit
- Managing Life-Threatening Allergies in Schools Manual
- HIPAA and FERPA Guidance Materials
- Consultation for PCPs re: Adolescent Substance Abuse
- MA Flu Season Weekly Reports
- MA DPH School Health Services Unit
- MDPH Comprehensive School Health Manual
- Guidelines for Choosing PD Offerings Paid by CSHS Funds
- CSHS Model & Affiliated Program Data Requirements
- State Reports for Both Funded and Non-Funded School
- MDPH School Health Unit Contact Information
- State Regional Consultants Contact Information
Influenza!
There are no DPH guidelines for closing schools during times of increased influenza activity.
Schools/districts should work closely with local public health department (and if there is none, then they can contact the infectious disease liaison at DPH: Infectious Disease Questions/Issues: State Lab (617) 983-6800 https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-infectious-disease-and-laboratory-sciences) to determine how to best address the situation in each community.
Schools should stay open to provide warmth, stability and food for our students unless there are not enough adults to safely provide supervision. Here are some steps recommended by the CDC to address influenza in the school community:
· Custodians may be directed to pay special attention to frequently touched surfaces with district-approved cleaning agents, but it is not necessary to close schools to “disinfect” them: “studies have shown that the flu virus can live and potentially infect a person for only 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on a surface. Therefore, special sanitizing processes beyond routine cleaning, including closing schools to clean every surface in the building, are not necessary or recommended to slow the spread of flu, even during a flu outbreak”. (https://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/guidance.htm)
· Sick people should stay home until they are fever-free for 24 hours and other disease-spreading behaviors (ie coughing, sneezing, runny nose) are under control.
· Practice and model good hygiene, including: use of tissues, teaching to cough into sleeves and HANDWASHING.
For more information see this very helpful guidance document from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/school/guidance.htm
Until next time, be well!
Karen
Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN
< she, her, hers>
Director of School Health Services
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Bureau of Community Health & Prevention
250 Washington Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02108
617-624-5427
Upcoming Meeting Reminders
School and Community Health Equity Needs Assessment (SCHENA)
February 11, 2019 Webinar
9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
These meetings are required for all CSHS Model Programs and optional for CSHS Affiliate Programs. Those who are registered are able to access meetings and webinars HERE!
Additional Upcoming SCHENA Meeting Dates:
- 3/17/2020 - Live Course: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, DoubleTree, Westborough
- 4/14/2020 - Webinar: 9:00-10:30 AM
- 5/19/2020 - Live Course: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM, DoubleTree, Westborough
CSHS NURSE LEADER MEETINGS (State-wide) REGISTER HERE.
- Thursday, March 5, 2020- Westborough, MA 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
- Monday, April 13, 2020 Westborough, MA 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
- Thursday, May 21, 2020- Westborough, MA 8:30 AM-3:00 PM
- Mandatory for CSHS Model & Affiliate Recipients
Clinical Updates
Resources for School Nurses, Staff and Others
National Board of Certification of School Nurses Certification Examination:
Become a Nationally Certified School Nurse (NCSN)!
The exam will be available to three testing windows in 2020:
Spring Testing Window: March 5 – 18, 2020
Registration: November 14, 2019 – February 5, 2020
Summer Testing Window: July 9 – August 5, 2020
Registration: March 19 – June 9, 2020
Fall Testing Window: November 5 – 18, 2020
Registration Window: August 6 – October 5, 2020
For further information, please see https://www.nbcsn.org/ncsn/examination/
Please remember as of January 1, 2020, Eligibility Requirements changed.
Eligible candidates must:
- Submit a copy of their license as a registered nurse (RN) in one of the United States.
- Submit an academic transcript or proof of current certification, demonstrating attainment of one of the following: *A bachelor’s degree or higher in nursing or the equivalent in other countries OR current certification by NBCSN as an NCSN.
- Meet the clinical practice requirements of a minimum of 1,000 hours that have been worked within the three years prior to taking the test. 1000 hours is roughly equivalent to the hours worked by a full-time school nurse who works at least 6 hours/day for a school year of 180 days documented by a note on letterhead from your supervisor or district official. See below for more information about clinical practice requirements.
- Complete the online application to take the certification examination for school nurses.
- Pay the required fee.
For further information, please see https://www.nbcsn.org/ncsn/eligibility/
A Six Week Online Study Group is offered through School Nurse Net.
Candidates for the online study group have to be MSNO members. To join the study group, sign into School Nurse Net through NASN website, use the drop down on upper right to go to Communities and find “National Certification Exam Candidates”. The next online study group will begin on Friday, January 31, 2020! Please pass the word on to your colleagues who are interested in sitting for the exam in the Spring of 2020.
Any questions contact
Pat Hoban, NBCSN MA. Liaison
Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) and Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) for the City of Boston
The Boston CHNA-CHIP Collaborative is an initiative among a number of stakeholders including community organizations, health centers, hospitals and the Boston Public Health Commission to undertake the CHNA and formulate a CHIP for Boston.
Over 100 groups and organizations representing health care, public health, education, community development, social services, economic development, housing, transportation, the environment, and other sectors were involved in this process.
The 432 page Boston CHNA report for 2019 is here. Key findings are being used to guide a health improvement plan to address the prioritized needs identified in the 2019 CHNA, creating a healthier future for all people in Boston and surrounding communities.
CHNAs from area hospitals
Key themes include how poverty impacts child and community health, access to stable and affordable housing, concerns about food access and insecurity and the importance of prevention and focus on early childhood. Health issues of concern for families continue to be around asthma, obesity and mental/behavioral health.
THINK OF VISION! A NEW Vision Guide for Teachers:
Clear vision plays a fundamental role in a child's overall development, and their ability to learn and participate fully in their world. But signs of a vision problem in children can be subtle.
The new Guide alerts teachers of students at grade school and older, to signs and symptoms that, if repeatedly observed in the classroom, may indicate an untreated vision disorder, requiring evaluation by an eye doctor.
The Guide follows THINK OF VISION: Guide for Preschool Teachers released last year by Children's Vision of Massachusetts (CVMA).
Click here to download the Teacher Guides: for Preschool, and School-aged Children.
Please share these Guides with parents and educators!
Childhood Vision Fact Sheets Available in Many Languages
New childhood vision fact-sheets are available to download and print, in seven languages @ Prevent Blindness Ohio.
Find fact-sheets about Amblyopia and Strabismus in English and Spanish.
Click here to find more translations and fact sheets in Arabic, Somali, Spanish, Chinese, French, Russian and Ukranian.
A comprehensive eye exam from a pediatric eye doctor always includes a full ocular health assessment, including ocular pressure.
By detecting vision problems and treating them early, including those from glaucoma, we can help to avoid significant vision impairment.
MA BORN RN LICENSE RENEWAL REQUIREMENTS 2020
Alzheimer’s Training: Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112 §74, licensees must complete a one-time course of training and education in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with cognitive impairments, including, but not limited to, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. You must complete the course to satisfy license renewal requirements. This mandatory training can be included as a portion of the 15 contact hours required for license renewal. For a list of available trainings, please see pages 20-21 at the following link: http://patientcarelink.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/18-11-19ALZandDementiaFINAL.pdf.
https://ceufast.com/course/alzheimer-and-dementia
Domestic & Sexual Violence Training: Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 112 §264, all LPNs, RNs and APRNs must complete a one-time training on domestic and sexual violence. Visit https://www.mass.gov/service-details/domestic-and-sexual-violence-integration-initiatives for compliance information. Nurses who participated in an approved in-person training program will be considered to have met the requirement and do not need to take the online course by DPH. This mandatory training can be included as a portion of the 15 contact hours required for license renewal.
Conferences and Training Opportunities
School-Based Medicaid Program (SBMP) Training:
MassHealth, in conjunction with UMass Medical School, is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the February in-person regional trainings throughout the Commonwealth!
Please find information related to the training below as well as a link to register for one of the sessions.These sessions will be available in-person only, there will not be a livestream option. In-person attendance is required to ensure the best possible conversation and to take full advantage of the topics being covered in the trainings.
Please share this information with others in your LEA who would be appropriate for this training based on a review of the training topics outline included below.
What: School-Based Medicaid Program (SBMP) Training
Who: LEA stakeholders and primary contacts for the SBMP, specifically: Special Education Administrators, clinical leadership (e.g. nurse leaders and other lead service providers), Medicaid point-people.
When/Where: From 8:30 a.m.to 3 p.m., with continental breakfast and lunch provided, on:
Registration is restricted to 3 attendees per district. Click on the date/location above to register for the training.
Please complete one online registration form per individual.
Registrations are due no later than January 31st. Due to hotel capacity and meal ordering, the 1/31/20 deadline is firm - please register ASAP so you don't miss out!
Training Topics
In response to LEA requests, the focus of these training sessions will be topics related to the Direct Service Claiming (DSC) program requirements. To assist LEAs in determining the most appropriate individuals to send to a training session, please review the outline of training topics:
- Medicaid and Education - shared language/vocabulary
- Diagnosis Coding
- Clinical authorization and documentation requirements
- Medical Necessity
- Monitoring program compliance
- Workgroup collaboration session
- Program Expansion Success Stories
What's next?
Stay tuned! Additional details regarding training materials will be included in an email sent in advance of your training date.
Thank you for your continued commitment to the School-Based Medicaid Program.
School-Based Medicaid Claiming Team
Commonwealth Medicine
Toll Free: (800) 535-6741
Boston Children’s Hospital’s Community Education Initiative presents:
RETELL For School Nurses
The RETELL for School Nurses program was specifically designed to meet the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s RETELL licensure recertification requirements for all educators to receive training related to teaching English Language Learners, and in effective schooling for students with disabilities and instruction of students with diverse learning styles.
The videos included in this program were filmed over the past two years at live programming at Children’s Hospital Waltham location. The RETELL for School Nurses Program will be available only over the next two years in order to provide only current information to school nurses. You will receive two contact hours and/or two Professional development Points for the program.
The RETELL for School Nurses Program was developed with the support of Boston Children’s Hospital’s Medicine Patient Services Department, the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston, and the LEND Boston program.
Choose from the two course categories below to find out more about the courses offered and to enroll in individual courses.
Each course requires a payment of $40. When you register, you will find a link to PayPal.
Course fee is non-refundable once course videos have been viewed.
Allergy & Asthma Network presents a webinar on Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease caused by an immune system reaction.
Join us for our next webinar -- "When Atopic Dermatitis is Difficult to Control" -- on Thursday, Jan. 23 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
We will be joined by William E. Berger, MD, board-certified allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Associates of Southern California in Mission Viejo, California.
Using SBIRT to Talk to Adolescents about Substance Use - four-part series
One of the largest barriers to providing appropriate substance use services to adolescents is getting them to open up about their use and engage in conversation to reduce or eliminate it, if necessary. This four-part webinar series introduces health professionals to the SBIRT model as a way to learn from adolescents about their substance use, talk about what might motivate them to make a decision to reduce or abstain (if needed), and execute a plan to do so.
The first webinar on January 29, 2020 discusses the value, rationale for, and evidence of using the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model with adolescents as well as the use of valid, brief screening tools for substance use and other risk factors and how to determine the recommended level of intervention based on level of risk.
The second on February 19, 2020 and third webinars on March 11, 2020 demonstrate how to deliver brief interventions using the Brief Negotiated Interview (BNI) informed by motivational interviewing (MI) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
The fourth webinar on April 1, 2020 outlines how to provide referrals to treatment, where appropriate, and facilitate linkages and follow-up to adolescents who screen at-risk.
Along with cutting-edge, evidence-based education, the expert presenters will provide sample scripts and role plays so participants gain strategies to use right away with adolescents in many settings. This free education is ideal for anyone who wishes to gain an in-depth understanding of SBIRT and its use with adolescents, designed for both those who are new to SBIRT and for those who want more advanced training beyond an overview.
Produced in partnership with the Adolescent SBIRT Project, NORC at the University of Chicago, the BIG Initiative, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation.
Resources for School Health Staff and Others
Questions for the region's Nurse Leaders/Nurse Administrators
Please see the following questions from our school health colleagues seeking collaboration. Answers/Information can be sent to the contact information provided for each question. Your sharing of information and resources is greatly appreciated.
- Does your district have a written job description for the school nurse? Is it in the contract or does it stand alone? Are you willing to share it with me? Do your expectations for the school nurses include any responsibility for membership with the local Medical Reserve Corps (such as flu clinics, pandemic planning etc). Please send replies to Tricia Laham, Brookline Public Schools, email address tricia_laham@psbma.org.
- Does anyone have guidelines or a protocol for assigning 1:1 nursing status to students? Please send replies to Ruth Hoshino, Newton Public Schools, email address hoshinor@newton.k12.ma.us.
- How do other districts provide coverage for 1:1 nurses to have a lunch break away from their students? Please send replies to Mary Heater, Woburn Public Schools, email address mheater@woburnps.com.
- Seeking any information, past experiences, policy, protocol, etc., from other school districts who have used therapy dogs to decrease stress due to test anxiety during midterms and finals. Please send replies to Beth Rumley, Belmont Public Schools, email address mrumley@belmont.k12.ma.us.
*If you are seeking any information from your regional colleagues please let me know and your question(s) for the group will be included here. I can also send your question(s) to the other regional consultants to include in their newsletters to allow for further outreach.
Resources/Links In Every Newsletter
Guidelines for Choosing PD Offerings Paid for by CSHS Funds
Guidelines for choosing professional development offerings paid for by CSHS funds
The following guidelines should serve as guidance for school nurse leaders and individual school nurses under the Model and Affiliate CSHS grants for choosing professional development offerings that will be paid for by CSHS grant funds. This guidance can be considered updated guidance from the CSHS Q & A developed after the CSHS Nurse Leader Orientation meeting in September, 2019. Funded districts may make decisions regarding professional development independently, providing the offering in question falls into one of the following categories:
· Grant funds can be used for registration fees for and travel to MDPH required meetings.
· Grant funds can be used for registration fees for and travel to any Boston University School Health Institute for Education and Leadership Development (SHIELD) trainings.
· Grant funds can be used for registration fees for and travel to any in-state professional development offered by high quality continuing education providers.
High quality continuing education providers are those that meet the standards set by the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN)[1] AND the National Board for Certification of School Nurses (NBCSN)[2]. MDPH will allow grant funds to be used for registration and travel related to professional development presented or approved by the following organizations:
· National Association of School Nurses or other nursing specialty organizations accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
· Continuing Medical Education credentialing agencies.
· Colleges and Universities accredited by state, regional and federal (as U.S. Department of Education) accrediting boards.
· Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN).
· Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH).
· Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
· Authoritative federal entities (example: FDA, CDC).
Additionally, organizations such as hospitals and state nursing associations may work with accredited providers to provide continuing education programs and should note the provider/accreditation name on certificates. ALL certificates of attendance must include the name of the approved accreditation or certification body.
Additional considerations:
· If a desired program/topic area is offered by BU SHIELD, then BU SHIELD will be the preferred provider, unless otherwise approved by MDPH.
· Contact hours must be offered and all contact hours must be in subjects related to school health practice and should be consistent with MDPH contract objectives.
· Offerings must be a planned program of learning that includes written objectives which describe expected outcomes, and a program evaluation that allows participants to provide feedback on the program.
· Online courses and webinars are acceptable if approved by one of the credentialing organizations recognized in this document.
· Courses which are considered basic nursing preparation are not acceptable (i.e. CPR and First Aid). The exception is if these courses are to be delivered to non-licensed staff for the purpose of increasing capacity for emergency preparedness in the school setting.
· MDPH may request, at any time, for the grantee to demonstrate how the course content promotes expertise in school health, is relevant to the practice of school nursing, and is consistent with MDPH contract objectives.
For additional questions or further clarification of contract and budget related issues, please contact Juliet Berk at juliet.berk1@state.ma.us.
[1] https://www.mass.gov/regulations/244-CMR-500-continuing-education
DATA REQUIREMENTS for CSHS & NON-CSHS PROGRAMS
CSHS Model, Affiliated, and Non-funded program data requirements
MANDATED Reporting Reminders for CSHS Model and Affiliate Funded Programs
CSHS MONTHLY REPORT INFO
The correct link to the Monthly report form is shown below:
https://mdph.checkboxonline.com/MonthlyReport-2020.survey
Questions related to CSHS mandated grant reporting should go to: dph_eshs_data@dph.state.ma.us
All CSHS Report forms and instructions can be found here: CSHS pdf forms 2019-2020
Clicking the link will download a zip file.
CSHS Budget Questions:
Questions related to CSHS budget and spending can be directed to Juliet Berk at juliet.berk1@state.ma.us
State Reports for Non-CSHS Funded Schools
Epinephrine administration report form:
https://mdph.checkboxonline.com/Epinephrine-Report-2020.survey
SBIRT data report form: This is an Excel spreadsheet that needs to be downloaded, completed, and then returned as an email attachment.
Single user version: SBIRT data collection form 2019-2020 (Single screener)
Multiple user version SBIRT data collection form 2019-2020 (Multiple screeners)
If the file does not automatically download, but opens in Excel, click “ok” when prompted then select “save as” and then save the file to a folder of your choosing (you can re-name the file if needed).
BMI report form: This report is required of districts that are not funded through the CSHS program. CSHS-funded districts and schools should NOT submit a separate BMI report. This report is optional for non-public school districts.
https://mdph.checkboxonline.com/SchoolHealth2020.survey
Asthma and Diabetes Survey questions may be directed via email to the project mailbox at DPH-BEH-Asthma@state.ma.us or via telephone to 617- 624-5757. Please ask for the Pediatric Asthma Coordinator.
School Immunization Survey information can be found here: https://www.mass.gov/lists/school-immunization-surveys
Concussion Report information can be found here: Head injury and concussion information for schools, school staff, coaches, athletic trainers, and volunteers | Mass.gov
Questions? E-mail your question to: DPH_ESHS_data@MassMail.State.MA.US
CONTACT INFORMATION
For MDPH School Health Unit:
Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN
Director of School Health
Phone: (617) 624-5427
Caitlin Pettengill, DNP, RN
Assistant Director of School Health
Phone: (617) 624-6058
Email: caitlin.pettengill@state.ma.us
Juliet Sithole-Berk, MPA, MSCED
Unit Coordinator
Phone: (617) 624-5447
Email: Juliet.Berk1@State.ma.us
Robert Leibowitz, Ph.D.
Epidemiologist
Email: robert.leibowitz@state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 624-5474
Fax: (617) 624-6062
Evelyn Levenson (interim)
Medication Program Coordinator
Phone: 617) 624-6013
Fax: (617) 624-6062
Email: evelyn.levenson@state.ma.us
Click here for more information from MDPH School Health Unit
Statewide Regional School Nurse Consultants:
Boston
Mary Jane O'Brien, PhD, RN, CPNP, NCSN
mobrien@bostonpublicschools.org
(617) 635-6788
Metro West
Jill Connolly, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
jill.connolly@braintreeschools.org
(781) 848-4000 x7841
Central
Janet Guertin-Moruzzi BSN, RN, NCSN
(781) 392-7726
Northeast
Shanyn A. Toulouse, MEd, BSN, RN NCSN
shanyn.toulouse@haverhill-ps.org
(978) 420-1919
Southeast
Ann M. Linehan, DNP, MSN, RN
(508) 580-7363
West
Veronica Webb Barrett, MSN, MA Ed Psych, RN, HNB-BC
webbv@springfieldpublicschools.com
(413) 896-8100
Contact info for Mary Jane
Mary Jane O'Brien, PhD, RN, CPNP, NCSN
Comprehensive School Health Services
Greater Boston Regional Consultant
Boston Public Schools
443 Warren Street
Suite #2
Boston, MA 02121
Email: mobrien@bostonpublicschools.org
Website: https://www.bucme.org/node/1076
Location: Boston Public Schools Health Services, Warren Street, Boston, MA, USA
Phone: 617 635 6788