MID -JANUARY NEWS FROM THE WEST
Here's what's going on in Mid-January (vol.VI)
Hello To All
A new goal of the MA DPH School Health Service unit is to promote equity in communication among school nurses across Massachusetts. Please assist my efforts to ensure every Western MA school nurse is receiving the bimonthly newsletter. The newsletter is a means of conveying important updates, news and vital information to keep all Western MA school nurses “in the know” with what’s going on in our region and across the state. It is also intended to support school nurses and enhance school nurse practice in the specialized and often isolated school nurse role. Please share the newsletter with any school nurse who you believe may not be receiving the information. Feel free to notify me of any school nurse who needs to be added to the Listserv.
Sincerely,
Veronica
DPH SCHOOL HEALTH UNIT UPDATES
There are no DPH guidelines for closing schools. Schools/districts should work closely with local public health (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.
The following 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 onto 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
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
Surgeon General Vice Adm. Jerome M. Adams advisory emphasizing the importance of protecting youth from the health risks of marijuana use. “There is a false perception that marijuana is not as harmful as other drugs. I want to be very clear – no amount of marijuana use during adolescence is known to be safe,” said Surgeon General Adams.
January is Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Intervention Unit of the Hampden District Attorney’s Office has a newly decorated bulletin board for Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month! The display offers important information on statistics and hotline numbers. Open the pdf attachments to view information and handouts on Indicators of Human Trafficking and Different Types of Trafficking .
COMPASSION CORNER
Dear Western MA Colleagues,
Please submit:
- Information for statewide community support.
- Words of encouragement for colleagues
- Nursisms (your humorous, funny or touching one, two or three liners)
- Advice for new school nurses
- Short poems
QUESTION FOR THE GROUP
A colleague has asked the following question: " if anyone knows what percentage of school nurses are on the teachers contract or where that information is posted could you please respond to groverp@acrsd.net".
UPCOMING MEETINGS
West Regional Meeting
Registration online: HERE .
Next meeting date: April 1st, 2020
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 08:30 AM
Shriners Hospitals for Children 516 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104
SCHENA
- 2/11/2020 - Webinar: 9:00-10:30 AM
- 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
- Attendance required for all Model grant awardees. Optional for Affiliate programs and all others. Course in progress - registration time period has ended.
*If having trouble registering on any of the above links, please call 617-358-5005.
School-Based Medicaid Program (SBMP) Training
Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided
Agenda topics will be distributed before winter break, along with registration information.
School-Based Medicaid Program
UMass Medical School 333 South St. Shrewsbury MA, 01545
Toll Free: 1-800-535-6741
Fax: 508-856-7643
Wednesday, Feb 12, 2020, 08:30 AM
Chicopee, MA
CSHS Nurse Leader Meeting
Register online at HERE .
Thursday, Mar 5, 2020, 08:30 AM
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston - Westborough, Computer Drive, Westborough, MA, USA
REMINDER: December 17th CSHS Nurse Leader Meeting has been rescheduled to April 13, 2020
If you are unable to attend in April, please contact BU›CMECNE office:
Email: shieldbu@bu.edu Phone: 617.358.5005 | Toll-Free: 800.688.2475
Massachusetts Case Probes the Role Schools Play in Teen Suicide Prevention
Christina worried when she found her 16-year-old boyfriend, Jacob Goyette, drunk and crying at school in the spring of 2018. A sophomore at a suburban Massachusetts high school, Christina already knew too many people who had died by suicide. Her mind immediately went to the worst-case scenario.So Christina says she left Jacob with a friend and headed to the social worker for help. Christina told her she was worried about Jacob's mental health and says she was promised that word would get to his family. But Christina says that's not what happened. Less than two months later, she received the worst news possible: Jacob killed himself in his backyard treehouse."They didn't do anything," said Christina...Now Jacob's mother, Shannon Goyette, says she's planning to sue the school district for failing to protect her son from harm. Goyette's attorney, Jeffrey Beeler, sent a letter to the school district in September saying it is "inexcusable" that school officials didn't notify her about Christina's concerns."
Nate Horwitz-Willis, DrPH, MPH, MPA, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Public Health Practice at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences University and Public Health Officer for Mass Air Nat’l Guard at Joint Base Cape Cod. Nate will discuss social determinants of health, health-related social needs, and cultural humility, connecting these concepts to the school nurse role.
School Nurses Leading Student Population Health: Addressing the Social Determinants of Health and Health-Related Social Needs through a lens of Cultural Humility
Blue Jeans Video-conferencing link is given after payment and will be re-emailed
24 hours prior to the webinar.
Tuesday, Jan 28, 2020, 03:30 PM
undefined
New Webinar: Strategies for Combating Racism in Health Systems
Thursday, Feb 13, 2020, 03:00 PM
undefined
RETELL for School nurses, two new online programs available now.
Transforming Education for Social Justice Conference
The Transforming Education for Social Justice Conference is a regional conference that brings together people in Western Massachusetts who are interested in social justice and equity in K-12 schools, early childhood classrooms, and the surrounding communities.
Participants at this regional conference will examine the specific regional challenges that young people are facing in our education system which are central to their lives and to the vitality of our communities. As we examine the challenges, we will also look to each other for visions and practices that can guide our work towards transforming education for social justice.
Conference sessions will cover a variety of social justice and equity topics as they relate to K-12 schools.
For more information, contact:
Erin Sullivan, Professional Development
413.588.5981 esullivan@collaborative.org
Saturday, Mar 14, 2020, 08:30 AM
Integrative Learning Center, UMass Amherst, MA
IMMUNIZATION INFORMATION AND UPDATES
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
REMINDERS FOR CSHS FUNDED PROGRAMS:
CSHS Budget Questions:
Questions related to CSHS budget and spending can be directed to Juliet Berk at
State Reports for Non-CSHS Funded Schools:
Epinephrine administration report form HERE
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).
Asthma and Diabetes Survey questions may be directed via email to the project mailbox HERE or via telephone to 617- 624-5757. Please ask for the Pediatric Asthma Coordinator.
Concussion Report: Head injury and concussion information for schools, school staff, coaches, athletic trainers, and volunteers | Mass.gov
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
Questions?
E-mail your question to: DPH_ESHS_data@MassMail.State.MA.USCHs-
RECURRING BUTTON LINKS FOR EASY ACCESS TO HELPFUL INFORMATION
TOOL KITS
Resources for Quitting All Forms of Tobacco Including Vaping
MA Department of Public Health: School Health Unit
Contact Information:
Karen Robitaille MBA,MSN, RN, NCSN
Director of School Health
Phone(617) 624-5427
Email: Karen.Robitaille2@state.ma.us
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 Administration
Program Coordinator
Email: evelyn.levenson@state.ma.us
Phone: 617) 624-6013
Fax: (617) 624-6062
School Health Unit Information and Resources https://www.mass.gov/orgs/school-health-services
Statewide Regional School Nurse Consultant Contacts:
Boston
Mary Jane O'Brien, PhD, RN, CPNP, NCSN
mobrien@bostonpublicschools.org
(617) 635-6788
Central
Janet Guertin-Moruzzi BSN, RN, NCSN
(781) 392-7726
Metro West
Jill Connolly, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
jill.connolly@braintreeschools.org
(781) 848-4000 x7841
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
Contact Information
WEST
Veronica Webb Barrett
MSN, MA Ed Psych, RN, HNB-BC
webbv@springfieldpublicschools.com
413-896-8100