Boston Region Newsletter
November 6, 2019
News and Updates for School Nurses
MDPH News and Updates
Welcome to Karen Robitaille, Director of School Health Services at the MDPH School Health Unit! Karen started her new position on Tuesday, October 15, 2019, and we are thrilled to have her in this critical role as the leader of School Health and School Nursing! Karen will be very busy over the next several weeks as she completes the MDPH orientation and trainings.
AND
Welcome back to Caitlin Pettengill, Assistant Director of School Health Services! Caitlin returned a few weeks ago from maternity leave. Congratulations on the birth of her beautiful baby girl Emma!
Watch this space!
BOSTON REGIONAL NEWS
November 6, 2019
Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to those who are new to School Nursing! The Boston Region is a new region and I am new to this role as is the new MDPH Director of the School Health Unit, Karen Robitaille! The Comprehensive School Health Services grant is new, too, so we will all embark on an exciting new journey filled with opportunity together.
For those of you whom I haven't met, I hope we connect soon. These newsletters will be my primary form of communication and information dissemination. I welcome any feedback that you have regarding this new practice - feel free to email me: mobrien@bostonpublicschools.org
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you on Thursday November 21st at the Boston Regional Meeting at the Clark Middle School in Chelsea. I hope we'll all be old friends soon!
Warm regards,
Mary Jane
Marie Washington to retire!
After 21 years in Chelsea Public Schools as a professional school nurse and educator, most recently as the School Nurse Leader, Marie has decided to retire in December of 2019. Marie describes her work as a wonderful, enriching experience. Congratulations, Marie!
Please wish Marie a long, happy and healthy retirement!
UPCOMING MEETING REMINDERS
School and Community Health Equity Needs Assessment (SCHENA)
Thursday, November 7, 2019
DoubleTree by Hilton, Westborough, MA
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.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!
CSHS Nurse Leader Meeting
December 3, 2019
DoubleTree by Hilton, Westborough, MA
8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
These meetings are required for all CSHS funded Model and Affiliate programs. They also open to ALL other School Nurses. There is a fee for these meetings. Please register for these meetings on BU SHIELD site HERE!
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Webinar: School Nurses and Our Supervisors: Do We Speak the Same Language?
Monday, Nov. 11 from 3-4 p.m. EST
Presented by Dr. Lee-Ann Halbert, EdD, JD, RN, MSN, CNM, CNE, NCSN
The goal of this presentation is to enable school nurses to identify areas of misunderstandings and miscommunications between the nurse and the supervisor regarding school nursing practice. Armed with this information the nurse is better able to provide the most effective care to the individual students, the school as a whole, and the larger community. Register here.
Massachusetts Partnership for Youth Forum November 12, 2019: Halting the Vaping Epidemic
The conference takes place at the Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School in Easton, MA from 8:45 am - 2:30 pm on November 12, 2019.
Click here for more information about the forum.
WEBINAR: Getting to Know the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model
Thursday November 14, 2019
An introduction to The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, an evidenced-based model will be presented. The collaborative model highlights key school health components to ensure students are safe, engaged, supported, challenged and healthy.
Upcoming SBIRT Training in Boston
Massachusetts law requires verbal substance use health screenings in public schools, and SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment) is being used as a comprehensive approach to meet this mandate. This course includes both live classroom and online training content. Health professionals seeking contact hours and nurses seeking licensure as school nurses must complete all components of this course.
November 18, 2019
Crosstown Center Building, Boston Medical Center, 801 Massachusetts Ave,Boston, MA 02119
Click here for more information.
Children's Hospital Evening Series
Click here: Boston Children's Hospital @ Waltham; Deveber Conference Room - register early!
Tuesday 11/19/19 - Autism Spectrum Disorders: What You Need to Know
Wednesday 12/11/19 - Using Singing Bowls & Crystals to Support Nursing
2020 Dates/Topics to be determined
VAPING PREVENTION/TREATMENT RESOURCES
The Vaping Epidemic
Vaping by youth has become what the U.S. Surgeon General calls an epidemic. In response, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has developed an awareness campaign with materials for middle and high school youth in addition to offering two new services for youth who want to quit tobacco and nicotine.
In Massachusetts, 20% of high school students reported currently using e-cigarettes; many are unaware of the facts about and the dangers of vaping. The campaign found at mass.gov/vaping provides facts for young people comparing vapes and cigarettes: both put nicotine and cancer-causing chemicals in their body and both are highly addictive and dangerous for young people. Printed materials for youth, including a handout, poster and mirror clings, are available to order or download at https://massclearinghouse.ehs.state.ma.us/category/Vaping.html along with useful information for adults.
The vaping epidemic has led parents, schools and youth-serving organizations to struggle with how to help youth who are addicted to nicotine and want to quit. Now, two new programs are available to help Massachusetts youth become nicotine- and tobacco-free.
This is Quitting
This is Quitting powered by truth® is a texting program for young people who want to quit vaping. It is a free, confidential 30-day program during which youth receive texts with information, tips, and support. They receive daily text messages to help them prepare to quit and supportive texts from young people who have been through the program. They can also, text “CRAVE,” “SLIP,” or “STRESS” at any time for support, or “MASSINFO” for information specific to Massachusetts. Youth can sign up even if they aren’t ready to quit – the texts they receive will give them things to think about when making that decision.
To enroll in the program, youth text “VapeFreeMass” to 88709. Youth can also connect with their school nurse, counselor, or coach to help get them started. The program also serves as a resource for parents/guardians looking to help their children who vape.
Parents and other adults can also text “QUIT” to 202-899-7550 to sign up to receive text messages designed specifically for parents of vapers.
Note: This is Quitting powered by truth® is a national program. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health, in collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School Center for Tobacco Treatment Research & Training, has partnered with truth® to offer messaging and information specific to Massachusetts youth.
My Life, My Quit
My Life, My QuitTM is a specially designed program to help young people quit vaping or other tobacco products. My Life, My QuitTM provides five free and confidential coaching sessions by phone, live texting, or chat with specially-trained youth coach specialists. Youth can text "Start My Quit" to 855-891-9989 or call toll-free 1-855-891-9989 for real-time coaching. They can also visit mylifemyquit.com to sign up online, chat with a live coach, get information about vaping and tobacco, and find activities to help them quit. The program can send out materials and a certificate at the end of the program.
My Life, My QuitTM is a program of National Jewish Health, the vendor for the Massachusetts Smokers’ Helpline. The My Life, My QuitTM program combines best practices for youth tobacco cessation adapted to include vaping and new ways to reach a coach using live text messaging or online chat.
Specially trained youth coach specialists emphasize that the decision to stop is personal, and provide information to help cope with stress, navigate social situations and support developing a tobacco-free identity.
For more information about My Life, My QuitTM visit mylifemyquit.com and click on Parents/Guardians under the Resources tab.
Concerned adults can learn much more about vaping at GetOutraged.org. You can see what vaping products look like and get answers to frequently asked questions. A toolkit of resources for schools and community-based organizations is available there as well.
Talking with young people about vaping is essential—youth need to know that vaping is harmful and that help is available for those who want to quit. To learn more, visit GetOutraged.org
Massachusetts Vaping Emergency Updates
- Updates found at: www.mass.gov/vapingemergency
- Massachusetts vaping related pulmonary injury weekly update every Wednesday
- Vaping cessation for adults: www.mass.gov/quitvaping
- Nicotine Replacement Therapy Poster for Providers
- MassHealth members have no out of pocket costs for NRT
- A pharmacist may dispense NRT to a person who is under 18 if the person has a patient-specific prescription.
- The MA Health Promotion Clearinghouse has updated resources
DPH Making Smoking History:
http://makesmokinghistory.org/dangers-of-vaping/
Clinical advisory on Vaping Associated Lung Injury Reporting:
https://www.mass.gov/news/clinical-advisory-on-vaping-associated-lung-injury-reporting
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
CSHS Payment Update from Juliet Berk
Comprehensive School Health Services grant funds will be disbursed in two installments. Each district received an e-mail with an attached MA state Payment Voucher (PV) that reflects the first disbursement to their CSHS program for FY 2020. This covers all CSHS program expenses from July 1, 2019 to December 30, 2019. Juliet requests that the PV's be printed and signed in blue ink on the “Vendor Certification” portion shaded in grey. Do not scan, fax, copy or email the PVs. Return this signed PV by snail mail/or courier services as soon as possible to Juliet's attention at:
Juliet Berk
Division of Child/Adolescent Health and Reproductive Health
Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02108
Upon receipt of the signed PV DPH will electronically transfer the requested funds into the school/district bank account on file with DPH. Please note that the second and last disbursement for FY 2020 will be processed in the same manner in later months.
Attention ESHS Nurse Leaders
FY19 ESHS FINAL RECONCILIATION is due November 15, 2019
If you haven't received this form, contact Juliet Berk at MDPH - contact info is listed below.
LICENSURE
Board of Registration in Nursing
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
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
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