JANUARY NEWS FROM THE WEST
Here's what's going on in January (vol.V)
HAPPY NEW YEAR !
Welcome Back.
Sincerely,
Veronica
A MESSAGE FROM KAREN, DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL HEALTH
Greetings and Happy New year from the MDPH School Health Unit!
I’ve just binged-watched the third season of The Crown, and one of my favorite “characters” so far is John Lithgow’s Winston Churchill. A Churchill quote I think is most appropo for Massachusetts School Health Services in this new decade is:
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.”
2020. Can you believe it? It’s not enough that we have a brand new grant and new leadership to navigate, but a whole new decade too? I suppose Churchill would point out that improvement cannot happen without change, so change we must not only learn to endure, but actually embrace. However, I think I’ll leave perfection to those better equipped!
One change I would like to highlight, however, is the timing of submission of your medication delegation application. We are making some process improvements here in the School Health Unit, and one of those is to accept applications on a rolling basis, instead of processing them in batches, with the majority having traditionally been done over the summer. What does this mean for you? If you are the manager of the medication delegation program in your school/district, keep an eye on your expiration date and request an application at least two months in advance. We will now process applications as they arrive here at DPH, and turnaround times continue to improve, dependent on the accuracy/thoroughness of the application. If you have questions about the application, please feel free to contact Caitlin Pettengill (caitlin.pettengill@state.ma.us) to set up a phone call so she can help you send in an application that can be processed quickly! And lastly, don’t forget to check on the timing of your last required training; nurse managers of the program need to attend DPH approved training every five years. You can find upcoming programs that are offered through BU Shield here: https://www.bucme.org/node/1168.
Until next time, be well!
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
KUDOS AND CONGRATULATIONS !
Kelly Labombard Nurse Leader for East Longmeadow has shared some great New Year’s news.
She is proud to report that three East Longmeadow nurses have recently passed the NCSN exam. Let’s share in congratulating the following nurses:
Ann Haskell
Lori Barbeau
Tia Mazza
As well as the entire East Longmeadow team. They have all earned professional teacher's status.
DPH SCHOOL HEALTH UNIT UPDATES
The Massachusetts Child Psychiatry Access Program (MCPAP)
FYI! Nurses please pass along the following information to your student’s PCPs:
Beginning October 1, 2019, all Massachusetts pediatric primary care providers became eligible to access Boston Children’s Hospital Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP). Pediatric primary care providers can now call MCPAP and be connected to an adolescent substance use specialist for a consult. This is an exciting opportunity for MCPAP to support pediatricians in treating their patients and to increasing access to substance use disorder treatment for children and adolescents across the state of Massachusetts.”
Connecting Child Psychiatry with Primary Care
New guidance from the federal government about HIPAA and FERPA.
The U.S. Department of Education and the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released updated joint guidance addressing the application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy Rule to records maintained on students. Updated Joint Guidance on Privacy and Student Education and Health Records. HERE
Effective 2020
January- 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
UPCOMING MEETINGS REMINDERS
SCHENA
- 1/14/2020 - Webinar: 9:00-10:30 AM
- 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.
West Regional Meeting
Registration online: HERE .
Wednesday, Jan 29, 2020, 08:30 AM
Shriners Hospitals for Children 516 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104
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
CLINICAL UPDATES
Grant funding for Microspacer and Microchamber devices for Massachusetts school children:
Please be aware that the asthma spacers being offered, by the company Respiratory Delivery Systems, Inc. , to school nurses are not evidence based devices and should not be used. If you are contacted by Walter Makiej of Respiratory Delivery Systems Inc. the safest response would be to decline any offers for receiving the devices.
New Resource Released! Are you a healthcare provider or public health advocate looking to get your hands on a demonstration asthma inhaler device?
You’re in luck. MAAP is excited to release a new resource on how healthcare professionals may obtain free demonstration inhaler devices to provide patient education: How to Obtain Free Demonstration Devices for Commonly Used Inhalers for Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Management. This resource includes strategies on how to support the correct use of inhalers and a list of commonly used inhalers, including their respective drug indication, medication category, product website, and contact information to request free demonstration devices.
Access and save a copy of the resource here.
School Medicaid Billing for School Nurses: Where DO I Start with Documentation?
Blue Jeans Video Conferencing (Link available after registration) Will also be sent 24 hours ahead of webinar
Cost: $10
Contact Hours: 1
Tuesday, Jan 14, 2020, 03:30 PM
undefined
Teaching Health: It Starts with Preparation
This webinar will support school nurses who are teaching or preparing to teach health in a variety of settings, including the classroom.
Cost: $10
Contact Hours: 1.0
https://neusha.org/visit-neusha/index.php/face-to-face-overview/?conf_id=664
Thursday, Jan 16, 2020, 03:30 PM
undefined
New Session Added for "SBIRT in Schools"
Registration will open by mid-day on December 20th on the SHIELD website.
Friday, Jan 17, 2020, 08:00 AM
Crosstown Center 801 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, MA
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
QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP
Postural Screening Survey Participation Request: Doreen Crowe, Coordinator of Nursing Services Wilmington Public Schools, is interested in knowing how many districts Opt-in & Opt-out for postural screenings & the percentage of students that are actually screened annually. She has created the following survey if you are willing to share this information: https://forms.gle/vtnn3ekbbSakA51K6 . If you have any questions Doreen can be reached at Doreen.Crowe@wpsk12.com.
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
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