Boston Region Newsletter
November, 2019 Volume 2
News and Updates: Informing School Nurses of the Boston Region 2019-2020!
In this issue:
- Clinical Update: BAQSIMI (nasal glucagon)
- Professional Development: registration links to Children's Hospital Evening Series, Boston University's Managing Stress in Transition, DPH and AdCare's Introduction to Trauma Informed Treatment, Northeastern University Webinars of Medicaid billing and Talking about Sex, and UMass Amherst Seminar on Transforming Education for Social Justice Conference
- Resources: Vaping, the newly released Clearing the Air: An Asthma Toolkit for Healthy Schools, Welcoming Schools Gender Support Checklist, The Healthy Schools Toolkit, RespectFULLY, and a Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention
In every issue:
- MDPH School Health Unit News and Updates with a personal message from Karen Robitaille
- Boston Region News and meeting reminders with this volume containing registration links to the Boston Regional Meeting on 11/21/19, CSHS NL Meeting on 12/3/19 and SCHENA Webinar on 12/4/19
- Infectious Disease Bureau contact information
- Data requirements for CSHS and non-CSHS programs
- CSHS Payment Update
- Licensure links
- Link to the Comprehensive School Health Manual
- Contact information for DPH School Health Unit Personnel and all Regional Consultants
Happy Thanksgiving!
I know what I'm thankful for - everything you do for our students, families, schools and communities!
Wishing you all a very happy and restful Thanksgiving holiday!
With warmest regards,
Mary Jane
MDPH News and Updates
Greetings from DPH!
It has been a pleasure to spend much of my first weeks on the job at Regional Meetings and at the SCHENA training, which has meant lots of time with all of you!
I would like to extend my gratitude, first and foremost, to all of those in the Boston office who have been so welcoming and helpful. Medication Administration applications are up to date thanks to the hard work of Evelyn Levenson and Caitlin Pettengill, and grant reconciliation forms and most payment vouchers are also out thanks to Juliet Berk. The five (including Bob Leibowitz) SHU staff, under the leadership of the Division of Child/Adolescent Health and Reproductive Health Director Jill Clark, are coming together as a team to support you in the important work you do.
We are further supported by our six dedicated and incredibly resourceful Regional Consultants: Veronica Webb-Barrett (West), Janet Guertin-Moruzzi (Central), Jill Connelly (Metro-West), Ann Linehan (Southeast), Mary Jane O’Brien (Boston) and Shanyn Toulouse (Northeast). We could not have caught up with the med admin applications were it not for the help from Shanyn and Jill in particular, who came into the office over the summer to work on them.
Department contact information has been updated on the School Health Unit website (https://www.mass.gov/service-details/school-health-services-contact-information) with the exception of Evelyn’s contact information as the interim Medication Administration Program Coordinator (Evelyn.Levenson@MassMail.State.MA.US).
As I explained at the regional meetings, communications from the Department and your Regional Consultants will be streamlined via bi-monthly regional newsletters. We welcome your feedback on this new format!
I would like to extend my appreciation, in advance, for your patience with DPH staff as we all navigate the many transitions before us. This is a season of change for ALL of us, and whether you are someone who embraces change, or runs from it, it can still be unsettling, and may trigger feelings of worry, anxiety and frustration. I cannot stress enough that we are all in this together, and this is a time when we can utilize all those great community building skills we possess as school nurses and come together to support one another and build each other up.
I look forward to working together with all of you to continue to provide the young people of Massachusetts with world-class school health care!
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
BOSTON REGIONAL NEWS
UPCOMING MEETING REMINDERS
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!
School and Community Health Equity Needs Assessment (SCHENA)
December 4, 2019 Webinar
School and Community Health Equity Needs Assessment (SCHENA)
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!
*If having trouble registering on any of the above links, please call 617-358-5005.
CLINICAL UPDATE
Baqsimi (nasal glucagon)
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION
Children's Hospital Evening Series
Boston Children's Hospital @ Waltham; Deveber Conference Room - register early here and scroll down to see the latest offerings!
Tuesday 11/19/19 - Autism Spectrum Disorders: What You Need to Know
Wednesday 12/11/19 - Using Singing Bowls & Crystals to Support Nursing
Tuesday 1/21/20 - Energy Medicine for School Nurses: Practical Tools for Supporting Ourselves & Our Students
Boston University Professional Education Programs
MANAGING STRESS IN A TRANSITION
November 18th, 2019 // 6-8 PM
2 Nationally Approved CE Credit Hours // $50
Charles River Campus
More information available here.
Introduction to Trauma Informed Treatment
Introduction to Trauma-Informed Treatment with Adolescents
Date: December 10th, 2019
LOCATION: Beechwood Hotel
363 Plantation St., Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
Sponsored by: MA DPH and AdCare
Cost: $35.00
For more information click here.
Winter Webinar: School Medicaid Billing: Where DO I Start?
WHEN Thursday, Nov. 21st, 3:30-5pm
WHERE This is an online event.
MORE INFORMATION Thursday, Nov 21st, 3:30 - 5:00pm EST Overview, Requirements, Expansion & the Massachusetts experience (3:30- 4:30pm EST) Documentation specifics for SNAP Electronic Health Office Software (4:30 - 5:00pm EST) 1.0 Contact hour, $10 Jennifer Robinson, School Municipal Medicaid Expert 30 years in school finance, special education and Medicaid For more information click on: Northeastern University School Health Academy
Let's Talk About Sex: Health Education Pearls for School Nurses
WHEN Thursday, Dec. 5th, 3:30-4:30pm
WHERE This is an online event.
MORE INFORMATION 2. Let's Talk About Sex: Health Education Pearls for School Nurses Thursday, December 5th, 3:30 - 4:30 pm EST 1.0 Contact hour, $10 Beth Russet, DNP, FNP-BC, Northeastern University Assistant Clinical Professor 20 years as school nurse, midwife, and Family Nurse Practitioner on the rugged coast of Downeast Maine & teaching community and classroom based sex education. For more information click on: Northeastern University School Health Academy or go to neusha@northeastern.edu
Transforming Education for Social Justice Conference
WHEN: Saturday, March 14th 2020 at 8:30am- 4:30pm
WHERE: Integrative Learning Center, UMass Amherst, MA
MORE INFORMATION: 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
RESOURCES
Clearing the Air: An Asthma Toolkit for Healthy Schools
MAAP, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Asthma Prevention and Control Program, and Health Resources in Action are delighted to announce the release of a new resource: Clearing the Air: An Asthma Toolkit for Healthy Schools. This toolkit contains sample policy language, best practices, and curated resources and tools to help schools create an asthma-friendly learning and working environment. Nine policy and practice areas have been identified as target areas to help improve air quality inside and around school buildings:
School-wide environmental health and safety management
Green cleaning and environmental purchasing programs
Integrated pest management
Leaks and moisture
Clutter
Outdoor air pollution
Fragrance
Tobacco
Clinical asthma management in the school setting
Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood. In any given classroom, it is likely that two or three students have asthma, and in larger classrooms and in some urban settings, that number is likely to be even higher. When children experience asthma symptoms, they often stay home from school, or they might have a hard time participating when they are in school. Research shows that children who have a lot of absences in preschool, kindergarten, and first grade are much less likely to read at grade level by the third grade. These students are also four times more likely to drop out of high school.
Since children spend a lot of their time in school, an asthma-friendly environment means healthier students who are ready to learn. The benefits of an asthma-friendly school can include:
Better attendance
Improved academic performance
Improved focus and physical stamina
Enhanced student and staff productivity
Fewer restrictions on participation in physical activities
Fewer symptoms and medical emergencies
By taking action together, we can help to ensure that all of our students have a better opportunity to thrive in school and beyond. Everyone – including families, school staff, students, and community groups – has an essential role to play. The school community can help by:
Educating children, parents, and staff about asthma and the school environment
Identifying and reducing potential asthma triggers in the school
Developing and implementing policies that create a supportive, asthma-friendly environment
Whether your school is considering a comprehensive wellness policy that includes environmental health and safety, or if you want to start on more modest projects, you’ll find guidance and resources throughout the toolkit – from building administration buy-in to identifying issues around the school to implementing best practices and policies to address the issues. Case studies are also available to show how schools and school districts across MA are making advances to improve the health of students, especially those with asthma. Take action together to make school a place where staff and students can work, learn, and play in the healthiest environment – use the Clearing the Air toolkit for guidance and inspiration.
STAY TUNED! MAAP and the MA DPH are planning a walk-through webinar. We’ll show you how to navigate this toolkit and its resources and discuss different ways to use the toolkit in your own school. More information to come!
SPREAD THE WORD! Click here for our promotion kit, which includes ready-to-share email, web and social media copy as well as graphics to download and send with your messages. We’ve been working hard on this toolkit, and we encourage you to share it with your members and networks!
Welcoming Schools Human Rights Campaign - Gender Support Checklist
The Healthy Schools Toolkit
The Healthy Schools Toolkit is grounded in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, a framework that highlights 10 specific components schools need to support the whole child so that he or she is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Think of the 10 components as the building blocks needed to construct a healthy school community.
RESPECTFully: Youth awareness & prevention campaign to define healthy relationships
RESPECTfully Campaign Goals were created with extensive input at every stage of development from experts and youth from across the state.
The RESPECTfully key message is that everyone deserves respect, honesty, and open communication.
Target Audience
Primary audience: Massachusetts youth between the ages of 12-18
Secondary Audience(s): Youth-serving individuals and organizations as well as parents and guardians.
Information and Resources
For more information visit Mass.gov/respectfully
To order RESPECTFully materials click HERE!
Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention
The Model School Policy on Suicide Prevention gives educators and school administrators clear guidance on how to implement suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention policies in their schools and districts.
REVISED in October 2019, in collaboration with the American School Counselor Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and The Trevor Project, the newly updated Model is research-based and easily adaptable for schools serving students in Kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Click here then scroll to the bottom to download the Model School District Policy on Suicide Prevention and its action steps for schools.
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.
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