NOVEMBER NEWS FROM THE WEST
Here's what's going on
Dear Colleagues
Welcome to those of you who are new to the Region or new to School Nursing!
These newsletters will be my primary form of communication and information dissemination. I'm looking forward to seeing many of you Wednesday at the Regional Meeting.
Kind Regards,
Veronica
Massachusetts School Health Unit Updates:
MDPH Updates will be highlighted here periodically. Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN, Director of School Health will NOT be sending weekly updates directly to school nurses as was past practice. Any urgent updates and time sensitive notifications will be sent directly to those of you who are on the MDPH distribution list (funded school districts) and forwarded to anyone on my list who are not on MDPH lists.
New asthma school toolkit:
https://www.maasthma.org/schooltoolkit
RESPECTfully initiative (a statewide public awareness and prevention campaign to promote healthy relationships among middle and high school students)
Press release:
Materials:
https://www.mass.gov/respectfully
Did you know MA DPH has their own Youtube channel?:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7llPT9c4DKIFDApZxCh0zg
Please forward any educational opportunities or other updates that you would like to share in our newsletter to me. If you have an opportunity or information that would be useful to ALL school nurse colleagues in the Commonwealth those can also be sent to me and I will share them with MDPH and the other Regional Consultants for inclusion in their newsletters as well. You can also send information directly to them if they are more time sensitive. All MDPH and Regional Consultant contacts are at the bottom of this newsletter.
Regional News and Updates:
The Domestic and Sexual Violence Intervention Unit at the Hampden District Attorney’s Office has a newly decorated bulletin board for Vaping Awareness Month! The display offers important information on statistics, tips for talking with kids, and the risks of vaping. Attached are handouts on:The New Look of Nicotine Addiction, fast facts, and how parents, educators, and health care professionals can help “prevent and reduce the use of e-cigarettes by young people.”
NEW Professional Development and Other Meetings of Interest to School Nurses
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: https://iu.zoom.us/meeting/register/bb230c50ebdbf8b134538d7d4481ef37
Upcoming Meeting reminders
School and Community Health Equity Needs Assessment (SCHENA)
Thursday, November 7, 2019 - Live Course: 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
DoubleTree, Westborough, MA
The SCHENA course is offered through BU SHIELD and is a requirement for CSHS Model programs and optional for all other School Nurses. Those who are registered are able to access meetings and webinars by clicking on this link https://www.bucme.org/node/1209
CSHS Nurse Leader Meeting
December 3, 2019
Double Tree by Hilton, Westborough, MA
This meeting is required for all CSHS funded Model and Affiliate programs
The meetings are also open to ALL other School Nurses. There is a fee for the CSHS Nurse Leader meetings. Please register using this link: https://www.bucme.org/node/1078
*If having trouble registering on any of the above links, please call 617-358-5005.
WEBINAR: Getting to Know the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model
Thursday, November 14, 2019 | 3:00pm EST
Join us for an introduction to The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. Developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and ASCD, this model is an evidenced-based model that highlights ten key school health components to ensure students are safe, engaged, supported, challenged and healthy. The model represents a collaborative approach to health and learning and emphasizes the role of the schools, families and communities in supporting student success.
Register:
https://actionforhealthykids.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kEmt-Zx9RUCKSkl8UhQkhg
Questions to the Group:
A colleague has asked the following question : How are other districts recording staff visits and whether they enter them in the EHR? We have tried using a generic record but that raises other issues with privacy and best practices for nursing documentation. Our job descriptions do include providing care to staff.
Please respond to :<margaret.burch@frsu38.org>
t: 413-369-4239 or t: 413-665-1155 ext. 7740
Career Opportunities
Immediate opening:
Nurse Manager position Amherst-Pelham Regional School District, Amherst MA
Useful BU SHIELD links below...
Useful BU SHIELD links below...
https://www.bucme.org/node/1045 for general information and meeting registration!
https://www.bucme.org/node/1070 for resources related to school health and nursing practice!
MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
General information and resources http://www.doe.mass.edu/
School Nurse Educator License information https://gateway.edu.state.ma.us/elar/licensurehelp/LicenseRequirementsCriteriaPageControl.ser
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
REMINDERS for CSHS Funded Programs:
DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR SEPTEMBER MONTHLY REPORT:
Due to the time required to configure electronic health records systems to provide the data that is required on the Comprehensive School Health Services program data collection forms, the deadline for submitting the September report has been extended 1 month, until November 15.
Both the September and October reports will be due November 15. The remainder of the monthly reports will be due as previously announced (for example, the November monthly report will be due December 15, the December report will be due January 15, etc.) Also, please note that 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.
SNAP CSHS REPORT UPDATE:
The following information is for SNAP users related to a recent update to the CSHS report:
Revision 4-User Guides for CSHS & SNAP
Webinar Recording and Revised User Guides are available now on the SNAP Customer Portal:
1. Login to the SNAP Customer Portal
2. Click Support
3. Click Guides
4. From the Custom Reports drop-down list, select and download both Webinar 1 - CSHS Library Configuration and CSHS Report - Step 1 SNAP Library Setup Guide - Rev 4
5. Save the downloaded documents and video recording
6. The webinar follows the guide
Note: Based on review and feedback from CSHS users, we have made revisions to the MA CSHS SNAP User Guides. Please retrieve updated guide, Revision #4.
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.
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).
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.
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-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.US
Email: karen.robitaille2@state.ma.us
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
West
Veronica Webb Barrett, MSN, MA Ed Psych, RN, HNB-BC
webbv@springfieldpublicschools.com
(413) 896-8100