October 16, 2017
Dear Colleagues,
On November 7th, Boston University School Health Institute for Education and Leadership Development (SHIELD), along with the MDPH, is sponsoring a program to establish an understanding of how race-based structural inequities impact school health access and outcomes. This foundation will provide school nurses and ALL other school staff with a basic understanding of how racism is structural in nature and what that means for their work, their schools, and the communities they serve. It is essential that as school health programs move forward in addressing social-emotional learning models, and how we, as leaders, can create safe and inclusive spaces within their offices and schools, learn to address all inequities in our systems of care. We encourage all who share DPH’s commitment to advancing school health access and quality to attend this essential workshop! Registration is now open at: http://bucme.org/activity/4491 While space is limited, we encourage multi-disciplinary school teams to register and participate. (Please see the attached flyer for more information). This program will be repeated on March 27 and April 24 so that all might have the opportunity to participate. We hope to see you there!
Thank you for all you do to improve the health outcomes of ALL of our children,
Mary Ann, Carol and Janet
“I learned compassion from being discriminated against. Everything bad that’s ever happened to me has taught me compassion.” –Ellen DeGeneres, comedian, TV host and producer
School Nurses in the News!
Kudos to two high school nurses in the Peabody High School, Debbie Compiano, BSN,RN,NCSN and Donna Guarente, BSN,RN! Their quick action saved the life of a high school student last week who collapsed and required resuscitation and use of the AED! http://www.wcvb.com/article/student-resuscitated-after-medical-emergency-at-high-school/12788817
I’m happy to announce that Kate Maher, MS, RN is our new Central area School Nurse Regional Consultant. Feel free to connect with Kate at: kcmaher@hudson.k12.ma.us. Her office number is 978-567-6190, ext. 21122. Please join me in welcoming Kate to this new role!
BCH SBIRT Evaluation Project
This serves as a friendly reminder regarding this e-mail below, which was sent at the start of the school year, but may have caught you at a very busy time!
I would like to introduce you to a research team at Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH) that is hoping to collaborate with schools on a study to evaluate the School Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) programs currently being rolled out across the state. Dr. Sharon Levy and Dr. Elissa Weitzman have just finished a pilot of evaluation of school SBIRT in two school districts and we are very excited that they are expanding their project to take a look at the rest of Massachusetts.
This group of researchers is very interested in looking at the outcomes of the School SBIRT program on a student level and is hoping to compare the attitudes/knowledge/behaviors of students who have been screened, to those that have not participated in the program yet. The evaluation project involves the administration of an anonymous survey to high school students and will compare surveys responses of those students who will participate in SBIRT this 2017-18 school year to students who have not yet participated in SBIRT and will not participate during the 2017-18 school year.
In order to identify schools that the Boston Children’s Hospital team might be able to collaborate with on this project, we are hoping you can help by providing answers to the following questions.
1) To which grade(s) do you plan to administer SBIRT(screen) during the 2017-2018 school year?
2) When do you plan to implement SBIRT during the 2017-2018 school year (approx. dates/month)?
3) Please provide the contact information of the primary SBIRT representative in your school/district.
4) Are you interested in learning more about the project and potentially participating in this research project with Boston Children’s hospital?
Please respond directly to Eliza Nelson at Eliza.Nelson@childrens.harvard.edu. Thank you in advance for your response and for your consideration in being a part of this important project. Please contact Eliza with any questions or concerns.
From the MDPH Immunization Program
Please see the attachment for the letter sent to providers in an effort to support implementation of the updated vaccine school requirements regarding polio. Thank you for your hard work to ensure that Massachusetts school children are fully vaccinated.
Massachusetts Action Coalition – Transforming Health Care Through Nursing Workforce Summit
Below is the information concerning a statewide event is hosted by the Massachusetts Action Coalition (MAAC) and brings together nurses and partners from across the healthcare spectrum committed to improved health for every resident and community in the Commonwealth. The MAAC is leading the way to advance the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s vision to build a “Culture of Health” in MA through collaborative partnerships with public health colleagues, community leaders, and all those committed to improving the health of Massachusetts residents. School nurses are encouraged to share their work by presenting a posters on the work that they are doing in their communities with population health initiatives. REGISTER HERE TODAY! (See attached brochure). Please also see the information related to submitting an abstract for a poster presentation.
Crisis and Trauma: Understanding Psychiatric Emergencies from a Trauma Perspective
The Massachusetts Department of Mental Health Restraint/Seclusion Prevention Initiative is excited to announce that Janina Fisher, Ph.D (from the Center for Integrative Healing) is back by popular demand! Dr. Fisher will be presenting on Crisis and Trauma: Understanding Psychiatric Emergencies from a Trauma Perspective. Limited space and seats are going fast! Please register below.
When: Wednesday, November 1, 2017, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Where: Saxe Room, Worcester Public Library (Main Branch), 3 Salem Square, Worcester, MA 01608
Register: https://dmhrspigr.eventbrite.com
See the attached save-the-date for more information
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, October 24, 2017 (An email confirmation with additional details will be sent once you’ve registered.)
- Note:
- CEU applications have been submitted for: Licensed Mental Health Counselors, Psychologists, Nurses, OTs & Social Workers.
- If you need accommodations, including ASL interpreters, please make your request to Joel Danforth (joel.danforth@state.ma.us) by Friday, October 6th, 2017
Please do not hesitate to contact me (joel.danforth@state.ma.us or 617-626-8174) with any questions or concerns.
When the School Bus Stops… Transition Issues for Young Adults with an FASD