School Health Services Update: January 22nd, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

It’s a busy (shortened week) filled with Regional Meetings in the West, Southeast and Northeast!  If you work in one of these areas, we hope to see you there!  In the meantime, here are some limited, but important updates for this week!

Thank you for all you do- every day – to serve our students and their families!
Mary Ann and the School Health Team

Ask yourself three questions … and you will know who you are. Ask: what do you believe in? What do you hope for? But most important — ask: what do you love?   Paullina Simons, author, in “The Bronze Horseman”

SCHOOL NURSES IN THE NEWS!

Allison MacGilvray, BSN, RN, NCSN, School Nurse Medford Public Schools has achieved recognition as a Nationally Certified School Nurse!  Congratulations to her!

IMPORTANT:  2018-2019 PEDIATRIC ASTHMA & DIABETES SURVEILLANCE FORMS

The 2018-2019 Pediatric Asthma & Diabetes surveillance forms will be sent out to you in mid–February 2019. Please tell us how you would like to receive the survey by selecting one of the following options for your district:* 

1. Email survey to the nurse leader who will electronically forward to public, private, charter* and parochial schools in district.  

2. Email survey to the nurse leader who will electronically forward to only public schools in district.

3. Mail paper surveys to the nurse leader and include private, charter* and parochial schools in district.

4. Mail paper surveys to the nurse leader but DO NOT include private, charter and parochial schools.

5. Mail paper surveys directly to each individual school nurse in the district.

6. We are a private school or a charter school; email survey directly to the private or charter school nurse.

*Charter schools vary by district so please specify which, if any, charter schools should be INCLUDED in this survey.

TO RESPOND:

1. Hit the “forward” function and copy & paste  DPH-BEH-Asthma@state.ma.us  in your “To” address box.

2. In the “Subject” box, type the name of your town and the name of the district.

3. Copy and paste your one delivery preference (from the 6 choices above) into a message.

4. Hit “send”
For any questions please call 617-624-5757 and ask for the asthma coordinator, or email  DPH-BEH-Asthma@state.ma.us your questions or concerns.
THANK YOU!
PS:  Pediatric asthma & diabetes data is available at http://www.mass.gov/dph/matracking  (school years 2009/10 to 2016/17).

DESE TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION GRANT

The Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Intervention Grant FC641 has been posted: http://www.doe.mass.edu/grants/2019/641/  Public schools with Grades 5-12 are eligible to apply.  Please feel free to share this notice with your colleagues or other districts that may be interested in applying.  Should anyone have questions or need more information, please have them contact me directly at agilligan@doe.mass.edu

CAMP KESEM CHESTNUT HILL

We are excited to announce that the 2019 camp session application is now open! if there are families that would benefit from having a hard copy of the application, please let us know by reaching out via email to chestnuthill@campkesem.org We are able to mail out paper copies if necessary. All of us at Camp Kesem Chestnut Hill are looking forward to a great year ahead. Kesem is a nationwide community, driven by passionate college student leaders, that supports children through and beyond their parent’s cancer. By offering innovative, fun-¬filled programs that foster a lasting community, we aim to ensure that every child impacted by a parent’s cancer is never alone. For more information, please feel free to contact Camp Kesem at: chestnuthill@campkesem.org

WEBINAR – “WORKING WITH TRANSGENDER AND GENDER EXPANSIVE YOUTH”, JAN 25TH, 1PM ET BY UPMC PEDIATRIC EDUCATION SERIES (PES)

RETURN TO LEARN/CONCUSSION TEAM MODEL
Tuesday, Jan. 29 from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET

Presented by Jill Huck, school counselor for Genoa Middle School in Westerville, Ohio.
This webinar will provide the K-12 setting information on the effects a concussion can have on the brain’s ability to function at normal capacity and how this may cause potential problems for students in the school environment. Information will assist teachers, nurses, school counselors, and administrators with designing and implementing a “Return-to-Learn” concussion team model that can be used when academically accommodating a student in the school and classroom environment after suffering a TBI/concussion.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the brain’s ability to function during a concussion and the impact on a students ability to learn.
• Understand the “Return to School” framework in order to assist students that have suffered a concussion.
• Identify symptom-specific accommodations that can be provided in schools and in the classroom environment.
• Create an effective communication plan to manage concussed students in the school setting.

1.0 Category I CECH for CHES®/MCHES® has been approved for this webinar. Certificates of attendance can also be obtained. ASHA members get free continuing education hours included with membership, nonmembers will have the opportunity to purchase certificates after the webinar for $30. Not sure if you’re a current ASHA member? Email info@ashaweb.org.
Register here.

REGIONAL CONSULTANT CONTACT INFORMATION:

Mary Ann Gapinski, MSN, RN, NCSN
Director of School Health Services
MA Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street – 5^th Floor
Boston, MA  02108
mary.gapinski@state.ma.us
Website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/school-health-services