A MDPH Message from Karen Robitaille: 
Greetings From the School Health Unit!
I hope you were all able to enjoy the long holiday weekend with some rest and time with your loved ones. I want to acknowledge that we are seeing an uptick in cases that began after Halloween, and that, coupled with worries over a new variant and increasing strain on our hospital capacity, has many of us experiencing a sense of déjà vu and dread. I want to also acknowledge the enormous responsibility that has been placed on your shoulders and the strain you are all under. I have communicated this fact to every stakeholder I can and will not stop doing so. Thank you, so much, for the work you continue to do on behalf of the Commonwealth’s young people.
The School Health Unit, in partnership with your Regional School Nurse Consultants and BU SHIELD, are working to continue to bring you content you can use, in a format that is easy for you to access on your timeframe. I want to remind all school nurses that there is now a drop-in support group for you happening every Monday at 7pm and the flyer with the Zoom link can be found here. 
Additionally, we are offering several sessions of a Defusing Tense Situations Workshop on December 14th (register here) and January 11th (register here) at 3pm:
This program is designed for individuals who have direct contact with the public and in the course of their jobs may encounter angry, hostile individuals. It is also useful for individuals who find themselves clashing with co-workers. The training is designed as a skill-building workshop with a focus on communication skills that help defuse volatile situations with angry, agitated individuals. The course also covers the importance of safety planning and environmental factors that could impact behavior. This course is for people who have never learned these techniques or for people who would like to refresh their skills.
Our next two regional meetings will be all-regions and the next one ( January 26th) will feature a presentation from the MDPH Pedi-SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program. We are hopeful that the last set of regional meetings for the year in May can be held in person. We are also hoping to hold the last CSHS meeting of the year (also in May) in person but will likely make this a much more inf ormal affair and forego Best Practices this year in order to facilitate your rest and recovery. Before we get much further in the planning process, we are asking that you please fill out this VERY BRIEF survey regarding the May meeting.
As always, thank you so much for all you continue to do to help our students stay in school and stay safe and healthy.
With great respect,
Karen
Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN
<she, her, hers>
Director of School Health Services
Division of Child/Adolescent Health and Reproductive Health
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington St. 5th floor, Boston, MA 02108
karen.robitaille3@mass.gov
Cell: 781-675-0463
Personal Webex room: https://statema.webex.com/meet/Karen.Robitaille3 |
|
|
|
Please tell us! How likely are you to attend the May CSHS Meeting in person? Click here to respond this one-question survey.
|
|
|
VACCINATION REMINDERS
The definition of “fully vaccinated” has not changed. At this time, people are still considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose series, such as the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine, such as the J&J/Janssen vaccine.
MIIS reminders:
The Massachusetts Immunization Information System (MIIS) is a web-based immunization registry. The goal of the MIIS is to give health care providers and families a tool to help ensure that all individuals are immunized based on the latest recommendations. The MIIS will establish a complete, accurate, secure, real-time immunization record for residents of Massachusetts of all ages. Read the MIIS overview here.
Your school immunization surveys, generally due in late January, are done through MIIS. More information and training materials can be found at the links below:
MIIS Help Desk
Phone: 617-983-4335
Fax: 857-323-8321
Email questions to: miishelpdesk@mass.gov
MIIS Website
|
|
GRANT RELATED UPDATES!!
We are (rightfully so!) getting many questions about when grant funds will be available to you for spending. As we work to hire and onboard some help for Juliet, we are definitely a bit behind “normal” years, but we hope to get caught up soon. A few target dates to note:
- The task we are currently focusing on is getting those CSHS FY 20/21 reconciliation forms completed and out to you. Because we remain delayed, we have extended the deadlines for returning these to December 15th. Please watch your email for the forms and let us know promptly if there are any changes to grant contacts or email addresses.
- New CSHS Affiliate grantees should receive award letters and contract forms soon. Again, please watch your email for these and return promptly.
- Existing CSHS Affiliate grantees will have their contracts amended next. (Please see the section later on in the newsletter regarding FY21/22 Affiliate grantee amounts.) Then we will be able to send out the purchase vouchers (PVs), which you will sign and return and then funds should be disbursed within 10 days of our receipt of your PV.
- Juliet is also currently working on CSHS Non-public and Model PV’s, and Affiliate PV’s will go out last. This year there will be TWO PAYMENTS; the first by the end of November and the second in April.
- Lastly, recently we shared funding announcements via email regarding the Workforce Development grants. For those who were funded, please keep your eyes open for amendment contracts.
I hope this is helpful and please know that we are working hard to get all funds out to you. I do not have exact answers as to when things will arrive right now, but as I get updated information, I will share with you.
|
|
|
SHU is Growing!
On Monday, we welcomed Evelyn Rodriguez to our team as a Program Coordinator assisting Juliet with our financial business. Below is a bit more about Evelyn, and you will see grant communications coming from her as well as Juliet moving forward!
Evelyn Rodriguez has worked for the Department of Public Health for over 20+ years in multiple roles. Evelyn specializes in technology and brings extensive experience and expertise with contract management, data systems, planning and coordination of programs and its activities, and builds positive relations within her team and external partners. She is an ambitious, genuine, multitasking, go getter and able to thrive in fast paced environments and looks forward to continuing that work in her new role. Evelyn also uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to help and encourage others. In her free time, she likes to hike/walk, listen to music, volunteer, spend time with her family and fur babies, and devotes most of her free time to her daughter’s softball team where she serves as vice president.
|
|
|
|
Mandated Reporting for CSHS Funded Schools/Districts:
The link to the Monthly report survey is here and the end-of-year Status Report 21/22 survey is here. All reporting forms, worksheets and instructions were sent out to districts by Bob Leibowitz and worksheets for the monthly report can also be found here, and here is the CSHS end-of-year Status Report 21/22 worksheet. Questions related to CSHS mandated grant reporting should go to: DPH_ESHS_data@MassMail.State.MA.US
|
|
|
Mandated Reporting for Non-CSHS Districts (public school)
Concussion Report Form: Not yet available.
BMI report form: BMI report. CSHS-funded districts and nonpublic schools should NOT submit a separate BMI report, as these data are included in the Status Report. Non-funded districts will use the same link that is used to access the Status Report form.
SBIRT report. CSHS-funded districts and nonpublic schools should NOT submit a separate SBIRT report, as these data are included in the Status Report. Non-funded districts will use the same link that is used to access the Status Report form.
A worksheet for non-funded districts can be found here.
|
|
|
Mandated Reporting for ALL Schools/Districts
Asthma and Diabetes Survey questions may be directed via email to the project mailbox at DPH-BEH-Asthma@state.ma.us.
Epinephrine administration report form.
|
|
Please note the following:
- The Performance Measures for public school districts in the Affiliated and Model programs have been modified and simplified.
- SBIRT data reporting has been simplified. Starting this year, the SBIRT report only requires district-level data for each grade screened, rather than individual-level data. An Excel spreadsheet with individual-level data will no longer be used to submit the data. Instead, the data will now be collected using the same online data collection tool that we use for collecting other district-level data. As a result, the SBIRT data report has been incorporated into the Status Report.
- School districts do not need to submit their SBIRT data until 60 days after completing the last SBIRT screening for the entire district. If submitting the SBIRT data prior to submitting CSHS end-of-year data, school districts can skip to the SBIRT section of the data report by clicking the option to submit “only SBIRT data”, enter the data, and then save the report so it can be edited later. When submitting CSHS Status Report data at the end of the school year, change the option from “only SBIRT data” to “CSHS program data.”
- All the district-wide data (SBIRT, BMI, and CSHS end-of-year data) should be submitted using the same data report, although it does not have to be submitted at the same time. For example, if the SBIRT screenings are completed in December, the SBIRT data can be submitted in January and the district can wait until July 15 to submit the other annual report data. That’s not a problem, as long as the person who submits the SBIRT data saves the link to their online data record by clicking the “Save and Exit” button and saves the report-specific link the pops up on screen. Without that link, you may not be able to edit the data submission, and you would have to submit a completely new record with all of the district’s data. Additional instructions are provided on the first page of the online data tool.
- If we receive multiple data submissions from the same district, we assume that the most recent submission has corrected, updated data, and any prior submissions are discarded.
There are no changes to the Monthly report or other data collection tools.
|
|
|
|
2021/2022 COVID-19 Protocols and
Testing Information on DESE Website
|
|
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going."
—Beverly Sills
|
|
School Health Screenings for PE Teachers 
BU SHIELD is excited to announce a new course offered: School Health Screenings for PE teachers.This free course is designed for PE teachers who are assisting with BMI and postural screenings.
|
|
|
|
New Mental Health Training Series!
|
|
|
SHIELD’s Mental Health Series for School Health Professionals is well underway. Four sessions have been delivered and recordings, which are ideal for self-paced learning, are being made available. Two recordings are currently open, with two more expected to open by the end of December:
Additional recordings in this series will be released in the new year. PDPs and discounts are being offered for attending the full series. For more information, visit SHIELD’s website here.
If you have SHIELD credit, it can be used for these courses. Please email BU SHIELD at shieldbu@bu.edu with any questions!
|
|
New Vision Screening Protocols (to begin in FY23)
The new vision screening protocol is now up on the BU SHIELD website for your reference and can be found here. As a reminder, schools/districts are not mandated to use this protocol until the 2022/2023 school year. Additional health screening resources can be found here.
New course opening soon! The November Clinical Update focused on the new vision screening requirements. This course was recorded and is ideal for self-paced learning and may be used by districts as a local professional development option. The recorded course will open this month. For more information, follow this link.
|
|
Vision Screening during COVID. The National Center for Children's Vision and Eye Health at Prevent Blindness has updated the Considerations for Conducting Children's Vision Screening Safely in Schools, Head Start, and Early Care and Education Programs During the Covid-19 Pandemic. The resources includes a downloadable guide and FAQ. Please share these documents with your colleagues.
|
|
|
|
GREAT NEWS! CSHS Affiliate grantees will see another boost in their funding this fiscal year; districts originally funded at $3000 (who got $10,500 in FY21) will receive $14,000 for FY22. Districts originally funded at $5000 (who got $20,000 last year) will get $29,600 in FY22. Model amounts will remain the same as last year. Non-public grantee amounts may have changed; email Juliet or Karen if you have any questions regarding your funding amount.
|
|
Allowable use of CSHS grant funds for COVID-19 response during FY22:
- Consumable supplies needed to safely provide care during COVID (may include gloves, masks, eye protection, scrub/gowns), for school health staff ONLY. Not to exceed 10% of the total budget.
- Reallocation of case management staff hours to address COVID case management during school hours in the form of dedicated nursing staff performing contact tracing and/or case management for COVID cases in the school community (i.e. referral to testing, referral to community resources for isolation & quarantine) under an agreement with the LBOH.
- Health office equipment that addresses COVID-19 emergency response and that will be used in the health office, medical waiting room or AGP room (may include physical barriers and filtration units for those spaces ONLY). Not to exceed 15% of the total budget.
- Model and Affiliate grantees may also use grant funding to support staff that are conducting COVID-19 case management and/or contact tracing. This includes hiring of new staff, as well as paying stipends at hourly nursing rates for work doing COVID-19 contact tracing/case management outside of normal working hours. The intent of this expansion is to allow current nursing staff more time and flexibility to meet other CSHS grant requirements.
PLEASE USE THE FOLLOWING EMAIL ADDRESSES FOR THE APPROPRIATE DOCUMENTS:
Medication Registration: medication.delegation@MassMail.State.Ma.us
US Return of signed CSHS purchase vouchers: cshs.pv@mass.gov
Return of CSHS amendment forms: CSHS.Amendments@mass.gov
Return of CSHS reconciliation forms: CSHS.Reconciliation@mass.gov
Using the correct email address is essential to your documents being received and processed in a timely manner. Thank you!
|
|
|
New School-Located Vaccine Clinic Resources
NASN partnered with the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) to develop a checklist for school nurses to plan school-located vaccination and a tip-sheet for Immunization Program Managers. With the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for students under the age of 12 years, and flu season coming in fall and winter, SLVs are a strategy to improve the health of students. See resources.
Duke-Margolis partnered with the COVID Collaborative, the Council of the Great City Schools, National Rural Education Association, Rural Schools Collaborative, and AASA: The School Superintendents Association to develop an issue brief on Innovative Strategies for Leveraging Schools as Covid-19 Vaccination Sites.
The Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy (Duke-Margolis) and the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM), with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, released a series of resources for school leaders on how schools can serve as critical access points for students and families to receive Covid-19 vaccines.
|
|
COVID-19 Update:
MDPH has created a new webpage for pediatric vaccine information for the newest age group expected to gain vaccine approval.
|
|
|
This webpage will be updated as more information is available. Vaxfinder will also be updated as pediatric vaccine becomes available for this age group.
Standing order template for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: 5 Through 11 Years of Age:
Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine: 5 Through 11 Years of Age • Standing Orders for Administering Vaccine (cdc.gov)
New Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Reminder: AAP COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created a COVID-19 Vaccine Campaign Toolkit to assist pediatric healthcare professionals in addressing parent and caregiver COVID-19 vaccines questions and concerns. The Toolkit includes articles, graphics, social media messages, and videos. It is designed to reach parents and caregivers, who have not yet vaccinated their eligible children, to encourage them to talk to a trusted provider.
New: The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has updated its Children & Youth with Special Health Needs (CYSHN) and the COVID-19 Vaccine webpage to include FAQs for vaccinating this population.
New: The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has released its Winter Masking Guidelines, which will be a continuation of the fall guidelines: Student-athletes, coaches, and officials that are indoors shall be masked. Read more here.
Lyft Offering Free or Discounted Rides to Vaccine Appointments: Getting access to the vaccine is a struggle for many. Lyft is mobilizing partners and community members to help provide access to millions of riders to and from vaccine appointments. Learn more and see if Lyft is available in your community here.
|
|
CDC's School-Location Vaccination Clinics: Best Practices for School Districts
 This guide provides a roadmap for school district administrators to work directly with local health departments and other vaccine providers (e.g., pharmacies) to set up vaccination clinics in places that K–12 students and their parents know and trust. Find the resource here.
|
|
The MDPH Immunization Division hosted a
Live Q&A: Pediatric COVID-19 Vaccination
Below are some of the additional information they provided.
Information on COVID-19 Vaccine storage, handling and administration access full training resources and supplemental resources below:
- MDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Traininghttps://macovidvax.populationhealthexchange.org/
- On 10/29/2021, the FDA amended Pfizer-BioNTech’s Emergency Use Authorization to allow the vaccine to be administered to children ages 5 to 11 years. FDA resources are available at:
For Individual case questions, please refer your questions to your local board of health. If you are unable to reach them, please call the Mass Epidemiology Line here: (617) 983-6800
|
|
You may be seeing student and staff COVID-19 vaccination records, including those from other countries. AN IMPORTANT NOTE IN REGARD TO FOREIGN VACCINATION RECORDS: Unlike other vaccinations where we accept whatever the foreign formulation is, the U.S. is currently only accepting WHO-approved COVID vaccination formulations. Here is the link to the list of COVID-19 vaccines within the WHO EUL/PQ evaluation process; any vaccine marked “finalized” is accepted in the U.S. Please note, nurses should check this information frequently, as it is subject to change.
|
|
|
Your students might appreciate this course designed by researchers at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development in partnership with Medway Public Schools: Stress and COVID-19: A Course for Teens
For School Health Professionals: The Emotional PPE Project connects healthcare workers in need with licensed mental health professionals who can help. No cost. No insurance. Just a trained professional to talk to.
More Self-Care Resources can be found on SHIELD's Website here.
Massachusetts tool to locate vaccination sites and open appointments by zip code.
Vaccine Communication Resources (18 and younger)
New COVID-19 vaccination for youth ages 12+
- For details, including information on parental consent, and FAQs, visit here.
- Youth aged 12 and above may be preregistered here.
- COVID-19 vaccine graphics for teens and young adults.
Public Service Announcements
- MA Medical Society newly-elected Massachusetts Medical Society president, Dr. Carole Allen, recorded video urging parents to get their children vaccinated.
- @MassDPH
Clinical Considerations from the CDC found here.
COVID-19 Vaccine Fact Sheet for Preteens and Teens can be found here.
School Nursing Staff may also find this contact tracing data collection spreadsheet.
The testing standing order template can be found on the BU SHIELD website front page under "COVID-19 Resources Page".
|
|
|
For key information about managing COVID-19 in Massachusetts, see these websites.
SHIELD COVID-19/BinaxNow Resources.
MDPH Website.
SHAH Family Foundation Pooled Testing Website.
|
For additional resources surrounding COVID-19, visit these websites.
NASN COVID-19 Resources.
|
|
|
|
School Nurses in the News:
SHIELD Nurses in the News Feed.
Be mindful handling vape pens! "Sheriff: 2 officers, nurse given Narcan after being exposed to fentanyl found in student’s vape pen," article can be found here.
"Letter: School nurses are underappreciated, underpaid, and overworked and it’s time for change," article can be found here.
"Small pinches, brave kids, big grins: Vaccine clinics for 5- to 11-year-olds kick off in Berkshire County," article can be found here.
"'It doesn't hurt': Hundreds of kids get COVID vaccine at Weymouth clinic," article by Alexandra Weliever can be found here.
"FRCOG, area nurses join with state to bring Vax Bus clinics to schools," article can be found here.
"School Nurse Deficit Deepens as States Seek Relief," article can be found here.
Check this recent article written by Morgan Oliveira a Umass Dartmouth Nursing Student - Opinion: What doesn’t the school nurse do?
Students at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica constructed a partial replica of Fenway Park inside the school! It includes realistic graphics of the championship banners, windows, and doors. We encourage you to view the segment here.
|
|
|
On Wednesday, November 17, 2021 the Haverhill Public School Nurses were honored alongside the Haverhill Public Schools Director of Health and Nursing Services, Katie Vozeolas and the City of Haverhill Public Health Nurse, Mary Connolly by the YMCA for their tireless efforts caring for the community since the beginning of the Pandemic. Find out more through the "Podcast: 13th Annual Haverhill YMCA Educator of the Year Salutes Pandemic Heroes", here.
In Photo:
Katie Vozeolas, Director of Health and Nursing Services
Lisa Ganem, Haverhill Public School Nurse
Heather Azzarito, Haverhill Public School Nurse
Bonnie McAdams, Haverhill Public School Nurse
|
|
|
FYI—An alert from the Baystate Emergency Room below:
The Baystate ER treated two high school youths who smoked marijuana before school, which unknown to them, was laced with fentanyl (they claimed it came from a dispensary). Eight hits of Narcan were required to revive one of the unconscious youths. They are lucky to be alive. Please warn your network since the youths are from Springfield, and they say they obtained the joints locally.
A search of news headlines reveals that similar cases, some resulting in overdose, have been reported in other states, such as Vermont, Michigan, and Connecticut.
|
|
|
Equity and Social Justice Webinar Series
The BU Wheelock Equity and Social Justice webinar series features academic and community experts in dialogue about a wide variety of topics related to equity and social justice.
- How are the Teens & Tweens? Insights into Adolescent Mental Health and Connectedness During COVID-19 - Thursday December 9, 2021 3:00-4:00pm
Recordings of past webinar sessions can be found here and here.
3 Body Qigong: Managing Stress for Health and Healing
Sponsored by Boston Children's Hospital Pediatric Medical Services, Community Education Initiative program. Thursday December 16, 2021 - 4:30pm to 6:30pm EST - $40 - 2.0 Nursing Contact Hours/PDPs Offered - Via Zoom - For more information and to register for event visit here.
All Regions Regional Meeting
The next all regions regional meeting will take place via Zoom on January 26th, 2022 from 1:00-3:00 PM and will feature a presentation from the MDPH Pedi-SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program. Details will be here under "Regional Meetings."
Recurring Support Group for School Nurses
There is a recurring drop-in support group for school nurses happening every Monday at 7pm. The flyer with the Zoom link can be found here.
|
|
|
|
|
