Weekly Email Updates 2 26 15

Dear Colleagues, This week’s MDPH School Health Updates are as packed full of news and information as I am sure your school health offices have been this week! Lots of information to share with our colleagues – so please forward to any school nurse who you think may not be receiving these weekly (generally) updates from us. Please see the attached brochure related to the March 18 statewide conference for Brain Injury Awareness Month. Carilyn Rains RN, Nursing Supervisor, Sandwich Public Schools, and other speakers, will talk about their extensive work as a school nurse leader in MA schools implementing safe sports concussions policies and procedures as well as working with students identifying head injuries and managing their recovery. Thank you to Carilyn for representing school nurses on this panel! Focus groups with school nurses are being held in the Southeast Region as well as the Western Region concerning the implementation of the MDPH regulations by school nurses surrounding concussions. Contact the regional consultants, Ann Klaver (southeast) or Diane Colucci or Therese Blain (west), if you would be interested in participating on these focus groups. Hope this finds you are all….and remembering there are only 22 more days until Spring!!Mary Ann From the MDPH Division of Violence and Injury Prevention: Please see the attached flyer for a great educational event on sports concussion with stories of recovery from 2 students and best practices from athletic trainer Kathy Thornton and school nurse, Carilyn Rains on March 18 at the Worcester Public Library at noon. The room fits 130 people….no fee, first come, first seated!Also attached please find the most recent TBI report developed by Mass. Department of Public Health. This TBI report contains important findings from the 2013 MA Youth Health Survey that were not in prior versions of this report (i.e. the 2010 or 2011 TBI Special Emphasis Reports). These findings are:In Massachusetts in 2013,• 20% of middle school and 16% of high school students who participated in sports reported experiencing symptoms of a sports-related TBI in the past year.• Boys were more likely to report experiencing sports-related TBI symptoms than girls (middle school: boys-24%, girls-15%; high school: boys-19%, girls-13%).

• Nearly half of students reporting sports-related TBI symptoms reported that they continued playing sports that day (middle school: 47%; high school: 49%).• Only about one third (35%) of students reporting sports-related TBI symptoms reported that they stopped playing sports that day and got checked by a doctor or health care provider.Please let me know if you have any questions – feel free to distribute to interested parties! Thanks, Linda Linda BrownDivision of Violence and Injury PreventionDepartment of Public HealthTel: 617-624-5432email: linda.brown@state.ma.uswww.mass.gov/sportsconcussion From the MDPH Immunization Program:Dear Partners,Attached is the Massachusetts 2nd quarterly progress report for HPV prevention from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report contains key data specific to Massachusetts and relevant strategies related to HPV vaccination. Last quarter’s report sent to you last fall focused on reducing missed opportunities. This report focuses on the importance of a strong provider recommendation. Highlights include:

·         ≥ 1 dose HPV vaccine coverage was higher among girls who received a recommendation versus those who did not (63.8% vs. 57.7%).

·         A higher proportion of girls received a recommendation for HPV vaccine than

boys (70.3% versus 59.1%).Information is also included for 2014 public sector vaccine distribution in MA compared with earlier years, and estimates of teen vaccination coverage in the United States, NIS-Teen 2013 are also included. HPV vaccination coverage at the national level and in most states has been increasing at a very slow pace and remains far below Healthy People 2020 targets of 80% coverage by 2020. Provide strong recommendations for HPV vaccination in Massachusetts. Below are suggested strategies and resources for engaging clinicians in providing strong recommendations for HPV vaccination. Clinicians can utilize the following methods to help deliver a strong, concise, and clear HPV vaccination recommendation:

·         Recommend the HPV vaccine in the same way and during the same visit as the other adolescent vaccines. Some evidence suggests that the best recommendation for HPV vaccination includes all indicated adolescent vaccinations.

·         Use the “HPV vaccine is cancer prevention” message, because parents

identify cancer prevention as important in their decision to vaccinate their children.

·         Emphasize your personal belief in the importance of the HPV vaccine.

·         Remind parents that the HPV vaccine is safe and effective. If parents have

questions, address questions directly and confidently. Share CDC’s educational resources about clinician recommendations:

·         A new CME Medscape activity is available that discusses communication strategies. “Communicating Safety and Efficacy of HPV Vaccine to Parents and Pre-adolescents” can be found here: http://www.medscape.org/viewarticle/834038

·         Additional Medscape materials addressing the clinician recommendation for

HPV vaccine can be found at the CDC HPV portal for clinicians, under the tab “Tools for Your Practice”: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/YouAreTheKey

·         View CDC’s “Tips and Timesavers for Talking with Parents about HPV

Vaccine” here: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/who/teens/for-hcp-tipsheet-hpv.pdf

Collaborate with partners to increase use of strategies to strengthen the clinician recommendation for HPV vaccination. Visit the clinician-specific CDC web portal for more resources and materials: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/YouAreTheKey Visit the CDC’s HPV Portal, www.cdc.gov/hpv to access HPV-related resources that can be shared with clinicians, parents, and patients. We urge you to share this information with colleagues so that collectively we may reach everyone in the state involved with vaccinating our adolescents! If you have any questions about the report, please contact me or Allison Hackbarth at ahackbarth@jsi.com or 617-385-3645. Thank you for all your current efforts.Susan M. Lett, MD, MPHMedical Director, Immunization ProgramDivision of Epidemiology and ImmunizationMassachusetts Department of Public Health617-983-6823susan.lett@state.ma.us  From the MDPH Suicide Prevention Program:Please see attached information on two projects the Massachusetts Suicide Prevention Program is sponsoring: Comfort Zone Camp and access to the At-Risk for Middle School Educators and At-Risk for High School Educators online trainings for a limited number of middle and high schools in the Commonwealth.

Brandy BrooksContract ManagerSuicide Prevention ProgramSuicide Prevention WebinarsSuicide Prevention Program  From the MA Public Health Nurses: We need your assistance. Please complete the appropriate survey below so that we can get a Good response for MA PHNs. The survey takes approx. 20 minutes to complete. The history behind this request is that the Quad Council of PHN organizations (APHN, PHN Section-APHA, ACHNE, ANA) is working to ensure that there is a PH nurse category under the Bureau of Labor Statistics Standard Occupation Code System. Presently PHNs are listed under the general RN category. We would like to see our profession and specialty have its own code. Please read the instructions below from my PHN colleague, Sue Strohschein. Feel free to call or email Sue with any questions you may have. 1- 651-528-8987, stroh025@umn.eduThe deadline to complete the survey is Friday, February 27, 2015Invitation:Dear School Nurses:You are invited to participate in an important survey. Completing this survey provides an opportunity to participate in important research in public health nursing. The current classification system used by the U.S. government to categorize occupations does not include a code for public health nurse. Rather, it is assumed that public health nurses’ work is the same as that of the majority of registered nurses —that is, hospital work. This has significant ramifications in that the classification system (known as the Standard Occupational Code system, or SOC) is used as the basis for a myriad of other purposes, such as career counseling, workforce development research, training grants, and even the U.S. Census. It boils down to the idea “that if something can’t be counted, it doesn’t exist.” While it is true that only 3% of the overall population of nurses identifying themselves as public health nurses, PHNs constitute anywhere from 19-25% of the total public health workforce—the largest single professional contingent.The survey is a means to collect data to demonstrate that the practice of public health nursing is a distinct practice, just as acute care nurse or critical care nurse or advanced practice nurse have individual recognition. While some of the items listed in the survey may seem non-sensible please keep in mind they are derived from the current SOC description. [For further information on this, please explore the following website: http://www.onetonline.org/link/summary/29-1141.00]Two forms of the survey are available:Survey 1: If you have at least two years of experience practicing as a public health nurse, please follow this link to complete staff PHN survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PHNCodeThose of you reading this who may

supervise PHNs or act as a lead PHN, please forward this request to your staff and other PHN colleagues.Survey 2: If you have at least 5 years of experience in public health nursing and manage programs or other staff in a local or state public health department OR if you teach community/public health nursing please follow this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PHNCodeExpertThe surveys are each approximately 140 items but completion should only take about 30 minutes. Please note that once you start the survey you must complete it in one session. While in the survey you may go back and change answers but you cannot leave the survey and return to it once it is started. All survey responses need to be completed no later than February 27, 2015. The survey is part of my capstone project to fulfill requirements of the doctorate in nursing practice at the University of Minnesota School of Nursing. The survey meets all human subjects requirements; no data will be personally linked to you. If you have questions, please contact me directly at stroh025@umn.edu or 651-528-8987. Sue StrohscheinFrom MA DMH:

As part of the Department of Mental Health’s ongoing training & support for the Restraint/Seclusion Prevention Initiative, we are pleased to offer an upcoming workshop on “Teaching Trauma-Informed Care” with Janina Fisher, PhD which will be offered on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Westborough DoubleTree Hotel (Westborough, MA). This is a repeat of the training offered last spring so we kindly request that if you attended the past training that you allow new staff/colleagues to attend.Please see the attached flyer for more information, & please also note the following:• This is a repeat of the training offered last fall & spring, so we kindly request that

if you’ve attended a past training to please allow new staff/colleagues to attend. Due to limited seating, we also ask that programs send no more than 2-3 staff/program.

• To register please click on the link, or copy and paste it into your browser: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TeachingTIC-3-11-15

• Registration deadline is Monday, March 2, 2015 (or as soon as max capacity is reached)

• Email confirmations will be sent out once registration has closed.• CE applications have been submitted for licensed mental health counselors,

social workers, nurses, psychologists, & occupational therapists.From NASN:Please participate in the NASN 2015 School Nurse Survey!! Complete it

by March 10, 2015.In the past this survey was disseminated only every other year. We have shortened the survey and will have a short survey each spring. The survey is open to all NASN members and ALL nurses working in schools (head start/pre-k through high school), so please feel free to pass the survey along to other nurses you know who may not be NASN members who work in schools. We want to hear from all school nurses! The survey should only take about 10-15 minutes. The purpose of the survey:• To identify concerns and needs;• To better understand the demographics of school nurses; and• To identify where NASN is performing well and where NASN needs to improve. This information helps us plan products and services that are important and relevant to you.To access the survey go to: https://nasn.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cO89pMalfM73WQJTo show our gratitude for your thoughtful responses to the survey, we are offering four scholarships that will be chosen randomly: two scholarships to attend the 2015 NASN Annual Conference; and two scholarships for NASN bookstore purchases. All participating school nurses are eligible for at least 2 prizes!! NASN members are eligible for all 4 prizes!!From the US DOE Office of Safe and Healthy Schools: Please see the programs being offered in conjunction with Teen Violence Awareness Month:

White House Proclamation: Teen Violence Awareness Month (February)

As part of NATIONAL TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION MONTH, President Barack Obama included this

message in his 2015 Presidential Proclamation“In a Nation invested in the limitless possibility of every child, ending dating violence is an urgent priority. Each year, an estimated 1 in 10 American teenagers is physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend. This behavior violates our most basic values and can have profound consequences for survivors. Young people who experience dating violence are at increased risk of substance abuse, depression, poor academic performance, and future victimization. This month, we join with all those who have endured the pain of an

unhealthy relationship and acknowledge the responsibility we each have to end this cycle of fear, isolation, and abuse.”Proclamations | The White HousePresidential Proclamation -- National Teen Dating Violence AwarenessPlease explore the following online resources, starting with the FVPSA website and LoveisRespect.org.· Start Strong: Building Healthy Teen Relationships· The Runaway & Homeless Youth Relationship Violence Toolkit· Special Collection on Preventing and Responding to Teen Dating Violence

If you are in -- or know someone who is in -- an abusive relationship, the National Dating Abuse Helpline can offer immediate and confidential support. To contact the Helpline, call 1-866-331-9474, text "loveis" to 22522, or visit LoveIsRespect.org. For more information on dating violence, visit VetoViolence.CDC.gov

Webinar: Learning from Latino Youth about Teen Dating Violence: Perspectives from Research and Practice- 2/20/15

Learning from Latino Youth about Teen Dating Violence: Perspectives from Research and Practice – February 20th 11:00 AM EST. Hosted by Casa de

Esperanza, this webinar presentation will bring together the voices of practitioners and researchers sharing their experiences from working or studying teen dating violence among Latin@ youth. Participants will hear the lessons learned from years of work with Latin@ youth in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Additionally we will hear from the authors of the study Dating Violence and Interpersonal Victimization Among a National Sample of Latino Youth on the findings of their research and implications for practice. Register here: https://bwjp.ilinc.com/register/kfpwtrj

Early Relationship Skills Prevent Teen Dating Violence

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month—a time to promote healthy relationship skills to preteen and teens. Healthy and respectful behaviors can prevent teen dating violence.What You Need To Know-About 10% of high school students report being hit, slammed into something, or injured on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend in year before CDC survey.-Dating violence can be prevented when teens, families, organizations, and communities implement effective prevention strategies together.Dating Matters

gives tips for preventing dating violence early and creating a safer future for young peopleFebruary is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month—a time to promote healthy relationship skills to preteen and teens. Healthy and respectful behaviors can prevent teen dating violence.

Webinar: Implementation Findings from Two Evaluations (Teen Dating Violence)

Implementation Findings from Two Intervention Evaluations - February 23rd 2:00 PM Eastern. Dr. Elizabeth Miller will discuss findings from an experimental evaluation of a

school health center-based intervention to address and prevent adolescent relationship abuse. Lama Hassoun Ayoub from the Center for Court Innovation will present highlights from their evaluation of the 4th R, a classroom-based intervention to prevent teen dating violence, with middle school youth. Hosted by the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Teen Dating Violence. Register here: https://bwjp.ilinc.com/register/zvsrrmw

Webinar: Teen Dating Violence in the African Immigrant and Refugee Community

Teen Dating Violence in the

African Immigrant and Refugee Community - February 25th 1:00 PM Eastern. Hosted by the Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community (IDVAAC), this session will provide an overview of the culturally specific issues faced by African immigrant and refugee victims of teen dating violence. The presenter, Grace Aron, MA, will discuss signs of teen dating violence, cultural dynamics, risk factors, and how to respond when faced with a victim who discloses abuse. Register here: https://idvaac.wufoo.com/forms/idvaac-tdvam-webinar-on-022515/

Cyber Dating Abuse 

among Teens Using School-Based Health Centers

Cyber dating abuse is common and associated with Adolescent Relationship Abuse (ARA) and sexual assault in an adolescent clinic-based sample. The associations of cyber dating abuse with sexual behavior and pregnancy risk behaviors suggest a need to integrate ARA education and harm reduction counseling into sexual health assessments in clinical settings.Access the full study from Pediatrics

Healthy School Campaign’s School Nurse Leadership Award:

The nomination period for our second annual School Nurse Leadership Award opened

February 9 and applications are pouring in. Make sure your voice is heard by taking advantage of this opportunity to recognize an amazing school nurse leader in your school or district. And please help us spread the word to you friends and colleagues about the award and nomination. Healthy Schools Campaign's School Nurse Leadership Award highlights extraordinary school nurses from across the country for the important work they do to improve the health and wellness of their schools and communities. If you know such a leader -- or if it’s you! -- we encourage you to apply.Applications are due by March 9, 2015.Through the School Nurse Leadership Award, we’ll share the stories of school nurses who are changing the lives of students in their schools and communities. Whether a building or district nurse, or a state-wide school nurse leader, we want to highlight the people behind the great work that is happening across the country to improve school health. Up to five winners will be announced on National School Nurse Day, May 6, 2015. Winners will be highlighted among their peers and will also receive a $500 School Health gift card to use toward a catalog or online purchase.Special thanks to our School Nurse Leadership Award sponsors -- School Health Corporation and MAICO Diagnostics -- for making this award possible and for their commitment to school nurses.Visit healthyschoolscampaign.org/leadership-award to learn more and to access the application. You may complete the application on behalf of yourself, or on behalf of a school nurse whom you’d like to recognize.We look forward to receiving your application!Sincerely,Mark Bishop312-419-1810 | mark@healthyschoolscampaign.orgHealthy Schools Campaign

From the MA Department of Transportation:

The MA Highway Safety Division recently worked with our media contractor to put together the PSA below regarding winter car seat safety, specifically the importance of children being strapped into car seats with their winter coats off.

Please feel free to share this PSA to help us get the word out about an issue of which many parents/caregivers are not aware.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M50gjzrXbzM

Additional infoIf your child's coat is too bulky to be worn with the car seat, you may want to consider some of these alternatives for keeping your child warm in your vehicle:

-          Preheat your vehicle-          Put a coat on your child backwards after the harness is properly tightened

-          Cover your child with a blanket

If you are unsure that a child is strapped in properly, Safe Kids Worldwide recommends using "the pinch test." With your thumb and your index finger, pinch the harness near the child's collarbone. If you are unable to pinch any excess webbing when you pinch the strap, the harness is considered snug enough.

Summer Camp Job Postings:Listed here as a public service for school nurses….

·         Waukeela, a premier Girls Camp in Eaton Center New Hampshire, is looking for

a registered nurse to work one or both of our 4 week sessions. Session I runs 6/29-7/25 and Session II runs 7/27-8/22. Enjoy the beauty of Crystal Lake and the Pine Grove while in camp, and the beautiful White Mountains region on your days off. School nursing experience is preferred but not required. For more information contact Jayson at 800-626-0207.

·         Camp Starfish is a residential and day camp for children with significant emotional, social, behavioral and learning challenges. We have a 1:1 staff-to-camper ratio and provide therapeutic camp to children who would not otherwise be able to participate in summer programs. We are looking for help in our "Healthy House" (it sounds SO much better than "Infirmary, doesn't it?!) with medication dispensing, healthy lifestyle support, bandaids and boo-boos, injury/illness prevention and management, as well as many other nursing functions. Nurses are a big part of making our camp program successful, and we're looking both for residential nurses to live on site as well as someone to cover days off or work in the busier days at the start of each session as a support to our full-time health team. Camp is in Rindge, NH - just over the MA border from Winchendon and Fitchburg. You do not need to be licensed in NH - camp will take care of the costs for helping you procure that licensure, so long as you are currently licensed in good standing in MA. If you're looking for a chance to make a huge difference for some great kids this summer, please learn more about Starfish by checking us out online at www.campstarfish.org or emailing adam@campstarfish.org. You can also call for more information to our winter

office in Stow, MA: 978-637-2617.