MetroWest Newsletter
April 17, 2020
In This Issue:
1. School Nurse News
2. MetroWest & Boston Virtual Regional Meeting
3. Self Care Article
4. Questions for the Group Section
5. Career Opportunities Section
6. Resource Section
- Boston University School of Public Health 6 hour FREE mini-MPH course (PHX)
- Resource Links for Parents/Guardians to help manage children's stress/anxiey related to the Covid-19 Pandemic
- Youth Health Connection Newsletter April 2020 Second Edition
- DESE-SEL Newsletter April 2020
- Caron Treatment Center Education Department: Free Digital Resources During the COVID-19 Shutdown
- CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Webpage Link
- MDPH COVID-19 Webpage Link
- NASN COVID-19 Resource Page
- World Health Organization COVID-19 Webpage Link
- BUOY Online COVID-19 symptom checker for MA residents
- CDC Health Alert Network
- MA COVID-19 Text Message Notification System
- Health Professional Volunteer for COVID-19 Relief
- MDPH Infectious Disease Reporting and Immunization Resources:
- BU SHIELD Resources
- NEUSHA Trainings for School Nurses
- MDPH School Health Services Information
- MDPH School Health Manual
- Massachusetts School Nurse Organization
- National Board for Certification of School Nurses
- MDPH School Health Services Regional Consultation Program Brochure
"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest accomplishment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
– Leo Buscaglia
School Nurse News:
Northborough and Southborough Public School Nurses Assisting their School Community!
Healthful Living Newsletter Created by Arlington School Nurses for Their School Community!
CANTON EFFORTS and VIRTUAL NURSING
Thank You Elizabeth Nightingale for Sharing!:
There are many focused efforts in Canton of continued support for students and families: School Nurses, June Warren, Christine Trendell, and Bailey Hewitt are volunteering their time to help the Board of Health track COVID 19 cases, participating in both state and local training sessions to assist with community tracking. In addition, school nutrition continues twice a week with meals provided at the High School plus designated meal pickup sites throughout the community with deliveries made by the RN Case Manager, Teresa Saunders. Galvin Nurse, Lauren Fallon and the Home Interventionist Team. The opportunity to look ahead and improve policies and processes is underway. Currently, Kindergarten Registration for the three elementary schools is being reviewed and updated working collaboratively with the District IT Dept and SNAP. The development of School Re-entry plans include collaboration with the local DPH Nurse, Cindy Bonnor. The Nursing Team is gearing up to focus on increasing student resilience, balancing mental health and wellness, and assisting in delivering coping strategies for both students and staff upon return.
Kennedy Elementary Nurse, Ellen Stenmon, is quickly adapting to the role of the "Virtual Nurse" with "Google classroom drop-ins" to visit with the students and support the teaching staff. She also had the opportunity to help a parent treat her child's bloody nose while on the phone. The parent reported that their child had a bloody nose and Ellen was able to provide instructions to the parent to slow the bleeding. The parent and child were happy to connect with their school nurse, plus they received some "virtual nursing services".
Cambridge School Nurses have been redeployed into the hospital:
Cambridge School Nurses are embracing the challenge and making a difference on the front lines in the pandemic!!! Thank you Tracy Rose-Tynes for Sharing!
School Health staff have been redeployed to the following areas of CHA (Cambridge Health Alliance) since March 16, 2020 .
The Somerville Tent/Swabbing site
CHA 4 West, (Med/Surg Unit)
Everett 6 West, (Med/Surg Unit)
Child Assessment Unit
Adult Assessment Unit
CHA ED
Everett ED
Occupational Health Call Center
Tufts University, Covid Unit
MetroWest & Boston Virtual Regional Meeting
Registration for the MetroWest & Boston Virtual Regional Meeting can be found HERE.
Complete the Meeting Registration form that opens and click on the Register button. A Meeting Registration Approval form will open and you can save this information to your calendar. You will also receive an email from Public Health Training Centers confirming your registration. The email will provide a link and password to join the meeting; note this link is unique to you and should not be shared.
Prior to the meeting, you will receive a reminder email with additional information about the session.
If you have difficulty with registration, please email shieldbu@bu.edu or support@nephtc.org.
Wednesday, Apr 29, 2020, 10:00 AM
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*QUESTIONS FOR THE GROUP*
*If you are seeking any information from your regional colleagues please let me know and your question(s) for the group will be included here. I can also send your question(s) to the other regional consultants to include in their newsletters to allow for further outreach.
Career Opportunities:
Resources for School Health Staff and Others:
Mini-Master of Public Health (MPH)
Resource Links for Parents/Guardians to help manage children's stress/anxiey related to the Covid-19 Pandemic:
Anxiety and Depression Association of America:
How to Talk to Your Anxious Child or Teen About Coronavirus
This resources provides guidance on how to talk to a child or teen about the coronavirus if they may be feeling anxious or stressed.
InfoAboutKids.org:
Parents and COVID 19: Helping Your Children
Resource for parents on how to talk to children about the coronavirus, manage worries and includes prevention tips.
National Association of School Psychologists:
Talking to Children About COVID-19 (Coronavirus): A Parent Resource
A resource for parents on how best to talk to children about the coronavirus.
The National Child and Traumatic Stress Network:
Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope With the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (PDF, 144KB)
This resource provides information for parents and caregivers about outbreaks, how they can prepare to reduce stress and anxiety, how it may affect your family both physically and emotionally and ways to cope.
National Parent Teacher Association:
6 Ways to Help Your Child Manage Their Anxiety During COVID-19
Tip sheet for parents and caregivers to help manage children's stress an anxieties during COVID-19. This tip sheet was made possible through a partnership between the APA and National PTA.
New York Times:
Talking to Teens and Tweens About Coronavirus
This article details advice from experts on how parents can help teens be prepared and have the right information about the coronavirus.
SAMHSA:
Talking with Caregivers, Parents. And Teachers during Infectious Disease Outbreaks (PDF, 13MB)
Resource provides helpful information how to talk with children of different age groups.
DESE-SEL Newsletter April 2020 CONTENTS
- Massachusetts COVID-19 information and resources web pages
- Supporting Students' Behavioral and Mental Health and Wellness Grant (for school year 2020-2021)
- DESE-sponsored website: Massachusetts Tools for Schools
- Highlighted DESE Webinars
- Safe Schools Program for LGBTQ Students
- DESE Family Engagement Specialist
- Cross-District Mental Health and Well Being Website and Calendar
- Smoking, Vaping and COVID-19
Caron's Education Department: "Free Digital Resources During the COVID-19 Shutdown"
Resource for MA residents to assess symptoms and find the right care.
CDC Health Alert Network Email Updates
MDPH Infectious Disease Reporting and Immunization Resources:
INFECTIOUS DISEASE: ANY infectious disease question, report, or inquiry should be directed to the State Lab at (671)983-6800
NEUSHA Trainings for School Nurses
Northeastern University School Health Academy (NEUSHA) is located within Northeastern University School of Nursing, which is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)’s commission on accreditation. NEUSHprovides innovative face to face and online continuing nursing education to school nurses, counselors and administrators from 40 states, educating more than 7,000 learners since July 1st, 2016. We constantly evaluate professional development needs to provide valuable topics. We also frequently partner with other organizations within and outside of Northeastern to offer contact hours to all nurses.
Face to face trainings: https://neusha.org/visit-neusha/index.php/face-to-face-listings/
Online Programs: https://neusha.org/visit-neusha/index.php/online-program-list/
Regional Consultant Program Brochure
Brochure contains MDPH School Health Unit and Regional Consultant contact information as well as describes the Regional Consultant Program.
*Download RC Program Brochure below:
THANK YOU for distributing this update to school nurses in your district/town! I will do my best to be available to you over the next several weeks. Be safe and healthy everyone!
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Jill Connolly, MEd, BSN, RN, NCSN
MetroWest Regional School Nurse Consultant
Braintree Public Schools
jill.connolly@braintreeschools.org
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