DPH Weekly Updates 11/19/15

Dear Colleagues:

Thanksgiving is upon us, and it’s another reminder of how thankful we are here at MDPH for the continuous efforts you make every day to serve the children and youth in our schools! School nurses and school nurse leaders provide the public health infrastructure in their communities that provide for activities that promote healthy and productive lives. School nurses and school nurse leaders impact the lives of the students in their schools as only nurses, with a holistic, caring role can, that keeps students in school and learning. Thank you for this and so much more!

We have some exciting news to share! Jean Afzali (formerly the School Nurse Leader for the Weymouth Public Schools) has accepted the position as the Regional Consultant for the Metrowest area! We are so excited to be working with Jean and all the other Regional Consultants! Our appreciation to Patty McCaffrey, the School Nurse Leader for the Waltham Public Schools, who has been doing double-duty prior to Jean coming on-board! We are so grateful for the work the Regional Consultants do across the state in promoting best clinical practices and instilling leadership qualities in every school nursing role!

Here is the updated list of Regional Consultants and their contact information:

Region / Name / Office Phone / Email
Central / Kathleen Charette / 978-567-6190, ext. 1122 /
Metrowest / Jean Afzali / 781-314-5543 /
Northeast / Lisa Cross / 508-782-6892 /
Southeast / Ann Klaver / 508-894-4329 /
West / Diane Colucci / 413-750-2511 /
Therese Blain / 413-750-2007 /

Below are a few additional updates from the School Health Services Unit. We hope that you will be surrounded by family and friends for your Thanksgiving celebration! Enjoy the break….there will be no Updates until after December 1st.

Thank you again for all you do! Mary Ann, Carol and Janet

From the MDPH Adolescent Health Program:

The following job has been published; please share this notice:

Posting Requisition #: 1500020M

Position Number: 200400

Agency: Department of Public Health

Official Title: Coordinator of Adolescent Health and Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiatives

Functional Title: Program Coordinator III

View this job at

From the MDPH and MCAAP Immunization Initiative:

MDPH and MCAAP are proud to announce an upcoming Immunization Initiative Webinar:

Autism "101"

Thursday, December 3, 2015, 12:00-1:00 pm

Alison Singer, Co-Founder and President, Autism Science Foundation click here for more information

Continuing Education Credit is available for the live webinar

By participating in this webinar, the attendee should be able to:

•Review what is currently known about autism;

•Explain why autism is not caused by vaccines;

•Utilize the CASE approach to communicate vaccine safety information.

How to register:

(Please note that the Baystate CE portal has been updated and you may need to re-create your CEID.)

  1. Click hereto go directly to the CE Calendar; (or use this URL:
  2. Go tocurrent month or advance to webinar month;
  3. Go towebinar dateand click on webinar;
  4. Scroll down and click on "Add to Cart;
  5. You will return to the Calendar;
  6. Scroll up and click on "Shopping Cart;"
  7. Click on "Checkout";
  8. Enter your CE Portal ID* and click on "Enter;" (*You may get an error message that notes that "an incomplete registration was detected"/"CE Portal ID cannot be found". If you get this message, you will need to create your CEID again.);
  9. Click on "Shopping Cart;"
  10. Click on "Checkout;"
  11. Youwill see a message that says "Thank You;"
  12. You will receive an email confirming your registration. Webinar login instructions will be sent to you before the webinar by separate email. If you have any difficulty registering, or if you have any questions, please contact Cynthia McReynolds (; 781.895.9850).

From the National Association for School Nurses (NASN):

Resources that demonstrate school nursing’s contribution to student health and safety:

Article -The 2015 NASN School Nurse Survey: Developing and Providing Leadership to Advance School Nursing Practice

White Paper -School Nurses' Role in Combating Chronic Absenteeism

Poster -School Nursing: Vital to Health, Safety, and Readiness to Learn[NASN member login required]

Templates - Three advocacy articles includingFalse Economy - The Unforeseen Costs of Eliminating School Nurses[NASN member login required]

Mary Ann Gapinski, MSN, RN, NCSN

Director of School Health Services

MA Department of Public Health

250 Washington Street – 5th Floor

Boston, MA 02108

617-624-5427

Website: