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Keeping Healthy Together!
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We cannot do this alone,
we need each other,
we can build
a better world
for our Children!
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The 2020-2021 influenza season is upon us.
It is more important than ever during the current COVID-19 pandemic to make sure that you and your family get a flu vaccine! The flu vaccine helps your body protect against the flu and it is your best protection against the virus. It is likely that flu viruses and the virus that causes COVID-19 will both spread this fall and winter. While getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, flu vaccines can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and death. Additionally, getting a flu vaccine also can save healthcare resources for the care of patients with COVID-19.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone 6 months and older, for whom vaccination is appropriate, get a flu vaccine. As a reminder, the flu vaccine is now required for all Massachusetts school students enrolled in childcare, pre-school, K-12, and post-secondary institutions. More information about this requirement can be found here.
Resources:
- Cynthia McReynolds, Program Manager, Immunization Initiative, Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (MCAAP); Massachusetts PTA Health, Safety and Wellness Committee member
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FREE MEALS FOR ALL KIDS & TEENS THIS SCHOOL YEAR: 2020-21
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Information provided by Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program in Collaboration with DESE SWITCH and
Mass PTA Health, Safety and Wellness Committee.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the USDA has extended a number of program flexibilities in order to allow meal providers to continue serving free meals to all children and teens throughout this school year. No registration or ID is required and meals will be available through June 30, 2021. Please refer to the MA meal finder map at www.meals4kids.or/meals, which shows the hundreds of meal sites throughout the Commonwealth where families can easily access free meals for their children. This resource provides site addresses and hours for all sites that are considered “open sites,” which means that they serve meals to any child or teen (they do NOT have to be enrolled in a particular district) and it is updated regularly with new sites. Please help spread the word as wide as possible about these important changes in school meal programs so that more Massachusetts children and teens will have access to healthy meals this year.
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Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Program, alongside the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE,) works to increase participation in two underutilized federal child nutrition programs, the National School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program (known as Summer Eats in Massachusetts). Together, we strive to ensure that all children in Massachusetts have access to nutritious meals, working directly with school districts and meal providers to provide technical assistance and innovative solutions to ensure these programs make the most impact on the children who need them. To find other food resources, please call Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 or visit www.projectbread.org/get-help.
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Start a Student Health Club in Your School- A Collaboration with MHC and MA PTA. Get the Word out about Student Health!!
The Massachusetts Health Council has created a high school forum where students can learn about important health topics, volunteer in their communities, and initiate change locally. Students and faculty advisor can create a Student Health Club in their school. Students will receive plans, materials, and resources to educate and initiate meaningful conversation. Topics include nutrition and fitness, vaping, substance abuse, healthy relationships, social determinants of health, immunizations and more. Even if your school currently has a health club, MHC can provide resources and assistance by helping students inform their peers and community while also gaining a better understanding about different career opportunities within the health professions. This club will also satisfy “volunteer hours” that can be used toward National Honor Society and other community service requirements. This club offers the ability to be implemented remotely as well.
We have created a packet that serves as a guide to creating, hosting, and planning a student-led health club, which can be initiated at any point in the school year. If you are interested in starting a student Health Club, please fill out the application in this packet and forward to dmartin@mahealthcouncil.org.
If you are a parent and/or an educator interested in this please contact:
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Student Vaping During COVID –
Your Voice Needed:
Principals , Parents and Educators
Please read!
Research Team and the Mass PTA Health Committee team up Together!
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Dr. Lester Hartman, MD, MPH, Dr. Jonathan P. Winickoff, MD, MPH,Jessica Liu, MPH, Matthew Reynolds and Mark Gottlieb, JD are a research team based out of Massachusetts General Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, researching current student vaping.
Their research indicates that COVID-19 has created novel challenges related to vaping and the use of other tobacco products by adolescents. Some pediatricians in Massachusetts suspect that boredom and isolation related to COVID-19 exacerbate this problem, and research suggests COVID-19 diagnoses are five times more likely for those students who vape.
This Research Team along with the Massachusetts PTA though the work and efforts will survey all principals in student use of tobacco products.
This evaluation aims to assess the extent of the vaping crisis among your students in a time when this problem is less visible to school administrators. This research can help identify what resources your school needs to best assess and address this problem.
As principals we are asking that you take this 10 minute survey that will be out very shortly through multiple communications along with a special announcement through Mass PTA Healthy Announcements, website and Facebook. Please look for this soon!
As parents and educators please encourage your principals to submit this survey. It will help our students and youth stay healthy and not fall into a trap of Vaping or use of other tobacco products. Stay tuned for more Information!
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A Huge Thank You to Minding Your Mind
from the Mass PTA Health, Safety and Wellness Comm.
for their continued Partnership.
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Minding Your Mind Programs
Coming Soon,
Do Not Miss Out!
Contact:
Michelle Drolsbaugh, LMFT (she/her/hers)
New England Director
Phone: 857-244-0449
See other programs coming soon in last week in October and November at:
A special Thanks to KyleCares is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting open and honest communication about the mental health challenges experienced by teens and young adults in today’s society. KyleCares helps high schools and colleges in New England support student mental health by:
- Connecting schools with mental health resources and service providers
- Facilitating long-term, comprehensive strategies to address student mental health
- Funding school-based mental health education, awareness, and suicide prevention programs
For more information, visit
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- To keep them Healthy
- To keep them Safe
- To keep them Well
It’s up to all of us to bring committed people, parents, educators, schools, agencies, organizations and communities together to act on the health needs, safety and well-being of all of Massachusetts’s children.
Thank You to all of our Partners!
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It is for Them,
that we need YOU!
Join us in our Massachusetts PTA Health Mission, Initiatives and Committee.
Contact: Jackie Coogan, Chair
Massachusetts PTA Health, Safety and Wellness Committee
617-851-5382
Everyone is welcome to the Massachusetts PTA!
You can become a PTA member by joining the Massachusetts Cranberry PTA unit or by joining a local PTA in your area.
Contact:
Karen DeRoche, President-Elect
and/or
Kathersha Cureton, VP of Leadership
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