Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Forward
Hands in For Care
Hands In For Care is a three-part podcast series that focuses on the importance of building relationships and cooperation between school nurses, families, students, and school community members to create the best outcomes for students with special health care needs.
In each episode of Hands In For Care, you'll hear a story that highlights a challenge school nurses face when caring for children with medical complexity. The podcast host, Erin Sivak, talks with real nurses, caregivers, and other experts to learn how to overcome these hurdles.
As you listen to the roundtable discussion, you will learn about:
- Ways to engage and connect with families.
- Keeping students’ health and support networks strong.
- Creating a better experience for kids with special health care needs in the school health clinic and beyond.
Target Audience
School nurses, school health professionals, school interdisciplinary teams
Learning Objectives
At the end of this activity, the learner or the healthcare team should be able to:
Episode 1
- Identify key points in a narrative where a strained relationship between the school and caregiver is resulting in gaps in student care.
- Outline strategies learned from roundtable discussions to establish reciprocal and meaningful partnerships with student caregivers that can improve student outcomes.
- Identify at least one strategy you will apply to your own practice from the knowledge gained from the roundtable discussion
Episode 2
- Examine procedures around Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and other services and how accessible and inclusive they are for caregivers/students.
- Identify one or more methods for applying the Strengthening Partnerships Guiding Principle 4: Recognizing, Honoring, and Engaging Families in your own practice.
- Articulate opportunities for engagement with stakeholders in your schools and communities that can be applied in your own practice.
Episode 3
- Describe examples of the impact inequity can have on students with special health care needs (SHCN) and their caregivers.
- Uncover examples of how a cultural broker might assist with mitigating barriers and inequities to care.
- Identify opportunities for “meeting families where they are” that can be applied in your own practice.
| Content | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 10 minutes |
| Episode 1 | 45 minutes |
| Episode 2 | 45 minutes |
| Episode 3 | 45 minutes |
| Summary | 15 minutes |
| Evaluation | 15 minutes |
Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine asks all individuals involved in the development and presentation of Accredited Continuing Education activities to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies. This information is disclosed to all activity participants prior to the start of the educational activity. Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has procedures to mitigate all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies. In addition, faculty members are asked to disclose when any unapproved use of pharmaceuticals and devices is being discussed.
In accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, all relevant financial relationships that faculty, planners, authors, and anyone who may be in control of content have with ineligible companies have been mitigated.
None of the speakers or planners or anyone in control of content for this accredited continuing educational activity have any relevant financial relationships since the content does not relate to any products or services of an ACCME-defined ineligible company; therefore, there are no relevant financial relationships to disclose or mitigate.
Faculty
Erin Sivak, MSN, BSN, RN
Nurse Planner, Author, Speaker
Assistant Director, BU SHIELD
Erin joined SHIELD in 2021 and supports the development, delivery, and evaluation of SHIELD education and training programs for school nurses. Erin earned her Bachelor of Nursing Science from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and a Master's in Nursing Administration at Northeastern University. She has experience as a school nurse, nursing director for a community provider agency serving adults with developmental disabilities and brain injury, and as a staff nurse on an urgent care unit in a community health center.
Barbara Singer, RN, NCSN
Speaker
Experienced School Nurse
Barbara has been in school health for 20 years as a school nurse at all grade levels, as well as the Director of School Health Services at a Massachusetts district. In addition, Barbara is a mentor to new nurses and nurse leaders, is a public health nurse, and is a subject matter expert for BU SHIELD around Nursing Leadership, data, and working with students with special health care needs (SHCN).
Elizabeth (Beth) Bostic, MBA
Speaker
Assistant Director, Division of Children and Youth with Special Health Needs (DPH)
Parent Advocate
Beth was a Project Manager for a training and consulting organization before starting her own Special Education Advocacy practice more than 15 years ago. She is a trusted and frequently requested facilitator of workshops and stakeholder meetings across the Commonwealth, known for her ability to facilitate candid conversations about special education, caregiver needs, disability rights, and health care disparities among underrepresented and disenfranchised populations.
Molly McHale, MEd, BCBA
Speaker
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Molly McHale is a dedicated professional with a career spanning nearly a decade at Lowell Public Schools. Molly began as a paraprofessional in 2014, later transitioning to a teaching role in elementary classrooms focused on students with autism and emotional disabilities. In 2020, Molly achieved the distinction of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and joined the esteemed Dr. Janice Adie Day School, a Lowell public institution serving students with autism from preschool to high school. Rooted in Lowell, this community played a pivotal role in Molly's upbringing, motivating her to contribute back.
Tina Rusak, MSN, RN, NCSN
Speaker
Nurse Care Coordinator, Gardner Public Schools
Tina has been a School Nurse for Gardner Public Schools since 2012. In that time, she has filled the positions of Middle School Nurse, Float Nurse, Resource Nurse, and for the past four years as Nurse Care Coordinator. She is on the District Wellness Committee and has played a key role in updating the District Emergency Operations Plan. In 2021, Tina received a Master of Science in Public Health/Community Nursing from Worcester State University. She is an Adjunct Nursing Instructor at Fitchburg State University, and recently completed a Certification Program in RN Case Management. Tina enjoys working with students with complex health conditions and their caregivers in her care coordinator role and collaborating with school nurses to identify ways to improve nursing care in the school setting.
David Bjorklund, LICSW
Speaker
Social Worker, Assistant Behavioral Health Director and School-Based Behavioral Health Lead at Hilltown Community Health Center (HCHC)
David is the Assistant Behavioral Health Director and School-Based Behavioral Health Lead at Hilltown Community Health Center (HCHC). HCHC is a Federally Qualified Health Center nestled in the rural foothills, “hilltowns”, of the Berkshire Mountains. He is also an adjunct faculty at Westfield State University in their Masters of Social Work program where he received his MSW in 2018.
Nathalie Korpics
Speaker
Training Manager, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)
Nathalie Korpics, married mom of 2 (grown) children, residing in a coastal city north of Boston. Alumni of Boston University’s Master of Science program in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling. Strong advocate for daughter Sophie who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and failure to thrive at the age of 2. Passionate equity educator, striving to make our world a more inclusive place for all.
Betsy Steinberg, MEd, BSN, RN
Speaker
School Nurse with over 20 years of experience
Natick Public Schools
After having worked with adult populations in various nursing roles at Beth Israel for almost 20 years, Betsy took a leap into school nursing when her own kids were middle schoolers. She started as a volunteer health screener and then tried substitute school nursing. When a part-time job opened up at the Wilson Middle School in Natick, she decided she was ready to commit. She has been working full time with middle schoolers for about 15 years. She is constantly surprised and rewarded by the complexity of her role. She loves working with students, parents, staff, and loves to build collaborative relationships on behalf of her students.
Oanh Thi Thu Bui, MHA, MA
Speaker
Managing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Initiative
Office of the Assistant Commissioner for Health Equity (OACHE)
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
Oanh was a Diversity Leadership Fellow with the Institute for Community Inclusion at UMass Boston’s University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, a LEND Fellow (Leadership and Education in Neuro-Developmental Disabilities) at the Shriver Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School and a FORD scholar through Heller School, Brandeis University. Oanh holds two Master's Degrees in Health Administration and Sustainable International Development.
Felicity Crawford, EdD
Speaker
Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education
Moderate Disability Program at BU Wheelock College
Dr. Felicity Crawford is a clinical associate professor of special education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development. She is an experienced preK-12 educator who has worked for many years, and at every grade level, in racially and culturally diverse classroom settings. Her research interests include teacher ideology, the social context of urban special education, and pathways toward effectively transforming the experiences of students from diverse racial, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds in urban special education classrooms.
Beverly Heinze-Lacey, MPH, BSN, RN
Director, BU SHIELD
Reviewers
Karen Robitaille, MBA, MSN, RN, NCSN
Director of School Health Services
MA Department of Public Health
Kerri Padgett
Director of Pediatric Palliative Care Network (PPCN)
MA Department of Public Health
CNE Program Manager: Lesly Zapata, MPH
In support of improving patient care, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Nursing Contact Hours: 3.00 contact hours, of which 0 are eligible for pharmacology credit.
SHIELD is a DESE-approved provider for PDPs. PDP certificates are issued for programs/series lasting 10 or more hours on a topic. CNE certificates are also issued for eligible courses. Learners may use CNE certificates toward PDPs.
| Course Release Date: | 11/4/2024 |
| Material Reviewed: | 11/4/2024 |
| Course Expiration Date: | 11/3/2025 |
Available Credit
- 3.00 ANCC
- 3.00 Participation
Price
Disclaimer
THIS CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM IS INTENDED SOLELY FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. IN NO EVENT SHALL BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM. IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE PROGRAM BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE. NO PHYSICIAN-PATIENT RELATIONSHIP IS BEING ESTABLISHED. IN NO EVENT SHOULD INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS REGARDING LAWS, REGULATIONS, OR LEGAL LIABILITY BE CONSIDERED LEGAL ADVICE OR USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR CONSULTING WITH AN ATTORNEY.
Copyright
This material is copyrighted by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). MDPH grants permission for use of these materials for non-commercial educational use only, provided credit is given to the MDPH. Modification of content is permitted only with prior approval of the MDPH School Health Unit.
Special Services / Dietary Needs
Boston University strives to be accessible, inclusive, and diverse in our facilities, programming, and academic offerings. Your experience in this event is important to us. If you have a disability, require communication access services for the deaf or hard of hearing, or believe that you require a reasonable accommodation for another reason please contact the CCE Office to discuss your needs. Please contact us at cme@bu.edu