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Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: School Nurses Leading for Change (Session Four)
School nurses play a critical role in addressing chronic absenteeism. Per the NASN Position Statement, “As professionals who bridge education and health, school nurses are vital school team members in supporting student attendance and addressing chronic absenteeism.” They are uniquely positioned to identify and address issues that create barriers for students to attend school. These issues include physical and mental health issues and concerns related to the social determinants of health such as homelessness, poverty, and systematic racism.
This course will provide data, resources, and tools school nurses can use to identify and address chronic absenteeism in their schools and districts.
During this course, we will discuss:
- Chronic absenteeism: how it is defined, who is chronically absent, barriers for attendance, key physical and mental health issues that affect attendance, and how poverty as a social determinant of health (SDoH) influences absenteeism.
- The role of the school nurse in addressing chronic absenteeism.
- Systems and tools to collect, monitor, and report absenteeism data.
- Models and quality improvement strategies school nurses can apply to address absenteeism through an equity lens.
- Making the case for school nurses to be included as key members of administrative teams that are addressing absenteeism at the school and district level.
Presentations, case examples, and small and large group discussions will be used to identify and share promising approaches. Communication tools will include Padlet to post quality improvement project strategies and experiences. Sessions will be recorded and clips may be used in a brief video that describes the unique role of school nurses in addressing absenteeism.
This course aligns directly with the CSHS grant scope of services. Learners will apply training and tools to meet CSHS grant requirements to assess and address chronic absenteeism. Work completed in this course (all four sessions) can be applied directly to meet CSHS grant requirements.
At the end of these four sessions, the learner will be able to:
- Describe the problem of chronic absenteeism, its long-term consequences for student achievement, and the role of the school nurse in reducing absenteeism.
- Describe the consequences of poverty on the physical, mental, and behavioral health of school-aged children and how poverty affects students' abilities to learn and be in school.
- Evaluate how promising strategies designed to reduce chronic absenteeism might be applied to school nursing practice.
- Design and implement a nurse-led strategy to identify, monitor, and address chronic absenteeism using an equity lens.
- Make the case that school nurses are uniquely skilled and essential partners in addressing the national concern of chronic absenteeism.
- Advocate for including school nurses in strategic administrative teams that are addressing absenteeism at a policy level.
Target Audience
CSHS grantees and school health professionals interested in this topic.
Note: While programming for CSHS meetings is developed with the grantee scope of service and performance measures in mind, any school health professional may benefit from topics covered. Guiding principles for CQI projects described within the grant framework are applicable to any district or school.
Learning Objectives
After completing this training session, participants will be able to:
- Apply feedback gained from small and large group discussions to improve your current and/or future CQI projects
- Identify at least one action you can apply to address inequities that create barriers to marginalized students' ability to engage with school
- Describe how nurse-led MTSS Level 1-3 interventions are being applied to address chronic absenteeism
- Advocate for including school nurses in strategic administrative teams that are addressing absenteeism at a policy level
Note: Agenda items are subject to change.
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 8:00 - 9:00 AM | Registration (Optional Networking) |
| 9:00 - 9:30 AM | Welcome and Updates |
| 9:30 - 10:00 AM | Applying MTSS Level 1-3 Nurse Led Interventions to Address Chronic Absenteeism |
| 10:00 - 10:15 AM | Break |
| 10:15 - 11:15 AM | Best Practices Panels with a Q&A |
| 11:15 - 12:00 PM | Best Practices Circles (group activity) |
| 12:00 - 1:15 PM | Lunch |
| 1:15 - 1:45 PM | Best Practices Circles Share Out |
| 1:45 - 2:30 PM | Your CQI Project Beyond this Year |
| 2:30 - 3:00 PM | Acknowledgements & Wrap-Up |
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
 | Felicity Crawford, EdD Faculty, Speaker, Planner Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education in the Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities Program, Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development |
 | Patricia Elliott, DrPH Planner Advisor and Clinical Associate Professor, Boston University School of Public Health |
 | Beverly Heinze-Lacey, MPH, BSN, RN Nurse Planner Director of SHIELD, Boston University |
 | Avery Hines, MSN, RN, NCSN Planner Assistant Director of School Health Services, Division of Child/Adolescent Health and Reproductive Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health |
Panelists/Speakers
 | Cynthia Carbone, MEd, MSN, RN - Holyoke Public Schools Cynthia holds a Master's degree in Nursing from UMass Amherst and a Master's in Health Education from Worcester State. Her career began as a health education teacher and health coordinator for grades PK-12. She then served as an Assistant Professor and School Health Program Coordinator at Springfield College. |
| Though she briefly left Holyoke for a leadership role in another district, Cynthia returned as Holyoke’s Director of Health, Wellness, and Nursing. Her commitment to using her skills and passion in nursing and health education to support students and families made Holyoke the ideal place for her. Cynthia has successfully written and managed multiple grants, leads Holyoke’s School Community Health Advisory Council, collaborates with the Facilities Team through the HEAL and Building on Heal initiatives, and is an active member of the district Crisis Team. Many of her school-based policies, such as teen pregnancy, COVID-19, and extreme weather, have been examples for others. She has been involved with various health-related programs throughout her tenure at Holyoke. Cynthia is in her eighth year as Holyoke’s Director of Health, Wellness, and Nursing. | |
 | Mary Guiliana, MEd, BSN - Reading Public Schools Mary has been a school nurse in Reading for 15 years, and the director of health services for the past 5 years. |
 | Susan Gendreau, BSN, RN, NCSN - New Bedford Schools Born and raised in New Bedford, Sue has dedicated over three decades to nursing. Married for 25 years, Sue is the proud parent of 21-year-old twin daughters. She holds an ADN from Cape Cod Community College (1991), a BSN from UMASS Dartmouth (2000), and an NCSN certification (2023). |
 | Alicia Bryant, MSN, RN, NCSN - Barnstable Public Schools Alicia is the Director of Health Services for Barnstable Public Schools. She has been in this position since July 2020; just as schools were reopening after the pandemic closure. She holds a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology from UMASS, Amherst, a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Curry College and a Master’s in Nursing with a concentration in public health from Aspen University. Prior to her role as Director of Health Services, she was an elementary school nurse for Falmouth Public Schools for 7 years, where she discovered her passion for school health. She has previous clinical experience in the fields of primary care, complex home care and inpatient pediatrics at Tufts Medical Center’s Floating Hospital for Children. Alicia lives in Falmouth and is the proud mom of two-year-old Charlie. |
 | Elizabeth Quaratiello, BSN, RN, NCSN - Somerville Public Schools Elizabeth has been a nurse since 1996 and was a school nurse for 10 years before becoming the Director of School Health Services for the Somerville Public Schools, a position held for the past 4 years. Her background is in public health, community health and pediatrics. She was a newspaper reporter before nursing school. |
 | Rebecca (Becky) McCaffrey, BSN, RN, NCSN - Gardner Public Schools Becky McCaffrey is the Director of School Health Services for Gardner Public Schools. She has been working in the district for the past 19 years. Prior to that she worked in the local community hospital in Gardner for 10 years in a number of roles including as an Administrative Supervisor. Becky has her Supervisor/Director license through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In her free time, she enjoys golfing, being outside, and spending time with her husband, 3 children, and beloved dog Maggie. |
| SHIELD Senior Program Manager/Planner: 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: 4.50 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.
Available Credit
- 4.50 ANCC
- 4.50 Participation
Price
Enrollments are now closed. You can still attend, please let us know at the registration table tomorrow that you didn't get a chance to enroll.
Cancellation Policy
Substitutions may be made at any time without an additional charge. Refunds, minus a $50 administrative fee, will be issued for all cancellations received prior to the start of the meeting. Cancellations/substitutions must be made in writing to SHIELD at [email protected]. “No shows” are subject to the full course fee. Refunds will not be issued once the conference has started. This course is subject to change or cancellation.
If you need to cancel your registration, please fill out the SHIELD Cancellation Form here.
Disclaimer Statement
THESE MATERIALS AND ALL OTHER MATERIALS PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH CONTINUING EDUCATION ACTIVITIES ARE INTENDED SOLELY FOR PURPOSES OF SUPPLEMENTING CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS. ANYONE USING THE MATERIALS ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBILITY AND ALL RISK FOR THEIR APPROPRIATE USE. TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY MAKES NO WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATIONS WHATSOEVER REGARDING THE ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, CURRENTNESS, NONINFRINGEMENT, MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OF THE MATERIALS. IN NO EVENT WILL TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY BE LIABLE TO ANYONE FOR ANY DECISION MADE OR ACTION TAKEN IN RELIANCE ON THE MATERIALS. IN NO EVENT SHOULD THE INFORMATION IN THE MATERIALS BE USED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL CARE. 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.
Special Services
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 BU-CCE Office at least 3 weeks prior to the event to discuss your needs. Please contact us at [email protected].
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.