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Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: School Nurses Leading for Change (Session Two)
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.
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 learning.
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, and guiding principles for CQI projects described within the grant framework are applicable to any district or school.
Learning Objectives
TBD
Details coming soon
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
Kim Fallon, MS, BSN, BA, RN, CPN
Speaker
Kim C. Fallon is employed as an Elementary School Nurse in the Bridgewater-Raynham Regional School District. Her nursing journey began as a second career concentrating on the pediatric population. She acquired specialized skills as a floor nurse on a medical/surgical unit for 13 years at Boston Children’s Hospital. In addition to floor nursing, she gained experience working for a pediatric nursing agency performing periodic home visits while committed to a standing position. Additionally, she worked as a substitute School Nurse in the BRRSD until a permanent position became available.
Kim has worked as a Registered Nurse for 18 years and has held a Certified Pediatric Nurse certification for 16 years. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Stonehill College, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Simmons University, and a Master of Science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Public Health Nurse Leader program at the University of Massachusetts Amherst with an expected graduation date of May 2026. Kim hopes her DNP project will successfully decrease chronic absenteeism to improve outcomes for all school-aged students.
Kim resides with her husband and two children in Raynham, Massachusetts. She enjoys vacationing in warm, tropical destinations, Cape Cod, and New Hampshire. She thoroughly enjoys attending outdoor concerts with her family and friends during the summer months. Among her several accomplishments, she is the proudest of her Stage 3A Breast Cancer battle which she won while raising a family and pursuing her academics.
Clare Grenon, M.Ed, BSN, RN, NCSN
Speaker
Clare L. Grenon, RN, is employed as Bridgewater Raynham Regional School District’s Nurse Leader since July 1, 2020. Prior to this position, she was employed in BR as a school nurse since 2000. Her 18 years prior to school nursing included acute care experience in Medical-Surgical nursing, Pediatrics, and Nationally Certified Peri-Operative nursing.
Clare has worked as a Massachusetts Registered Nurse for 41 years. She has proudly been Nationally Certified in School Nursing for 15 years. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science from Southeastern Massachusetts University (now UMass Dartmouth), a Master of Education in School Nursing from Cambridge College, and a 2023 certification from BU Shield in Leadership Presence and Management Practices.
Clare resides in Bridgewater with her husband and Keeshond dog. She enjoys hiking “52 with a View”, Kayaking in Maine, knitting, and reading. Among her most satisfying accomplishments, she is proudest of raising her two adult daughters.
Felicity Crawford, Ed.D.
Faculty, Speaker, Planner
Clinical Associate Professor of Special Education in the Teacher of Students with Moderate Disabilities Program
Patricia Elliott, DrPH
Faculty/Speaker
Advisor and Clinical Associate Professor
Boston University School of Public Health
Beverly Heinze-Lacey, MPH,BSN, RN
Nurse Planner
Director, BU SHIELD
Erin Sivak, MSN, BSN, RN
Nurse Educator/Reviewer
Assistant Director, BU SHIELD
SHIELD 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: 2.75 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
- 2.75 ANCC
- 2.75 Participation
Price
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 cme@bu.edu
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.