State Mandated Health Screenings

    State Mandated Health Screenings
    Vision Screenings will be implemented in grades pre-k, 1-5, 7, & 10. Hearing Screenings in grades K-2, 3, 7, & 10. Heights and weights are measured in grades 1, 4, 7, & 10. Postural Screening in grades 5 - 9. SBIRT Screening in 7 & 10.

    Schools are required by Massachusetts General Law to provide vision, hearing, body mass index (BMI), postural, and Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) health screenings to all students.  Parents/guardians will be notified if a referral is necessary.

        
    Guidelines may be found at the following website:
    https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2017/09/11/105cmr200.pdf

    Vision:

    Students entering Kindergarten are required by Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 71 and Section 57, to have had a vision screening by a physician. Annually in grades pre-k, 1 through 5, once in grades 6 through 8, and once in grades 9 through 12

    Hearing:

    Kindergarten through grade 3 and once in grades 6 through 8 and once in grades 9 through 12

    Heights and Weights:

    Heights and weights are measured and body mass index (BMI) is calculated on children in grades 1, 4, 7 and 10. The purpose of BMI screening in all schools is to gather valuable data that can help MDPH monitor trends in childhood obesity and identify possible systems-wide solutions. BMI results are submitted to MDH only.

    Postural Screening: 

    The state of Massachusetts mandates that all students in grades 5 through 9 be screened for scoliosis. Notification of screenings for fifth grade students will be completed by mail and by newsletters/website in the following grades.

    SBIRT:

    Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment is done once in grades 6 through 8 and once in grades 9 through 12. The screening uses the CRAFFT tool as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Committee on Substance Abuse.  Student screening sessions will be brief and conducted confidentially in a private, one-on-one session.  


    SBIRT IN SCHOOLS

    CRAFFT-II Screening Interview

    Video: Overview of SBIRT in Schools

     

    We recognize that some parent(s)/guardian(s) may prefer to have the screening performed by a physician. For your child to be exempt from screening in school, please provide the following documentation to your school nurse:

    Hearing & Vision: 

    Copy of the screening results from the physician for the current school year.


    Postural:

    Copy of the screening results from the physician for the current school year or documentation that the student is under care for scoliosis for the current school year.

    Height/Weight/BMI

    Parent/Guardian must provide a written request to the school clinic if they do not wish their child to participate in this program.


    SBIRT:

    Parent/Guardian must provide a written request to the school clinic if they do not wish their child to participate in this program.

     

     

     

     

              **Families will be notified of the onset of screenings in school newsletters and on our school website. We will ensure privacy and confidentiality during the screening procedures. **

     

     

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