2010
Annual Report
Massachusetts Association for
School-Based Health Care, Inc.
About the Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care, Inc.
The Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care (MASBHC) is the statewide organization dedicated to
promoting the health and academic success of children and youth by increasing access to school-based health care and
support services.
We achieve our mission by:
promoting public policies that support school-based health care
building support for school-based health care among educators, policymakers, community leaders, parents and
students
creating a forum for education, training and networking opportunities for members
providing technical support to new and existing school-based health centers, and
helping schools interested in starting a school-based health center. MASBHC mobilizes advocates, policy makers
and funders to support school-based health care on behalf of vulnerable children and adolescents in need of services.
The Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care facilitates communications among the state’s network
of school-based health centers on relevant state and federal policy, organizes conferences and forums on issues of
concern to student health and well-being. We bring information and knowledge to leaders in health, education, business and the advocacy sectors about the importance of health in achieving the educational mission, including reducing
the epidemic of school dropout. School-based health centers operate at the intersection of health and education, serving as unique access points for children’s health care in school, where children spend the majority of their day. Officially incorporated in 2000, MASBHC was granted tax-exempt status by the IRS in 2005.
Board of Directors:
Elmer R. Freeman - President
Center for Community Health Education Research and Service (CCHERS)
Barbara Farrell - Treasurer
Baystate Health System (Retired)
Ellen Hafer - Clerk
Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers
Kathy Hamilton
Boston Private Industry Council
Lou Kruger
Northeastern University, Bouve College of Health Sciences
Wanda J. McClain
Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Center for Community Health and Health Equity
Anne Richmond
MGH Community Health Associates
William Rodriguez
Wheelock College
Jeffrey Zegas
Zurick, Davis & Co.
Staff:
Nancy W. Carpenter, Executive Director
Antonia M. Blinn, Program Director
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April 2011
Dear Colleague,
We are pleased to present the Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care’s 2010 Annual Report. Since 2000, we
have remained committed to promoting the health and academic success of children and youth by increasing access to school
-based health care and support services. While our name changed in August 2010, our commitment to school-based health
centers remains steadfast. We know that school-based health centers are unique access points for children’s health and an
excellent way to help students stay healthy and ready to learn. In fact, in March 2010 School-Based Health Centers were
included in National Health Reform, with $200 million in funds available for equipment and construction.
In 2010 the Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care:
● Held the Fifth Annual School-Based Health Center Awareness Day on April 7th at the State House. We had close to 200
attendees, including representation from more than 40 school-based health centers, more than 50 legislative offices and 18
different exhibitors at our event. 70 legislative meetings took place that day by school-based health center advocates,
orchestrated by our interns.
● Conducted a conference entitled “Empowering Schools, Communities and Families to Stop Bullying” in June 2010,
bringing together more than 350 education, health and policy leader, grass roots advocates, families and 30 organizations
specializing in bullying prevention programs services and curriculums to support attendees in implementing the landmark
bullying law passed earlier in May.
● Organized testimony by school-based health center clinicians and administrators on behalf of school-based health centers at
Executive Office of Health and Human Services and Ways & Means budget hearings across the state.
● We developed a three session health track at the annual joint conference of the Massachusetts Association of School
Committees and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents including a session on bullying which featured the
work of the River Valley Counseling’s sponsored school-based health centers in Holyoke.
● We led a group of 17 in meeting with Massachusetts Congressmen and women during School-Based Health Center
Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill alongside more than 20 other states.
We continue to pursue our mission by advocating for public policies that support school-based health care; building support for
school-based health care among educators, policymakers, community leaders, parents and students; creating a forum for
education, training and networking opportunities for members; providing technical support to new and existing school-based
health centers; and helping schools interested in starting a school-based health center or bringing in school-based health
services.
School-based health care makes a difference in the lives of the children and adolescents they serve. Your financial contribution
is extremely important in helping us continue our efforts on behalf of vulnerable and at risk children and adolescents for whom a
high school diploma is essential to their future health and well being.
Many of you have said it yourselves, “The MA Association for School-Based Health Care is the voice for school-based health
care at the State House and with educational leaders.” Please make your contribution to the Massachusetts Association for
School-Based Health Care today. We hope we can count on your financial support!
Sincerely,
Elmer R. Freeman
President
Nancy W. Carpenter
Executive Director
40 Court Street, 10th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
617-988-2205 (p)
617-426-0097 (f) www.ma4sbhc.org
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care, Inc.
At the Intersection of Health & Education
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2010
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care
Supporters
Grants & Sponsors
American Public Health Association
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation
Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan
DentaQuest Foundation
Fieldstone Alliance
Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Inc.
Partners HealthCare
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Advocates for Healthy Kids
Al DeMaria & Sue Case
Anonymous Family Foundation
Boston Public Health Commission
Codman Square Health Center
Family Health Center of Worcester
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Inc.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Ellen Hafer *
Alice & John Flynn
Heywood Hospital
Lowell Community Health Center
Lynn Community Health Center
MGH Community Health Associates
North Shore Community Health, Inc.
Northeast Hospitals
River Valley Counseling
Keys to Student Success
Anthony Boschetti, DMD
Nancy W. Carpenter
Elmer Freeman *
Andrea Laskey
Voices for Children
Tina Alu
Molly Cantor
Lillian Chenell
Ellen Colletti
Mary Fago
Bernadette Gleeson
Linda Juszczak
Anne Richmond *
Barbara Farrell *
Linda Malone
Wanda McClain *
Jeffrey Zegas *
Friends
Fran Anthes
Susan Boland-Shepard
Marie Carrier-Manley
Donna Coe
Gail Gall
Karen Gardner
Teresa Grignon
Andre Ravenelle
Karen Spiewak
Lindsey Tucker
Robin Orford
Individuals
Susan Cole
Michael Gregory
Leslie Mandel
Ellen Prokopow
Carol Tye
* Denotes MASBHC Board Member
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care, Inc.
40 Court Street, 10th Floor Boston, MA 02108 617-988-2205 (p)
617-426-0097 (f)
At the Intersection of Health & Education
4
www.ma4sbhc.org
2010 Event Supporters
Action for Boston Community Development
Anti-Defamation League, New England Region
Big Sister Association
Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan
Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
Boston Parent Organizing Network
Boston Public Schools
Carol Wintle - Empowering Children to Help Stop Bullying at School
Channing Bete Company®
Committee for Children
Emerald Necklace Martial Arts
Family Health Center
Freedman Center for Child and Family Development at MA School of Professional Psychology
Greater Boston PFLAG
Hazelden ®
Health Care For All
MBTA Transit Police, Stop Watch and Truancy Watch
Massachusetts ASCD
Massachusetts Alliance on Teen Pregnancy
Massachusetts Association of Community Health Workers
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
MA Parent and Information Resource Center
MA Parent Teacher Association
Massachusetts Public Health Association
Melrose Alliance Against Violence
New England Alliance for Children’s Health
New England Dairy & Food Council
Nine Points Entertainment—Oochworld—Brett Ooch
Open Circle
Parents Forum
Partners HealthCare
Prevent Blindness America
radKIDS®
Sopris Supplemental Publishing
Sport in Society, A Northeastern University Center
40 Court Street, 10th Floor
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care, Inc.
Boston, MA 02108 617-988-2205 (p)
617-426-0097 (f)
At the Intersection of Health & Education
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www.ma4sbhc.org
School-Based Health Center Awareness Day & Awards, April 7, 2010
The Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care and nearly 200 supporters from across the state
converged on the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, April 7th, 2010 to celebrate the Fifth Annual SchoolBased Health Center Awareness Day and to recognize school-based health center leaders. The event also provided
the opportunity to create a student community of leaders who were able to take the Whole Child Campaign back to
their schools and engage in dialogue to promote supporting the Whole Child,
which includes health. The event, held in the Great Hall of Flags at the
Massachusetts State House included representation from more than 40 schoolbased health centers, more than 50 legislative offices and 18 organizational
exhibitors. In two hours more than 70 legislative visits took place by our
attendees organized by student interns from Boston University’s Sargent
College of Health Sciences. All joined forces to help connect health, health
education, oral health, nutrition and school-based health centers.
The event gave children’s health advocates, educators, students and parents the
opportunity to learn more about these great school-based health centers as well
as to learn of new and positive programs to improve students’ experiences in school. One of the speakers, 20 year old
Brayan Chavez from Worcester, offered his story on the positive impact a school-based health center made upon his
arrival to this country with hopes of receiving a better education and opportunities in his life. The event was an ideal
chance to advocate for school-based health centers and ways to improve each and every student’s educational
experience.
The Whole Child Campaign - A spotlight of this year’s SBHC Awareness Day was our
collaboration with the Whole Child Campaign. to underscore goals shared between school-based
health centers and the Campaign. According to Sarah Krongard, Massachusetts Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development (MASCD), ‖through Educating the Whole Child: The
New Learning Compact, focus is placed not only on academic achievement for students, but also
on ensuring that students enter school healthy, learn about, and practice healthy lifestyles, learn in
an intellectually challenging environment, are physically and emotionally safe, are actively
engaged in learning and making sure they have access to personalized learning, caring adults, and
are prepared for future success in college.‖ School-Based Health Center Awareness Day
participants were encouraged to share new ideas during student roundtable discussions. ―By expanding the number of
students in the conversations based on interest and commitment, their level of enthusiasm and productivity could
increase as well‖, stated Amy Mouradian, Wachusett Regional High School Student and Whole Child Campaign
Ambassador. The Whole Child Campaign provides students, parents, educators, policymakers, and communities the
opportunity to work together to ensure that students are healthy, safe and secure, engaged, supported, and challenged
academically.
Chelsea High School Senior, Diana Mendez shared her experience with the MGH Chelsea Health Center sponsored
Student Health Center where she found her voice by seeking the services she needed. ―The student health center was
easy to get to when I needed to talk with someone I could trust. Despite my positive outlook today, there was a time
when I felt bad about myself – had low self esteem and the Student Health Center and nurse practitioner Jordan
Hampton was there for me when no one else was‖ stated Ms. Mendez. Additional student speakers included Bobby
Chum, a Stoklosa Middle School student from Lowell, and Yaileen Santiago, Safe School Ambassador from Dean
Technical High School in Holyoke. Legislators who addressed the large crowd included Senators Stephen J.
Buoniconti, Michael R. Knapik and Stephen M. Brewer along with Representatives Benjamin Swan, Michael F.
Kane, Gloria Fox and Geraldo Alicea who all spoke of the great services provided in school-based health centers and
presented citations to the three award recipients.
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Outstanding School-Based Health Center Awards - The 2010 SBHC Awareness Day,
featured three exceptional individuals honored for their contributions to School-Based
Health Care. Ms. Lulu Mitchell was given the award for Outstanding School-Based
Health Center Coordinator. Lulu has dedicated 15 years to supporting students at the
Putnam Vocational Technical High School in Springfield. As the first individual
students encounter in the school-based health center, Lulu puts students and their
families at ease. Her friendly smiling face and understanding of Springfield has enabled
her to support the school-based health center, students and their families through changes to funding, staffing, and
location. She has been a constant reliable resource to her fellow coordinators. Lulu has offered her help with the
pregnant and parenting teen support groups, raised awareness for school-based health centers, assisted with
increasing the program’s visibility, and has helped with coordinating and marketing health fairs. According to Linda
O’Neill, the nurse practitioner from the Baystate Health System’s sponsored School-Based Health Center at Putnam
Vocational Technical High School, Lulu has been the ―glue that sticks the Putnam School-Based Health Center
program together.‖
Ms. Sarah Rulnick was awarded the honor of Outstanding School-Based Health Center
Supporter for her dedication to the six school-based health centers at Worcester’s Family
Health Center. Throughout her six years of service as the manager of the School-Based
Health Centers, Sarah has shown that she continually works towards offering children
access to health care and nothing short of exceptional service. Sarah played a critical role
in collaborating with the Worcester Public Schools (WPS) in order to lay the
groundwork for goals such as citywide H1N1 vaccine campaigns, Body Mass Index
(BMI) screening, and continued cooperation with WPS school nurses and the WPS
Student Support Services sites. Furthermore, Sarah has built a partnership with the Edward M. Kennedy
Community Health Center’s manager in order to strengthen their efforts and collaboration both locally and
statewide. Further examples of Sarah’s excellence as a collaborator include her involvement with such programs as
the Dance, Dance, Exercise! program of Latin dancing, fitness, and violence prevention, and Positive Directions, an
afterschool program of mentoring, tutoring, fitness, mental health, and case management services for students at
high risk of dropping out of school. Sarah is an integral part of the school-based health center community through
her ―combination of intelligence, energy, integrity, commitment to students, political savvy and unmitigated pluck‖
according to Family Health Center physician and school-based health center medical director, Valerie Pietry.
The final honor presented at this year’s Awareness event was to Ms. Patti Mertes for Outstanding
School-Based Health Center Clinician. Working as the nurse practitioner of the River Valley
Counseling Center sponsored Teen Clinic at the William J. Dean Technical High School for 15
years, Patti has always brought her commitment and trustworthy reputation to the school-based
health center. She took the initiative to bring the Safe School Ambassadors Program to the school
as well as garnering district-level support for anti-bullying programming. Besides Patti’s clinical
work, she has facilitated mediation sessions, helped students process their grief by assisting with
planning a memorial service for a classmate who died, and cheering at softball games and parades
featuring students from Dean Tech. She always brings a sense of empathy and dedication to the
students she sees. She has received media coverage through newspapers, television, and panel
discussions regarding dropout prevention, school-wide ―climate‖ initiatives, and the impact of zero tolerance
policies on the health and wellness of high school students. As praised by Megan Harding, Peck Community School
liaison, ―her initiatives clearly incorporate creativity, commitment to youth and family voice, and an unwavering
dedication to young people in Holyoke.‖ Additional photos from the events are available through the PICAS
website: http://picasaweb.google.com/lolitaparkerjr/SchoolBased?authkey=Gv1sRgCPizu_mdpNXyuAE&feat=directlink
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“Empowering Schools, Communities and Families to Stop Bullying”
On June 8, 2010, the Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care and a planning
committee of 19 convened a conference on bullying. The primary conference goals were to share
knowledge and approaches for addressing and preventing bullying; to identify resources and to
facilitate networking among schools, communities, and families. The presenters were mostly
practitioners in the field and were selected to present problem-solving discussions based on their
own experiences. The conference coincided with the passage of the Massachusetts Bullying Law,
The Act Relative to Bullying in Schools, Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010.
The conference was structured into morning and afternoon segments. The morning began with a call to order by Nancy
W. Carpenter, the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care (MASBHC).
Ms. Carpenter thanked the conference planning committee for their work and then introduced Elmer R. Freeman,
Board President of the Association. Mr. Freeman discussed the need to look at bullying from various perspectives,
and advocated for anti-bullying efforts that focused on collaboration. He described the conference’s multidisciplinary
gathering as a solid foundation for building the collaboration needed to address bullying.
Mr. Freedman further appealed to participants to value schools not only for their academic performance but also as a
place of safety, engagement, and where health and education come together. He ended with a gracious thank you to
those involved and those who have invested time in solving this emerging public health crisis.
Elizabeth Childs, M.D. served as the morning facilitator for the conference. She is the former Commissioner of the
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and a member of the Brookline School Committee. Dr. Childs thanked
the participants and presenters and briefly described the events for the day. Dr. Childs introduced the keynote speaker
Rick Phillips from Community Matters. She spoke about Mr. Phillips’s work and the impact it has had on nation
wide anti-bullying efforts. Dr. Childs gave the examples of the Safe Schools Ambassadors Program (SSA) and his
interest in other non-traditional bullying prevention models including those that address the root causes of the problem.
KEYNOTE
Mr. Phillips opened his presentation describing the broad relevance of the
issue of bullying and he outlined the foundation of his approach as
―engaging young people to become change agents.‖ His discussion
illustrated the need for anti-bullying efforts to focus on school climate and
social norms. He described how the Safe School Ambassadors program
empowers youth with a responsibility to one another and addresses the
imbalance of power that occurs in bullying. Mr. Phillips further described
his student centered ―inside out model‖ as an effective alternative to a
putative, security driven ―outside in approach.‖ In closing he urged
schools, communities and families to take action now.
PANEL SESSIONS
Two morning sessions followed Mr. Phillips’ presentation. The first session included presenters,
Susan Cole, Senior Project Director, Trauma Learning Policy Institute, Massachusetts
Advocates for Children and the Harvard Law School, and Eileen O’Keefe, Associate
Professor, Boston University, Department of Health Sciences. This session was dedicated to
understanding bullying in its current context using empirical data by describing a public health
approach to bullying prevention and outlining the new Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Law. The
second morning session presenters included William Rodriquez, professor of Juvenile Justice
from Wheelock College, Robert Kilkenny, from the Alliance for Inclusion and Prevention and
an Olweus Program Trainer, and Phil Fogelman of the Anti-Defamation League. While each
presenter provided the audience with slightly different perspectives, this session expanded upon prevention and
intervention models as well as the challenges and realities of program implementation.
WORKSHOPS
Following lunch, participants selected one of three different workshops to attend. The sessions focused on bullying
from the perspective of school, communities, and families. Each session was moderated by a professional from the
relevant area of focus, and the speakers expanded on different perspectives within the field. The schools session
presenters stressed the need for a system wide, whole school approach making it possible for young people to be
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part of the solutions. The communities session focused on the power of collaboration, and the need to share
information and reduce anonymity. The families workshop focused on the way to include families and highlighted the
need to educate parents and provide training so they can participate and access resources in and outside the school.
CONCLUSION
Following the afternoon workshops participants came together again for a presentation by Meghan McCoy from the
Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center. She described Cyber Bullying and the broad reaching impacts of this
new and rapidly expanding form of bullying. Following Ms. McCoy, Kim Odom, Parent and Family Support
Coordinator, Boston Public Health Commission, gave a powerful reminder of all that is at stake in this issue as she
described her family’s sobering, personal journey with bullying and violence. Antonia Blinn, Program Director
from MASBHC closed the day with a challenge to all who attended the conference. Each person in the room was
asked to write down one thing they could do, personally and professionally, as an agent of change in their
communities, schools and families.
Below is a sample of the reflections participants had and their personal calls to action:
• Focus on spreading hope and change in my school and community.
•I will share all the information I learned today with my team and discuss how we can address change in our
institution and communities.
•Acknowledge the times I have been a bully/cyber-bully and turn shame into productive, proactive action.
•Empowering our students to have a voice in approaching the issue of bullying.
•Write policies/procedures addressing issues of bullying in schools. Form student-centered leadership groups. Invite
students into campaign to stop bullying.
•I will use what I’ve learned to stand up and not be afraid to talk about the issues with kids, friends, and coworkers.
•I will educate and empower young people to stand up to bullies and become allies to those who are being bullied.
•I will send a letter to all principals, GSA advisors and school nurses to inform them of the resources available re:
bullying prevention before the end of the school year.
•Get more involved in anti-bullying efforts with my students and anyone who will listen.
•I will work with my middle school children and middle school students to change the culture in the community and
school and education community to reduce bullying, increase involvement and increase compassion.
•Become a part of the anti-bullying initiative in our school system.
•I will not be a bystander. Networking with community leaders and families to help make everyone realize life
matters.
•Get children involved with policies. Let children have a voice in the solutions to bullying.
•Go back to the school community I’m part of and talk with administrators, teachers and students about building
community by listening and learning from each other and building on the efforts we’ve made so far.
•Spread the word! Bullying must be addressed as a collaborative effort.
THEMES FROM THE CONFERENCE
Throughout the day there were several interrelated themes that emerged:
Bullying is everyone’s problem. Creating environments that hold people accountable to the functioning of
community are essential.
Bullying is an emerging public health crisis that can be addressed effectively using prevention and intervention
models.
Bullying prevention must be part of overall school climate to ensure it’s receptivity and sustainability.
We need to define and identify what constitutes bullying, and develop skills of adults to recognize and intervene
when they witness bullying.
Targeted policy is necessary to provide structure, guidance, and enforcement to school and community antibullying efforts.
Empowering youth in the development and implementation of an anti-bullying program is critical to its success.
Stakeholder collaborations are key to ensuring the longitudinal support of anti-bullying programs. Institutional
silos are destructive towards this effort.
A supportive anti-bullying infrastructure encourages and reinforces participant efforts towards long-term change.
You can read the entire conference proceedings by going to our website www.ma4sbhc.org
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FOCUS on Oral Health
In 2010 we took the information we learned from the FOCUS on Oral
Health key informant interviews (conducted in FY08 and FY09 with school
and school-based health center personnel who offered oral health services in
their schools) and talked with school-based health centers who in an earlier
survey indicated no dental services were offered.
This portion of the FOCUS project revealed that there are schools in
Massachusetts that want to provide dental services for their students but
have been unable to do so for a variety of reasons. These schools could
benefit from collaboration with programs currently operating successfully
and from technical assistance such as that which could be provided by the
proposed FOCUS project tool kit. What is now needed is the centralization
and expansion of these types of resources in a format that is useful to the
busy school and health care communities. For this reason, the FOCUS
project strongly recommends that a tool kit be created for use by individuals
interested in creating or bringing an oral health program into their schools.
In addition to a printed and on-line tool kit of
templates, guidelines and resources, the FOCUS project recommended that a consultant
with expertise in school-based health centers be available to work with school-based health
centers offering hands-on technical assistance where needed. Interviews conducted during
the FOCUS project revealed that those wanting or operating school-based oral health
programs had the desire for one-on-one training to help with issues such as obtaining
consent, logistics, record keeping, space and equipment, and billing/sustainability. You can
read the entire report under Issues - Oral Health on the MA Association for School-Based
Health Care’s website www.ma4sbhc.org.
We drafted a toolkit. However school-based health center personnel felt it was too much
information so we decided to focus initially on one area that all school-based health centers could work on to expand
access to oral health care - implementing a fluoride varnish program. Be on the look out in FY11 for the Guide to
Planning and Implementing a School-Based Health Center Fluoride Varnish Program. If you would like to obtain a
draft of the Guide, please contact Antonia Blinn at ablinn@ma4sbhc.org or 617-988-2243.
Better Oral Health for Massachusetts Coalition
Founded in 2008, The Better Oral Health for Massachusetts Coalition began a new year with a new model of elected
steering committee members as the coalition contemplated becoming it’s own not-for-profit organization. The
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care’s Antonia Blinn was nominated and elected to a one
year position on the Steering Committee of the Coalition and provides a voice for school-based health centers at the
table. In addition, Antonia Blinn, was asked to be the chair of the Policy, Advocacy and Public Awareness Work
Group and is leading a strong core of 15 professionals towards a plan to increase access to oral health services by
introducing or supporting legislation and budget areas that include oral health or access to oral health services. Nancy
Carpenter, executive director remained involved in the Prevention and Access Work Group. The detailed goals,
objectives and key action steps can be found at the Better Oral Health for Massachusetts Coalition website: http://
www.massoralhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/oral-health-plan-for-massachusetts.pdf .
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Collaborating with Educational Leaders
Joint Conference of Massachusetts Association of School
Committees and
Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents
In November 2010, the Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health
Care developed and presented a health track as part of the conference agenda
for the joint annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of School
Committees and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents. The sessions covered a broad range of
topics and convened expert panels to address issues of concern.
On Thursday, November 4, 2010 the Empowering Student Leaders to Address
Bully Behaviour in Schools session was held before a standing room only crowd.
The session was moderated by Nancy Carpenter, executive director of the
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care. Key points from the data
indicate that bullying rates among adolescents are up by 50 percent in the past 20
years; middle school is the peak age group for bullying; predominant forms of
bullying vary among boys and girls though all forms of bullying are present among
both genders; newer forms of bullying emerge with new social networks; there are
negative health consequences to bullying; and whole school programs have been
shown to demonstrate effectiveness while isolated interventions have not been shown
to be effective.
Panellists discussed the impact school climate and culture have in counteracting bully behaviour and provided specific
examples of successful efforts to empower students to confront this behaviour. One of the panelist was Patti Mertes,
Nurse Practitioner at Dean Technical High School in Holyoke, MA (pictured on left) who brought the Safe School
Ambassadors program, an anti-bullying initiative, to the school. She talked about bullying and the philosophy,
approach and process of bringing Safe School Ambassadors into their school. Marie Doyle, Superintendent of the
Longmeadow Public Schools (pictured on right) stated that there are several considerations 1) help every student
find a safe place, 2) provide leadership opportunities for as many students as possible and 3) develop programs that
are effective with your students such as peer mediation, conflict resolution, Open Circle, Second Step, and peer
leadership programs 4) train parents and 5) celebrate diversity. When focused on all of these items, there will be a
positive school climate.
The panel members spoke about the challenges schools are facing in addressing the complex issue of bullying citing
an estimate that adults miss as much as 95% of the pervasive peer mistreatment that occurs daily in school. Hence it is
crucial that bullying prevention be youth-led if it is to be effective.
The Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care presented a session on How to Start a School-Based
Health Center. Topics covered included establishing a community planning committee, working with a health care
organization to sponsor the health center, collaboration with the school nurse and school-based health center nurse
practitioner and other school-based health center staff, school committee’s role in determining services to be
provided, parental/ guardian consent, and the benefits of having a
school-based health center on-site.
Poster Wins First Prize
The judges were very impressed with our poster entitled "Health
and Academic Achievement: A Survey of Educator Attitudes and
Perceptions." Boston University graduate Kenai Hattore and
Kathryn Rough both interns with us were awarded the
distinction. The competition was very tough with nearly 60
student posters from across the country presented at APHA's
Undergraduate Student Poster Session during the 2010 APHA
annual meeting and expo held in Denver, Colorado this past
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Collaborating with Educational Leaders
Nellie Mae Education Foundation Funded Research
In the fall of 2010, the Association, thanks to funding from the Nellie Mae Education
Foundation presented the findings from the school committee members, school
superintendents and school principals survey regarding school officials’ views on the
most pressing factors influencing student achievement. Eileen O’Keefe, M.D., Clinical
Associate Professor, Health Science Program, Undergraduate Programs in Public
Health of Boston University, our collaborating partner, provided analysis and technical
support to the Association while also collaborating to provide students with an internship experience with us. Dr.
O’Keefe joined Ms. Carpenter and Ms. Blinn at the Conference in Hyannis.
Respondents of the survey were asked a total of sixteen questions about the demographics of their school district,
their perceptions of the impact of health and social factors on academic achievement, how they believed these factors
should be addressed, and the barriers they perceived to student emotional well-being.
A total of 200 superintendents and school committee members completed
the survey. The key findings included:
Social factors were perceived as inhibiting academic achievement to a
greater degree than health factors;
Lack of parental involvement and presence of learning disabilities
were the variables most frequently perceived as having a negative impact
on academic a achievement;
A strong association existed between the level of district poverty and
the perception that a lack of parental involvement played a large role in
inhibiting academic achievement; and
Level of district poverty was also strongly associated with the perception that a lack of student motivation played
a large role in inhibiting academic achievement.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Advisory Committees
With the Education Reform Act of 1993, 18 advisory councils were created to
advise the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and
Secondary Education (ESE) and the Board of Education. Each council meets 4-6
times per year at times. Through diverse membership on each advisory council,
the Commissioner and Board are able to draw on the perspectives and experience
of a wide variety of constituents in order to strengthen public education.
The Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care continues to be represented on two of these ESE
Advisory Committees. Nancy Carpenter, Executive Director of the Association was appointed by the Commissioner
of Education, to the Interdisciplinary Health Education and Human Services Advisory Council as co-chair and
Antonia Blinn, Program Director for the Association was appointed by the Commissioner to the Parent and
Community Education and Involvement Advisory Council. Both advisory councils convene four to six times per
year to meet the goals established for the school year.
The Parent and Community Education and Involvement (PCEI) Advisory Council has worked hard for the past three
years towards developing a rubric of family, school and community partnership fundamentals further endorsing a
research-based definition of family and community engagement that can be applied to policies and practices across
the state and will increase the likelihood of student success. This definition has been established and promoted by the
National Family and Community Engagement Working Group and the US Department of Education. We know from
the research on family and community engagement that when school staff, families, and community members work
together and create a system of supports for children, these collaborative efforts lead to better educational and
development outcomes for children. Be on the lookout in summer 2011 for a draft of the rubric that can help you work
with parents. Visit the Department’s website to view the all of the advisory council’s work for the 2009-2010 school
year. http://www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/default.html .
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Board Updates
Four new members joined the Board of Directors in 2010. They are: Kathy Hamilton, Youth Transitions
Coordinator at the Boston Private Industry Council, Jeff Zegas, CEO of ZurickDavis, and Lou Kruger, Director of
Northeastern University’s School Psychology Program and William Rodriguez, professor of Juvenile Justice from
Wheelock College,. They join our existing Board members Elmer Freeman, Association Board President; Barbara
Farrell, Treasurer; Ellen Hafer, Clerk; Anne Richmond and Wanda McClain.
School-Based Health Care Policy Program Capstone Meeting
In August, The W. K. Kellogg Foundation School-Based Health Care Policy
Program’s Capstone Meeting was convened in Kiawah Island, South
Carolina. The purposes of the meeting were to recognize and celebrate what
the 6 year project achieved , to reflect on the successes, impact, challenges,
and lessons learned throughout the project and to share our wisdom and
experiences with one another, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and others
through the capstone program evaluation report and beyond. Board
members Elmer Freeman and Barbara Farrell attended along with Chelsea
High School SBHC Nurse Practitioner, Jordan Hampton; Family Health
Center SBHC Manager Sarah Rulnick; Founding Board Member and
Project Evaluator Leslie Mandel, along with executive director Nancy Carpenter and program director Antonia
Blinn. The investment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation enabled our organizational resurgence as an important
organization dedicated to supporting the delivery of health services in schools and engaging all stakeholders.
Board Retreat
In October 2010 the Board gathered for a half-day retreat. Utilizing our new name and mission as the jumping off
point, Joseph Synan, President of Leadingwell Associates led the board and staff through a session to explore the
aspirations and future goals for the Association. Consensus was formed around a number of strategic goals. These
include: expanding the number of school-based health centers, maintaining and improving the quality of services
available in school-based health centers, strengthening relationships with legislators, SBHCs and SBHC sponsor
agencies, and with leaders in the health and education sectors. The retreat ended with a better appreciation of the
complexity of the work we do but also a recognition of the passion and commitment Board members feel for the
value of school-based health care in helping children succeed - in school and in life. There was a strong sense of the
importance of the work of that school-based health centers do - and the value of the Coalition’s efforts to support,
sustain and grow school-based health care in Massachusetts.
The Massachusetts Association of School Based Health Care exists to advocate for access to high quality schoolbased health care in underserved communities, and to support academic success of students in those communities.
Thank you for your continued support!
FY’10 Financials
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010
REVENUE
EXPENSES
Pro…
Gen…
Grants & Contribultions $374,760
Interest & Special Events $31,202
Grants & Contributions $401,760
Program $367,882
Grants & Contributions $401,760
Program $367,882
Interest & Special Events $4,202
General & Admin $37,044
General & Admin $37,044
Interest & Special Events $4,202
The Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care, Inc. gratefully acknowledges the financial support of many funders including
the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation, DentaQuest Foundation, Partners HealthCare and the
Nellie Mae Foundation and the American Public Health Association.. We also would like to acknowledge the contributing support of schoolbased health centers, their sponsor organizations and individual champions of school-based health care.
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Massachusetts School-Based Health Center Locations by Sponsoring Agency
School-Based Health Centers are Massachusetts Department of Public Health licensed health centers located in
schools where nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants provide developmentally appropriate health and mental
health care. There are 58 school-based health centers located throughout the Commonwealth. In Massachusetts,
School-Based Health Centers are managed by community health centers, hospitals, local departments of public health/
public health hospitals and a local mental health organization.
Baystate Medical Center (3)
Central High School
Commerce High School
Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical
High School
Boston Public Health Commission (8)
Another Course to College/ Boston
Community Leadership Academy**
Boston Latin Academy
Brighton High School
Charlestown High School
Jeremiah Burke High School
John D. O’Bryant School of Math/Science
Madison Park High School
Muriel Snowden International High School
Brightwood Community Health
Center Baystate Medical
Brightwood Elementary School *
Brookside Community Health Center
English High School
Cambridge Health Alliance (4)
Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School
Everett High School *
George Keverian Elementary School ₤ *
Somerville High School
Codman Square Health Center
Dorchester Educational Complex
Community Health Connections,
Family Health Centers
Fitchburg High School *
Joseph Smith Health Center (2)
Gardner Elementary School **
Jackson Mann Elementary School **
Dorchester House Multi-Service
Center
Harbor Pilot School *
Lowell Community Health Center (2)
Lowell High School
Stoklosa Middle School **
East Boston Neighborhood Health
Center
East Boston High School **
Lynn Community Health Center (6)
Breed Middle School
Ingalls’ School
Lynn Classical High School**
Lynn English High School
Lynn Vocational Technical Institute
Marshall Middle School
Edward M. Kennedy Community
Health Center (5)
Burncoat Middle & High School
Framingham High School *
North High School *
Roosevelt Elementary School *
Worcester Technical High School *
Family Health Center of Worcester (6)
Claremont/Woodland Academy Health
Center *
Doherty Memorial High School
Elm Park Community School *
Goddard & UPC School Based Health
Centers **
South High Community School
Sullivan Middle School
Greater Lawrence Family Health
Center (2)
Greater Lawrence Technical School **
Lawrence High School
Mattapan Community Health Center
Hyde Park Educational Complex **
MGH Community HealthCare (2)
Chelsea High School
Revere High School
Milford Regional Medical Center
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational
Technical High School
Morton Hospital & Medical Center
Friedman Middle School *
North Shore Community Health
Salem High School
Northeast Hospital Corporation
Gloucester High School
Community Health Center of Cape Cod Heywood Hospital
Barnstable High School
Murdock Middle/High School
Community Health Center of
Franklin County
Pioneer Valley Regional School *
River Valley Counseling Center (3)
Dean Technical High School
Hilltown Community Health Center Holyoke High School
Gateway Regional Middle/High School Peck Middle School
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care, Inc.
40 Court Street, 10th Floor Boston, MA 02108
www.ma4sbhc.org
617-988-2205
KEY
No Footnote State Funded FY 2010
(37)
*
**
(13)
(9)
Locally Funded
Federally Funded
₤ Offers mental health services exclusively (1)
15
Massachusetts Association for School-Based Health Care
40 Court Street, 10th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
Phone: 617-988-2205
Fax: 617-426-0097
At the Intersection of Health & Education
Nancy W. Carpenter
Executive Director
ncarpenter@ma4sbhc.org
Antonia M. Blinn
Program Director
ablinn@ma4sbhc.org
16