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have previously established a policy (H.S. only). RCASA/RPS will review the <br />policy and recommend revisions for vaping for other school levels. The next <br />mandate is to verbally conduct student substance abuse screening. In 2016-17 we <br />will pilot a verbal screening program at the high school level. Lastly, we will <br />need to incorporate addiction and substance abuse education into the Driver's <br />Education curriculum and concussion safety training. <br />Ms. McNamara went on to discuss the implementation of a Verbal Screening Flan <br />that will be a part of the annual weight/height, vision/hearing and scoliosis <br />screenings that all student undergo each year. The Planning Committee reviewed <br />best practices, tools and approaches for effectively and feasibly ways to bring this <br />tool to the district. Ms. McNamara said that we are looking at the SBIRT <br />Approach (Screening, Brief, Intervention, Referral, Treatment) which is an <br />If ... Then approach. The MA Department of Public Health School Health <br />Services and DESE is providing training to assist districts in successfully <br />incorporating SBIRT into schools. Reading is drawing from the Wilmington <br />Public Schools for our pilot. <br />She went on to explain how this screening process would work. Students would <br />be called down to the Nurse's Office for the yearly screenings. Once the physical <br />screenings were completed they would be brought into a screening room where a <br />brief explanation would be given of the process and the student would be given <br />handouts. It will be stated that all students will be asked a few questions and to <br />answer honestly. All information shared will be confidential until treatment is <br />warranted. <br />Ms. McNamara shared that the 2016-17 school year will be the pilot year <br />screening one grade at the high school level, probably grade 9. All students will <br />be asked 4 questions. If the student answers no to the first four questions, <br />healthcare professional will reinforce the positive behavior. If a student answers <br />yes to any of the 4 questions, they will be asked 6 more questions. Answers to <br />these 6 questions will determine the course of action to be taken. The screening <br />addresses all areas of substance abuse. Substance abuse is a disease that has a )ot <br />of shame associated with it and people are hesitant to disclose information. <br />The post screening process is to enter the document, schedule follow-up meeting <br />with students as needed, determine if a parent phone call is needed, ongoing <br />treatment and SBIRT team debriefing. <br />The School Nurse will be the person conducting these screenings. Mr. Robinson <br />asked how this will be funded. Dr. Doherty said the process will put a strain of <br />our nursing staff. There may be grant opportunities in the future but we have not <br />received any information. <br />Mr. Nihan asked if the opt out option would be similar to the YRBS. Ms. <br />McNamara indicated that it would. <br />The last piece of the legislature is parent education. Links will be provided to <br />direct parents to informational sights on the state Health and Human Services <br />website and the Driver's Education curriculum will contain a module on the <br />science related to addiction and addictive substances on a person while operating <br />Page 1 3 <br />