Mandated Health Screenings

State Mandated Health Screenings

According to Massachusetts General Laws, all students are required to have vision, hearing, body mass index (BMI), postural screenings, and SBIRT screenings (Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) at certain grade levels in school.  Parents & guardians may opt out of any screening.  Please notify your child's school nurse in writing if this is the case.
                                                       
The schedule for Tahanto health screenings is as follows:
  Postural (Scoliosis): Grades 6 through 9   Vision: Grades 7 & 10
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If a student does not pass the vision screening, a referral letter recommending further evaluation by his/her care provider or eye specialist will be sent home. Please contact your child's physician or health care provider promptly for an evaluation if you are notified that your child has not passed the vision screening. Early detection and correction may prevent problems with school performance and permanent vision loss.  Optimal vision is essential in order for your child to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize his/her educational experience and success. Students who wear glasses or contacts should wear them during the screening. 
  Hearing: Grades 7 & 10

Students who do not pass the hearing screening are rechecked at a later date, as a decrease in hearing may be related to cold symptoms or congestion.

Please contact your child’s physician or health care provider promptly for an evaluation if you are notified that your child has not passed the hearing screening.  Early detection and correction may prevent problems with school performance and permanent hearing loss.  Optimal hearing is essential in order for your child to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to maximize his/her educational experience and success.   Height, Weight, and BMI: Grades 7 & 10

SBIRT: Grades 7 & 10
   
SBIRT is an evidence-based screening to promote prevention and identify early risk for substance-use in adolescents. Student screening sessions will be brief (approximately 5 minutes) and all confidential screenings will be conducted in private one-on-one sessions by the nurse.  We will utilize the CRAFFT-II screening tool, which is the Department of Public Health (DPH) recommended substance tool.  Please refer to www.masbirt.org for further information and resources.

Students who report that they are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced by the nurse.  The nurse will provide brief feedback to any student who reports using substances or who is at risk for future substance use.  Results of the screening are confidential and will not be included in your student’s school record, nor will the results be shared with parents or any school staff without written consent from the student. If the nurse feels there is a potential for your child to engage in risky behavior in the immediate future or identifies a risk to your child’s safety, he/she will be referred to the appropriate counseling staff for further evaluation. All students will receive educational materials and a resource list at the time of the screening.

All screenings are performed in accordance with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts regulations. Students may also be screened at any time during the year at a teacher or parent’s request. If screening results indicate the need for follow-up care by a physician, parents/guardian will be notified in writing.