In the News: good timing, Spilka speaks about mental illness

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"It was June 7, 1916, when Anna was born in a tidy house with a farmer’s porch on Franklin’s Chestnut Street to immigrant parents: Her mother, Josephine (Laskavitch) was from Poland and her father, John Chestercove (originally Chestzcovo), was from Russia. It was a household already crowded with seven siblings. 

The girl born that day would live through the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, another world war, the Great Depression, Prohibition, the successful adoption of women’s suffrage, the invention of television, development of commercial air travel, the Civil Rights movement, the coming and going of the Cold War, the arrival of man on the moon, and the rise of the age of technology. 

On Thursday, Town Councilor Debbie Pellegri presented Chestercove, whose married name was Ruo, with the town’s Boston Post cane, officially giving her a place in town history. For the presentation, family members gathered around her bed in the Oak Street house she has called home since 1956. On Friday, family members mourned: Anna Chestercove Ruo had died at the age of 103"

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200131/franklins-oldest-resident-honored-with-boston-post-cane-dies-at-age-103

"State Senate President Karen Spilka knows the challenge of living with a family member who suffers from mental illness. 

Her father battled the condition, a fact Spilka shared during her keynote address Friday morning at the MetroWest Opioid Coalition Legislative Breakfast at Leonard Morse Hospital. 

Spilka said she kept her father’s struggle quiet for years, but finally opened up about it publicly for the first time years ago to reduce the stigma of mental illness. 

During her talk, Spilka announced that Senate lawmakers plan next week to roll out a comprehensive mental health parity and access bill. The goal is to level the playing field for mental health services, compared to the current level of services to treat physical health. She did not provide details of the bill."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200131/senate-president-karen-spilka-shares-story-of-loved-ones-mental-illness

2019 Franklin/Medway Jail Diversion Annual Report

2019 Franklin/Medway Jail Diversion Annual Report

"It has been just over a year since the introduction of the Franklin/Medway Jail Diversion Program. Our clinician, Kallie Montagano has been instrumental in making this an extremely successful program. Our officers have come to find more uses for the JDP program than were initially expected, and all of this has lead to better care for our residents who may be suffering from an acute crisis, or long term issues. The program aims to help the police solve problems for the longer term, and not just take an action that leads to an incident ending for the moment, only to resurface again shortly.

The Jail Diversion Program aims to help people in mental health crisis get the assistance they need, and not direct them unnecessarily into the Criminal Justice System. The Clinician rides with police officers in cruisers and responds directly to calls. They will help evaluate and make recommendations for further care and follow up. This shortens the time on scene for officers, and ultimately leads to a better outcome for those involved.

The JDP clinician can assist individuals and families who are seeking resources to help themselves or a loved one get care.

The Jail Diversion Program is funded by a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health at no costs to the Town of Franklin or Medway. The program is administered by Advocates Inc.

You can read the annual report here: 2019 Franklin/Medway Jail Diversion Annual Report"
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin-medway_2019_annual_report_1.pdf

Funding from MA Dept of Mental Health
https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-mental-health 

Program administered by Advocates Inc  https://advocates.org/

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/2019-franklinmedway-jail-diversion-annual-report 

Kallie Montagano (Town of Franklin photo)

In the News: new 3-digit number suicide hotline; some marijuana vaping products back on sale

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Federal regulators are setting up a new three-digit number to reach a suicide prevention hotline in order to make it easier to seek help and reduce the stigma associated with mental health. 

Once it’s implemented, people will just need to dial 988 to seek help, similar to calling 911 for emergencies or 311 for city services. Currently, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline uses a 10-digit number, 800-273-TALK (8255). Callers are routed to one of 163 crisis centers, where counselors answered 2.2 million calls last year. 

A law last year required the Federal Communications Commission to study assigning a three-digit number for suicide prevention. The FCC said in a report that there is overwhelming support for a three-digit number because it would be easier for distressed people to get help. 

Thursday’s vote starts the months-long process to make that happen. The next step is a comment period before the FCC moves to an order."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191212/house-senate-agree-on-541m-surplus-spending-bill

"State marijuana regulators on Thursday eased their ban on vaping product sales, allowing certain types of products to return to store shelves one day after state public health officials backed off a ban on nicotine vape sales. 

As of 2 p.m. Thursday, the Cannabis Control Commission permitted licensed marijuana retailers to sell devices that vaporize marijuana flower for medical marijuana patients and non-medical users, devices that are used to vaporize marijuana concentrate but do not actually contain any marijuana themselves, and vaporizer cartridges that are manufactured beginning Thursday and pass a screening for contaminants like vitamin E acetate. 

Still off-limits are any vaping products manufactured before Thursday that contain marijuana, meaning retailers cannot sell any vape cartridges that they have been holding in quarantine. 

Marijuana vaping products have been unavailable to consumers since September, when Gov. Charlie Baker imposed a temporary ban on the sale of any vaping product amid a national outbreak of vaping-related lung disease, including three deaths in Massachusetts. When a judge ruled the CCC is the only agency that can regulate marijuana vapes, the CCC put in place an indefinite quarantine of all vaping products."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191212/marijuana-vape-sales-can-resume-ccc-declares

INTERFACE, a Town of Franklin sponsored service for mental health

The Town of Franklin, in association with William James College, provides a service for mental health information and provider referrals. Please click the file below for more information about this service.

Wondering About Mental Health Services?

• What services exist in and around your community?
• How do you navigate the mental health system in Massachusetts?
• Where can you find information about topics related to mental health?

Find answers at the William James College INTERFACE Referral Service
interface.williamjames.edu

William James College INTERFACE Referral Service works to increase awareness of mental health issues impacting children, families, and adults and to facilitate access to appropriate services. 

Visit the website to learn more about anxiety, depression, divorce, substance abuse, suicide and much more. In addition, helpline services are available in:  Franklin

Additional information contained in the flyer
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/20190530094515580.pdf

William James College INTERFACE Referral Service

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/interface-town-franklin-sponsored-service-mental-health

MSAA-MIAA 5th Annual Mental Health Summit - Apr 26

The MSAA-MIAA 5th Annual Mental Health Summit being held on Friday, April 26th at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, MA. 

Congressman Joe Kennedy III will be serving as the keynote speaker. The flier is on the MIAA wellness page at http://www.miaa.net 
The cost is $55.00 and all are welcome


Get your copy of the event flyer here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczTndqQkcwSGFxWnJHODhaSjZnajA1R2ZHNjBV/view?usp=sharing

MSAA-MIAA 5th Annual Mental Health Summit - Apr 26

Franklin Police add therapy dog

Chief Thomas J. Lynch is excited to announce the addition of a Police Therapy Dog to the Department. Therapy dogs are used to comfort people who have been involved in a trauma, or stressful event. They can also help de-escalate situations, and bring a calming presence to a scene.

The 3 month old golden retriever named “Ben Franklin”, will work within the Community Services Division. In addition to responding to calls for service, Ben will regularly visit the schools, senior center, and community events.

Chief Lynch said “There are only a few communities in Massachusetts so far that have embraced therapy dogs as a way to engage, and serve the public. We are proud of the efforts made by the Community Services Division, under the direction of Lieutenant Mark Manocchio, to bring this program online. We see Ben as being a public face of our Agency, and a symbol of our commitment to use all available resources to better serve our residents.”

Ben’s training is being generously donated by Masterpeace Dog Training of Franklin.

Franklin Police add therapy dog

Franklin Police complete ONE MIND pledge

The ­­­­­­­­­­Franklin Police Department is pleased to announce that they have completed a pledge they took to improve their response to those suffering from mental illness in their community. The pledge is part of an initiative called the One Mind Campaign started by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a 30,000 member professional association for law enforcement that provides training, technical assistance, and recruitment services. To join the One Mind Campaign, law enforcement agencies must pledge to implement four promising practices in a 12-36 month period to ensure successful future interactions between police officers and persons with mental illness.

In the law enforcement community, mental illness has become a common focus, with some departments estimating that as many as 20% of their calls for service are related to mental health declines. Chief Thomas J. Lynch made the decision to join the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s One Mind Campaign because the need to better our interactions with those suffering mental illness was being seen in daily response to calls for service.

In completing the One Mind Pledge, the Franklin Police Department established a sustainable partnership with a local mental health organization, developed and implemented a model policy to address officers’ interactions with those affected by mental illness, and ensured that all of their officers received some type of mental health awareness training, with at least twenty percent of the department completing the more intensive Crisis Intervention Training. 

The 40-hour Crisis Intervention curriculum is designed by local agencies to train a team of specialized officers to respond to calls that involve individuals with mental health disorders such as depression or intellectual disability. The curriculum includes education on various de-escalation techniques as well as live role-play scenarios of officers responding to persons who need mental health assistance.

Other initiatives that the Franklin Police Department has pursued in response to the needs of the community include the Jail Diversion Program, which brought in a Masters level mental health clinician as a co-responder with police officers on calls for service related to mental health problems.

Franklin Police complete ONE MIND pledge

Chief Lynch stated: “I’m proud of my officers for being partners in this pledge not just because it was a Departmental goal to improve our response to these types of calls, but because we have the genuine opportunity to better serve our community. Police officers by nature want to help people. Giving our officers the skills to better serve all aspects of our population only serves to create better outcomes for all involved.”

For more information about the One Mind Campaign, please visit the IACP’s website: http://www.theiacp.org/onemindcampaign/. A list of all agencies who have taken the pledge is also available there.

"parents are also dealing with some of the same stresses"

"On Wednesday evening, November 14th, a group of 85 students and parents gathered to enjoy a meal together at Medway High School, after which The Well-Balanced Student, a Stanford University Challenge-Success film, was screened. The event, aimed at student mental health among the middle school crowd, was the first of a two-part collaboration of Medway Schools’ Director of Wellness, Ryan Sherman, and Franklin Schools’ Director of Health and Education, Kristin Letendre. The second film event, geared toward educating high school families, will take place at Franklin High School on January 8th. 

“Communities in general, especially here in the Metrowest region, are seeing great increases in student mental health concerns and overall stress,” says Sherman. Schools, he says, address the issue in many different ways, including educating about it in health class and incorporating social emotional learning, which teaches students techniques to cope with mental health concerns and self-management from Kindergarten through 12th grade. "

"Medway, says Sherman, has invested a lot in streamlining the process for students who need mental health counseling. Now, he says, in addition to responding to students who present with mental health concerns, “We’re looking for a next layer, of prevention, working with families and looking at what they can do to support what we do in school – how they can create a balanced life for students. How do we focus on prevention, lifestyle that hopefully will prevent students from exhaustion, high levels of stress or mental health concerns?
That was the impetus what got Franklin and Medway thinking about this.”

Continue reading the article about the first part of this program
https://www.localtownpages.com/content/medway-partners-franklin-parentchild-wellness-event-0

The January 8th event at Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street in Franklin, will include a dinner, from 5:30-6 p.m., followed by the film for families of students in grades 9-12 at 6-7:30 p.m. 

Daycare for younger siblings will be provided by members of Franklin High’s SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). 

In the case of inclement weather, the event will be held the following evening.

Register for the second part of the program here
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdArpFhHmHJEpNUVLmaNpkSuVSQ6735AfLy46HHQkh6_v2Ajg/viewform

Register for January 8 event at Franklin High School

For more information on the Challenge Success program, visit http://www.challengesuccess.org.


Shared via reminder of event 

Please join us for this important event @FranklinPSNews https://t.co/5dxc47BNNU

— jedwards40 (@jedwards40) December 31, 2018

Representative Roy Named to Harm Reduction Commission

Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) was named to the Harm Reduction Commission by House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and Rep. Denise Garlick, Chair of the Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. The commission was included as part of Chapter 208 of the Acts of 2018, legislation which addresses prevention and access to appropriate care and treatment of addiction. The commission will review and make recommendations regarding harm reduction opportunities to address substance use disorder.

“Representative Roy is an innovative and thoughtful legislator with demonstrated, in-depth knowledge of both healthcare and the law. We’re proud that he was named to this commission as he will bring value to its work,” said Speaker DeLeo. “He has been a steadfast supporter of the recovery community and has focused on combatting the opioid crisis and improving our healthcare system to best meet the needs of patients. We appreciate his dedication and service to our Commonwealth.”

"I am excited to join the commission and continue working toward the goal of helping those with substance use disorders find a pathway to recovery,” said Representative Roy. "The findings from the commission’s report will be important in addressing this issue at the local and state level and will provide meaningful opportunities for our residents who are struggling with addiction."

“The harm reduction commission will take a closer look at how to engage people at all stages of substance use disorder and encourage recovery,” said State Representative Denise C. Garlick (D-Needham), Chair of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery. "Representative Roy is a member of the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Substance Use and Recovery and has been a dedicated, compassionate advocate for his district and a leader with experience and insight through the enactment of the opioid bill. Representative Roy is committed to helping individuals who are suffering, families who are struggling and communities straining to meet the many needs of people of all ages dealing with the issues of addiction. I believe his perspective will be invaluable to the people of his district and to the Commission’s work.”

The commission consists of 15 members, including the secretary of health and human services; the commissioner of public health; house and senate members of the joint committee on mental health, substance use and recovery or their designees; the mayor of the city of Boston or a designee; the mayor of the city of Cambridge or a designee; and representatives from the Massachusetts Medical Society, the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, and the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association. It also includes persons with a substance use disorder, a clinician with experience in mental health and substance use disorder, a person working in an established harm reduction program, an expert in relevant state and federal law and regulation, and a representative of local municipal boards of health. 

In its work, the Commission will consider:

• the feasibility of operating harm reduction sites in which (A) a person with a substance use disorder may consume pre-obtained controlled substances, (B) medical assistance by health care professionals is made immediately available to a person with a substance use disorder as necessary to prevent fatal overdose, and (C) counseling, referrals to treatment and other appropriate services are available on a voluntary basis;
• the potential public health and public safety benefits and risks of harm reduction sites;
• the potential federal, state and local legal issues involved with establishing harm reduction sites;
• appropriate guidance that would be necessary and required for professional licensure boards and any necessary changes to the regulations of such boards;
• existing harm reduction efforts in the commonwealth and whether there is potential for collaboration with existing public health harm reduction organizations;
• opportunities to maximize public health benefits, including educating persons utilizing the sites of the risks of contracting HIV and viral hepatitis and on proper disposal of hypodermic needles and syringes;
• ways to support persons utilizing the sites who express an interest in seeking substance use disorder treatment, including providing information on evidence-based treatment options and direct referral to treatment providers;
• other harm reduction opportunities, including but not limited to, broadening the availability of narcotic testing products, including fentanyl test strips;
• alternatives and recommendations to broaden the availability of naloxone without prescription; and
• other matters deemed appropriate by the commission.

The Commission will also review the experiences and results of other states and countries that have established supervised drug consumption sites and other harm reduction strategies and report on the impact of those harm reduction sites and strategies.

The Commission’s first meeting is scheduled for October 24, 2018 and its findings and recommendations are due to the legislature by February 1st, 2019.

Please contact the office of Representative Roy with any questions or concerns at (617) 722-2430 or Jeff.roy@mahouse.gov.

Representative Roy Named to Harm Reduction Commission

Franklin and Medway Police receive Jail Diversion Program Grant

The Franklin Police Department has been awarded a joint grant with the Medway Police Department, and Advocates, Inc. of Framingham, Massachusetts to hire a clinical social worker to assist with cases of people in a mental health crisis. This grant was made possible by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health.

The Jail Diversion Program aims to help people in mental health crisis get the assistance they need, and not direct them unnecessarily into the Criminal Justice System. The Clinician will ride with police officers in cruisers and respond directly to calls. They will help evaluate and make recommendations for further care and follow up. This shortens the time on scene for officers, and ultimately leads to a better outcome for those involved.

The initial grant is valued at approximately $300,000, and is good for three years, with renewals possible after that.

Franklin Chief of Police Thomas J Lynch said “This program has been successfully used in several surrounding communities. Mental health crisis calls can be very difficult for officers, and having a highly trained clinician with them will lead to better results for all involved.”

Medway Chief of Police Allen M. Tingley added that “Mental health calls can be stressful, and sometimes volatile. Any tools that we can give our officers to resolve these calls without the use of force, and also reduce the number of repeat calls for service is a win for the Department, and the individual in crisis.

The program is in its initial phase of hiring a clinician, and working on new policies and procedures. It is expected that the program will be fully functioning within two months. Program coordinators for the Jail Diversion Program are Sgt. Brian Johnson of the Franklin Police Department, and Detective Sergeant Matthew Reardon of the Medway Police Department.

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/franklin-and-medway-police-receive-jail-diversion-program-grant

Franklin and Medway Police receive Jail Diversion Program Grant

Franklin Police Pledge to IACP's ONE MIND Campaign

The Franklin Police Department is pleased to announce that they have pledged to take action in support of the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s One Mind Campaign, with the intent to unite local communities, public safety organizations, and mental health organizations in such a way that the three become “of one mind.”

The One Mind Campaign seeks to ensure successful interactions between police officers and persons with mental illness. To join the campaign, the department has committed to implementing four promising practices over a 12–36 month timeframe. These four strategies include (1) establishing a clearly defined and sustainable partnership with one or more community mental health organization(s), (2) developing and implementing a model policy addressing police response to persons affected by mental illness, (3) training and certifying 100 percent of the agency’s sworn officers (and selected nonsworn staff, such as dispatchers) in Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety, and (4) providing Crisis Intervention Team training to a minimum of 20 percent of the agency’s sworn officers.

Franklin Police Pledge to IACP's ONE MIND Campaign

"The Franklin Police Department is committed to training our officers to better serve all members of our community, especially those who struggle with the challenges of mental illness." said Chief of Police Thomas Lynch "We see the One Mind Campaign as an example of our mission, vision, and values statement. We will continue to look for innovative ways to bring our officers closer to the community, and build trust with all whom we are charged with protecting."

The Franklin Police Department acknowledges the need to recognize and address recent societal, cultural, and technological changes that impact law enforcement responses to persons with mental illness. The strategies that the department has pledged to adopt create a unique opportunity to form a partnership with mental health organizations in the community. The committed efforts of both law enforcement agencies and the mental health community to reduce officer and civilian fatalities and injuries resulting from encounters between law enforcement officials and persons with mental illness are of critical importance. Pledging to support the One Mind Campaign is the first step towards creating a safer community for all.

For more information on the One Mind Campaign visit http://www.theiacp.org/onemindcampaign. 

A copy of the full report, Improving Police Response to Persons Affected by Mental Illness, links to additional resources and a list of all agencies that have taken the pledge is also available on the website.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/franklin-police-pledge-iacps-one-mind-campaign

MassBudget: Progress on EITC and mental health funding, not higher ed

Analyzing the Governor's FY 2019 budget proposal

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. February 2, 2018 Progress on EITC and mental health funding, not higher education The Governor's Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 budget proposal level funds much of state government, includes some targeted initiatives - including an expanded earned income tax credit (EITC) and new services for people struggling with and recovering from mental illness - and proposes small reductions in funding, after accounting for inflation, for higher education and other areas.  Read more about the Governor's FY 2019 proposal in our newly published Budget Monitor. The budget proposes an increase in the state EITC from 23 percent to 30 percent of the federal amount. The EITC is a refundable tax credit that increases the incomes of lower-income working families. Research has found that in addition to helping families make ends meet, the EITC can have long-term positive effects on children: improving their performance in school and leading to higher lifetime earnings. The increase to 30 percent of the federal amount would increase the EITC for families by up to $460 a year. To improve mental health services, the budget proposal allocates $84 million towards creating a new model of service delivery for adults. This model aims to provide more coordinated, standardized, and consistent treatment that would be better aligned with health care systems. It would seek to provide more comprehensive care, particularly for people with co-occurring substance use disorders. The budget funds the state's colleges and universities at levels that don't keep pace with inflation. Since FY 2001, state funding for higher education has declined substantially, leading to rising tuition and fees for students and higher debt levels for graduates. The proposed funding levels in the Governor's budget won't make up for lost ground and will likely lead to continued tuition and fee increases. Compared to recent budgets, this proposal reduces reliance on temporary revenue sources and temporary savings, but doesn't end those practices. It counts on $260 million from an employer assessment to help fund MassHealth that is scheduled to end after this year (enacted in response to an historic trend of MassHealth paying for the health care costs of increasing numbers of private sector employees). The budget also relies on $65 million from one-time state tax payments by multi-national corporations as a result of the federal tax changes (these payments would otherwise likely have been made in future years). Read the full Budget Monitor here. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

MassBudget: Progress on EITC and mental health funding, not higher ed

In the News: gypsy moths, elderly mental health

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"August trees are looking more like November trees in some areas after gypsy moth caterpillars devoured leaves more aggressively than they had since the 1980s. 

A recent aerial survey completed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) revealed that damaged caused to trees by gypsy moth caterpillers feeding in 2016 was more than nine times greater than the damage in 2015. 

Each year, the DCR Forest Health Program conducts an aerial survey to measure the extent of damage caused to forests by different agents. 

The 2016 survey, conducted the second week of July, revealed 362,254 acres of damage from gypsy moths, crypt gall wasps and conifer discoloration.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160806/state-gypsy-moth-damage-nine-times-greater-than-in-2015

MA DCR aerial survey - tree damage from gypsy moths 2016

"Working out of an unassuming building on Maple Street in Bellingham, Gail Bourassa has started a difficult job: getting mental health care to senior citizens, a group that has traditionally been reticent to seek help. 

Bourassa, a counselor, is the new regional program manager for a project - running across Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Medway, Milford and Mendon - that looks to reach seniors where they live. 

"Young people often self-refer (to these services) when they need it," she said. "For elders, it's more difficult - they rarely self-refer."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160806/aging-population-creates-challenges-for-mental-health-care

Live reporting: School Wellness Advisory Council

Sally Winslow
affectionately referred to as the 'SWAC"

a standing committee
wide variety of groups represented
administrators, educators, students, community members
3rd full year as a group
goal to bring the 'local wellness policy' into compliance

meet four times per year
assessment, and goals to meet needs
present to the School Committee (as is this tonight)

multi-disciplinary approach to provide support for students

Goals for 2014-15

1. mental health
2. physical activity
3. nutrition

in year 2 of developing curriculum
work to ensure social emotional curriculum across the grade levels

first year with middle school guidance counselors

high school, developed and delivered 4 seminar classes to each grade

decrease in nurses visits seen as a result of the work done in middle and high school

BOKS program

partnerships with other community groups
Patriot Place, Adirondeck Club

increases in both formal athletic and physical activities

multiple garden models being worked to tie in academic curriculum as well as healthy eating habits, and understanding the food life cycle

MetroWest Health Survey data just came out

O'Malley
a comprehensive and well developed program
unscheduled visits can be the most important visits
need to be careful with setting the goal and reporting accordingly

Sabolinski/Winslow
data had been gathered and strategies developed to work with the student and either get them back to class or to the right resources for help

Trahan - kids needed help to figure out how to cope, it wasn't to prevent visits, those visits are open and available

kids need explicit instruction on what to do and how to deal with something with it comes up; coping skills

O'Malley
we have trained councilors, let them make the decision

Jewel
some of the students learn in different ways
how are the teachers dealing with students that have different ways of learning?

Sabolinski/Winslow
there is the instructional support team
as well as special education assistance as needed

Jewel 
I want to encourage students to excel where they can and to do really well
to push that level where they normally would

Sabolinksi
absolutely, we have some gifted students in the schools
we use whatever is available to help
enter the course of study where they are pushed to succeed

Mullen
would like to see something on guidence in the next couple of months

Ten Ways to be Mindful of Mental Health Month

For more than 65 years, May has been recognized as Mental Health Month by local and national organizations alike. This is a time when, as a nation, we discuss mental health issues and work to improve the overall wellness of our communities. 

Regardless of your background, you or someone you know may be dealing with the effects of poor mental health. Thankfully, there is a wide range of resources available to help you maintain a healthy, happy mind this month and throughout the year:

1. Download a Mind Your Health calendar for daily tips to boost your mood and physical wellness. Organizations can encourage healthy changes by using the resources in this Mental Health Month Toolkit.

1. Discover ways to improve your mental health such as staying connected with others, keeping a healthy diet, and establishing effective stress-coping techniques.

mental health

Continue reading this article to find out more about mental health on the MA.gov page here

http://blog.mass.gov/blog/living-in-massachusetts/ten-ways-to-be-mindful-of-mental-health-month/

"I’m keeping an open mind"

Wicked Local reports on Representative Jeff Roy's efforts to learn all he can about the issues around licencing of firearms.

According to Roy, the Sandy Hook shooting served as a catalyst. Leaving the University of Massachusetts after a training session for newly elected lawmakers, Roy said he heard the first reports from Newtown, Conn. 

"It chilled me and gave me a real sense of the work I was going to undertake on Jan. 2," Roy said, referring to his swearing-in date. "I knew gun violence was going to be an important topic in the Legislature." 

The Legislature’s work on new state gun proposals will ramp up with the release of the gun violence task force’s anticipated report. Appointed last year by House Speaker Robert DeLeo, the group has been meeting with mental health experts, researchers, school officials and police chiefs, Roy said. 

The report, he said, will touch on school safety, mental health and gun licensing.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x407166258/Roy-prepping-for-debate-on-gun-laws#ixzz2pQje5aR5

Take the Hero of Hope Pledge!

Since 1949, May has been officially recognized as Mental Health Month. The first Thursday in May is celebrated as Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day, to raise awareness about the importance of children's mental health and that positive mental health is essential to a child's healthy development from birth. 

Mental Health Awareness

Over the next week, the Partnership for Early Childhood Mental Health, (which includes the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Department of Public Health and the Boston Public Health Commission) invites all state employees to take a pledge to nurture a child’s social and emotional development. Enter your pledge and state email address at www.ecmhmatters.org, in the “for families and friends” section, and you will be included in a raffle to win an Early Childhood Mental Health Matters t-shirt.

Why take the Hero of Hope Pledge? 

Early childhood mental health means that young children are growing in their ability to understand and share feelings, have close and positive relationships, and explore and learn. Studies show that good social and behavioral skills in young children lead to good academic performance in the 1st grade and beyond.

 Read the full post on the Commonwealth Conversations, Health and Human Services website here
http://hhs.blog.state.ma.us/blog/2013/05/may-is-mental-health-month-take-the-hero-of-hope-pledge.html?utm_source=feedly