STOUGHTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
31 PIERCE STREET
STOUGHTON, MA 02072
DANIELLE GALLAN, MSN-PH, FNP-C
DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES
Dear Parent or Guardian:
We would like to inform you about an annual screening program that is scheduled to take place at your child’s school. Per Chapter 71, section 97 of the Massachusetts General laws, each school district is required to implement a verbal substance use screening tool involving SBIRT (Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment). This program is to take place in one middle school and one high school grade level; therefore, our district will screen the tenth grade (or equivalent aged) and eighth grade classes. We will utilize the CRAFFT screening tool, the most commonly used substance use screening tool for adolescents in Massachusetts. A copy of the screening tool is available for your review at each of the school’s health clinic, guidance office, or at https://crafft.org/get-the-crafft/#dl-adol
Screening will be conducted during your child’s other school health screenings (i.e. vision and hearing). Screening sessions are brief (approximately 5 minutes) and are conducted confidentially in a private, one‐on‐one session by the school nurse. Students who are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced by the screener. The screener will provide brief feedback to any student who reports using substances, or is at risk for future substance use. If needed, the student will be referred to our guidance department for further evaluation.
This program focuses on harm prevention and does not generate disciplinary action. Results of the screening will not be included in your student's school record, nor will results be shared with any staff other than the SBIRT team, which is composed of the nursing and guidance department staff. Our goal is to let the students know that we are available to reinforce healthy decisions and to assist them in obtaining support if needed for substance use related problems.
As with all mandated screenings conducted in school, if you would prefer that your child not participate in this program, a signed and dated letter identifying the screening for which you want exemption needs to be sent to the school nurse. Additionally, screening is voluntary and students may choose not to answer any or all of the screening questions.
According to the previous Stoughton's Youth Risk Behavior Survey data, most students in the district are making good health choices, but there are small percentages who try alcohol, marijuana, or other substances (see the attachment for these statistics). One way to prevent youth substance use is to talk with your child about your family’s thoughts and expectations regarding alcohol and other drug use. For ideas on how to begin these conversations and further information regarding SBIRT, please refer to Stoughton OASIS at www.stoughtonoasis.org and/or the school nurse links on both the middle school and high school web pages.
Sincerely,
Danielle Gallan, MSN-PH, FNP-C
Director of Health Services
d_gallan@stoughtonschools.org
