Americas First Taxpayer-Supported, Free Public School

Dedham Public Schools

MetroWest Adolescent Health Survey

2016 Results Presentation

Thursday, October 26, 2017

 Folder Documents:
Left Side
- Overview sheet (white)
- Regional 2016 MetroWest Adolescent
Health Survey (MWAHS) reports (2) for
middle and high schools (white)
- Tonights presentation slides (white)
Right Side
1. MWAHS Highlight Reports for Dedham High
School and Dedham Middle School (gray)
2. Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (SAPC)
Parent Survey summary results (green)
3. INTERFACE counseling referral service information
card
4. Dedham Public Schools Counseling Staff contact
information for every school (pink)
5. Dedham Public Schools Health Services Staff
contact information for every school (lavender)
6. A single 3 X 5 index card for writing down
questions during the Q & A period
Shari Kessel Schneider
Project Director, EDC
Parent Survey
Results

Gail Kelley, RN, BSN, NCSN

 S.A.P.C. Parent Survey
Conducted as part of the Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative
Conducted to learn more about parental beliefs, perceptions and behaviors
regarding underage drinking and youth substance use.
Survey was open for one month in April of 2017 (electronic)
465 parents who had at least one child in grades 6-12 responded to the survey
Identical surveys conducted in Needham, Westwood and Norwood

Dedham 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th 12th

Final % 13.1% 13.3% 14.6% 14.6% 14.2% 12.9% 15.3%

Final # 61 62 68 68 66 60 71
 Parent Survey
39 Questions

4 Broad Domains:
Communication about underage drinking and
youth substance
Attitudes and beliefs

Perception of the prevalence of underaged drinking and substance use

Parenting behaviors
Parent-Child Communication
 Parental Disapproval of Youth Substance Use
How wrong do you Not at all wrong A little bit wrong Wrong Very Wrong
think it would be for
your child to...

Smoke tobacco 0.8% 1.8% 16.8% 80.8%

Drink alcohol 2.8% 8.5% 27.8% 60.9%

occasionally

Have 1 or 2 0.8% 0.5% 4.3% 94.5%

alcoholic drinks
nearly every day

Smoke marijuana 1.0% 3.0% 13.2% 82.8%

Use rx drugs not 0.8% 0.0% 4.8% 94.5%

prescribed
 Beyond Classroom Instruction.....

SBIRT Screenings

Caron Insight Group

Caron Kids of Promise Group

Dedham Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Awareness

(DCDAA)
 Parents....The Greatest Protective Factor
Talk early and talk often to your child
Ask questions of your child
Emphasize protective factors
Develop a plan with your child if they find
themselves in a potentially unsafe situation
Call other parents when child going to
another house (nearly 90% of surveyed
parents would like you to do that)
Clarify reality from myth. Share results of
MWAHS with them!
Lock up rx meds and alcohol and dispose of old meds
Mental Health Findings and
Symptomatology
Focus on Stress and Depressive Features

Ashley Dube, PsyD, NCSP

Positive Trends
Adult support
Substance use
Alcohol
Tobacco
Marijuana
Bullying
Physical activity and nutrition
Stress
Gender differences

Gradual increase in
symptoms over time

Common sources of
stress
Depressive Features
Feeling sad or hopeless

Self-injury
Cutting, burning, bruising
oneself on purpose

Gender differences

No consistent pattern by grade

Percentage (%)
Percentage (%)
Counseling and Clinical Support
2017-2018 staffing
Program development
Clinically-focused professional development opportunities
PACE Program

Therapeutic support in DHS Academic Center

Strengthening clinical collaboration

Increasing parent awareness of mental health supports

Interface referral service (William James College, Newton, MA)
Health & Physical Education
Meeting the Needs of our Students

Mark Carney
Director of Health, Wellness and Physical
Education
 Staffing Improvements
Meeting the Needs of our Students
Elementary Schools Transitions:

Then Now:
2.9 PE teachers - once a week for 40 4.9 licensed Wellness
minutes teachers covering the Health
4 Teaching Assistants covering a and PE curriculum - two 40
health curriculum once a week for 40 minutes classes each week.
minutes
 Secondary Schools Transitions:
Then
3 MS Staff in the wellness
department
One semester of 7th & 8th
grade health - 2xs a cycle
for 45 minutes
Physical Education for
Grades 6 - 8 - 2xs a cycle
for 45 minutes year
Now:
Introducing grade 6 health
3.5 Health and PE
professionals to cover grades
6 - 8 health and PE for the
year.
0.5 SEL professional
developing curriculum, offer
support to faculty and students
Curriculum & Framework
SEL (Social Emotional Learning)

&
Addresses critical social competencies necessary for
academic and life success such as resilience,
self-management, relationship skills, social awareness,
self awareness, and responsible decision making skills
Substance Abuse Awareness
Substance abuse prevention program
focusing on reducing the risks of alcohol,
tobacco, drug abuse, and violence.
 Panelist Introductions

Audience Questions - please use index card to

write your question. Runners will pick them up.