A Message During Trying Times

April 1, 2020 by Stephanie Gray

Over the last few months, the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have rippled across the world. We are seeing an unknown virus raise its ugly head, take thousands of lives across the world and we still do not have all the answers, but we are getting closer to what may actually be the problem. All of us are frightened and unsure, but we are resilient and sturdy. Despite the challenges we all face, there are many, many stories and expert health and safety information that teach us, embrace us and give us strength. As parents, educators, care givers, guardians, health care workers, community members and government; we must take care of our children, for they are the hope and Spring of our future.

To that end, The Massachusetts PTA Health, Wellness and Safety committee would like to share with you information, articles, websites, stories and links that many of the committee members have researched for you to assist, educate and keep you informed about all of this COVID-19.It is important for us to stay informed so that we can take care of our children, not just yours and mine but the whole of society’s children. Millions of people around the world are staying home and at a safe distance from each other to slow the spread of COVID-19. This is a crucial time to combine our efforts to build and strengthen meaningful connections. We have an opportunity to provide comfort and healing to those who may feel vulnerable or alone.
Sharing knowledge, information and experiences with others will bring us closer and keep us steadfast.

Please see the message from our National PTA President:

“While our utmost priority during this crisis is the health and safety of all students, educators, staff and families, we are also committed to making sure our communities have what they need during this challenging time,” said Leslie Boggs, president of National PTA. “Our nation’s families and educators have many questions and concerns, and we hope the information and resources on this webpage help them navigate this crisis.”

National PTA launched a comprehensive webpage, which features resources, tools and information to support families and educators amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Located at PTA.org/COVID-19 , the goal is to help communities navigate the emerging challenges the pandemic has presented, while meeting the educational and social and emotional needs of all students, educators and families.

Let us also direct you to additional articles, websites and videos that will help and provide answers:

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

Children and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) – Tips to keep children healthy while school’s out
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/children.html

COVID-19 print resources in multiple languages
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/communication/factsheets.html

COVID-19 website
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/

American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP):

The AAP Parenting Website
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/Pages/default.aspx

From Health Care for All Massachusetts ( HCFA).

For Health Help and Insurance

https://www.healthcareforall.org

From the Mass.gov website:

Information on the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19?_ga=2.183441378.599039932.1584891220-1747971150.1579119003

Information on Unemployment and Coronavirus (COVID-19) (for parents and teachers)
https://www.mass.gov/resource/information-on-unemployment-and-coronavirus-covid-19

COVID-19 Resources and Guidance for Businesses (for parents)
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-resources-and-guidance-for-businesses

We hope that this information will help you and we will continue to bring you additional resources to help all of us together get through this. I would like to just leave you with some words that always inspire and comfort me. I hope that they will for you also.

“You may not always have a comfortable life and you will not always be able to solve all of the world’s problems at once but don’t ever underestimate the importance you can have because history has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” Michelle Obama

Stay well and strong,

Jackie Coogan, Chairperson and the Massachusetts PTA Health, Safety, and Wellness Committee

MA PTA Advocacy Efforts Against Vaping

February 13, 2020 by Stephanie Gray

The volunteers at Massachusetts PTA continue to work to advocate for the health and welfare of our children and families. Both our Advocacy/Legislative Committee and the Health Safety and Wellness Committee have prioritized the prevention of Vaping in children but it was the members of our Youth Committee who helped us focus on the issues from their perspective and developed the survey we are currently running.

Recently we joined Attorney General Maura Healey at her press conference where she announced her investigation into JUUL has resulted in a lawsuit against the company for intentionally marketing and selling its e-cigarettes to young people. (Read More About Lawsuit)

If you have not participated in our Vaping survey please click here to take either the Student version or the Parent version of the survey. The information we gather from this anonymous survey will help us to better provide relevant content in our next webinar and ensure our advocacy efforts with legislation and school based policies are in line with what you, our members, feel is needed.

The Massachusetts PTA Health, Wellness and Safety committee is holding a webinar on Vaping on April 28, 2020. The webinar will be presented by experts in the field along with that assistance of the members of the Health Committee.

STATEMENT SUPPORTING LEGAL ACTION BY THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS AGAINST JUUL

Massachusetts PTA supports legislation, regulation, and other measures that prohibit the advertising, marketing and sale of Electronic cigarettes and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems to youth under the age of 21; that addresses the manufacturing of and ingredients in E-cigarettes and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; and that prohibits the use of E-cigarettes and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on school grounds and in public areas. Therefore, we must support the State of Massachusetts’ legal action against JUUL for allegedly violating several laws. JUUL’s advertising campaigns target young people to use nicotine without knowing the associated risks by enticing them with flavor pods, by using social media marketing campaigns and by direct outreach to high school students by company representatives. We believe this deceptive and misleading marketing contributed to a youth vaping epidemic. JUUL may have failed to include required warnings about exposures to chemicals linked to cancer, about the products containing nicotine and about them being a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes also. Delivering tobacco products directly to under aged persons and selling products online to minors by a third party retail store is illegal. By glamorizing vaping, while at the same time downplaying the nicotine found in vaping products, JUUL is putting countless people at risk. We question whether JUUL has contributed to nicotine use, with addictive and harmful products, among school-aged minors creating a public health epidemic.

MA PTA Health Webinar – Are Screen Devices Chipping Away at Your Child’s Building Blocks to Success? January

December 26, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

Parents want the best for their children – academic and career success near the top of the list. But, just as Big Tech tells us they have all the answers, they are also manipulating kids with data-collecting games and learning apps, and advertising from social media influencers which is disguised as content. Join Jean Rogers and David Monahan of Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) for a deep dive into just what developmental pieces are being eroded when children develop excessive and screen habits—and specific ideas on what parents and teachers can do to minimize the impact.

Take home skills:

How apps are manipulating children by exploiting their trust in beloved characters for profit.
How CCFC is protecting children’s privacy through advocacy at the FTC and partnership with other organizations.
How for-profit online preschools are displacing critical play-based programs that develop executive functioning skills, social-emotional learning and essential whole body activities for coordination, self-regulation, and strength.
How AI is reducing kids’ ability to think critically and become problem solvers.
How the Children’s Screen Time Action Network supports practitioners, educators, and parents who want to learn more and take action.

Tune in for a lively and enlightening dialogue. There will be time for viewer questions as well. For more information and to register, click here.

PTA Advocacy Spotlights 2020

November 7, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

The theme of our 2020 annual meeting was “LOOK WITHIN”; when you look within PTA you will see advocacy. Advocacy is the core of this organization and is what sets us apart from other organizations. There are so many individuals and PTA units that are doing wonderful things through their advocacy efforts. Every day, state, regional and local PTAs across the country and around the world go above and beyond to advocate for children. Their efforts have made tangible improvements for children, families and communities. In Massachusetts advocacy efforts are evident. Each year we celebrate our individual advocates and our local unit advocacy campaigns. This year we celebrate two individuals that have a long history of advocating for children:

Kim Savery – She is a former MA PTA President, a past Federal Legislative Chair and past member of the Board of the National PTA. She is currently a very active member of her local school committee and the Massachusetts School Committees Association. Her advocacy areas include Common Core, the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and the new MCAS tests. She has been working on the state’s funding mechanisms for schools with the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. Further, she works to empower children. Kim has advocated around equality issues designed to make schools a safe and fair place for students regardless of how they identify.

Maryann Stewart – She is a past member of the MA PTA Board, a past President and past Federal Legislative Chair from MA. She is on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education as the parent representative, the voice for parents. The MA PTA recommends a parent to fill this vacancy and she has served in this role since her appointment in 2014. She advocates for what is in the best interests of parents and their children. She has been active in the schools and in town government, serving as an elected representative to Town Meeting since 2006 and on the School Committee from 2009-2014 where she lead as Chair from 2011-2012. She also serves as a member of the National Advisory Council for Media Literacy Now.

Salisbury PTA – They are the Outstanding Unit Advocate of the Year. PTAs provide mission driven fundraising in order to provide enrichment opportunities and advocacy for every child. Salisbury PTA exemplifies this with their advocacy campaigns. They look for solutions to problems and act to implement ideas. They are recognized for their: Breakfast after the Bell initiatives; Installation of water filtration system; The Parent Speaker Series and the Creation of “We Are Triton.”

These are great examples of advocacy efforts that support the PTA mission and further our “every child, one voice” moto.

Overview

Every day, state, regional and local PTAs across the country and around the world go above and beyond to advocate for children. Their efforts have made real, tangible improvements for children, families and communities. At this year’s Legislative Conference, we want to spotlight these efforts—and learn from them. To achieve this objective, National PTA is proud to announce that this year’s Legislative Conference will feature PTA Advocacy Spotlight presentations. This is an opportunity for state, regional or local PTAs to share stories of how they have taken action for kids.

Applications are now being accepted to present a PTA Advocacy Spotlight at the 2020 Legislative Conference. Applications close on Tuesday, November 12.

This toolkit is designed to provide sample social media and newsletter messages that can be used to share the PTA Advocacy Spotlight opportunity with PTA leaders in your states.

Twitter

Sample Tweet 1: NEW from @NationalPTA for #PTALegCon 2020 – PTA Advocacy Spotlight presentations! Apply now to share your PTA’s advocacy story. Applications due 11/12. Details here: https://forms.gle/JyS9jNeDFAZ9QmGd7

Sample Tweet 2: Has your PTA successfully advocated for change at the local, state or federal level? Apply to share your story @NationalPTA’s #PTALegCon 2020! Applications due 11/12. Details here: https://forms.gle/JyS9jNeDFAZ9QmGd7

Sample Tweet 3: Is there an issue that inspired your PTA to take action for kids? Share your story @NationalPTA’s #PTALegCon 2020! Applications for PTA Advocacy Spotlights accepted until 11/12. Details at https://forms.gle/CmDL3aCo2vvMYHpq5

Sample Tweet 4: The deadline to apply for @NationalPTA’s PTA Advocacy Spotlight is approaching fast! Share your PTA’s success story! https://forms.gle/CmDL3aCo2vvMYHpq5

Facebook

Facebook Post 1:

New this year at National PTA’s Legislative Conference: PTA Advocacy Spotlights! Has your PTA advocated for change at the local, state or federal level? Apply to present a PTA Advocacy Spotlight and share your story. Applications are open through November 12. Details at https://forms.gle/CmDL3aCo2vvMYHpq5

Facebook Post 2:

The deadline is approaching fast to apply for National PTA’s PTA Advocacy Spotlight!

If your PTA has a story of advocating effectively for change at the local, state or federal level, apply to present at National PTA’s 2020 Legislative Conference.

Apply now: https://forms.gle/CmDL3aCo2vvMYHpq5

Facebook Post 3:

Is there an issue that inspired your PTA to take action for kids? Don’t miss the chance to apply to share your PTA’s advocacy story at National PTA’s 2020 LegCon. Details at https://forms.gle/CmDL3aCo2vvMYHpq5

E-Newsletter

Apply to share your PTA’s Advocacy Story!

Has your PTA advocated effectively for change at the local, state or federal level? Does your PTA have a strategy for advancing National PTA’s Public Policy Agenda? We want to hear from you! This year, National PTA’s Legislative Conference will feature PTA Advocacy Spotlights – a chance for state, regional or local PTAs to share stories of an issue that inspired them to take action for kids. Apply today to share your PTA’s advocacy story through the PTA Advocacy Spotlights!

The deadline to submit a nomination is Tuesday, November 12.

Facing the Challenges of Mental Health Issues – Summit September 26th

September 4, 2019 by Stephanie Gray

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