Dear Parent or Guardian,
All Massachusetts public schools must conduct a verbal preventive screening as part of their yearly mandated universal health-screening programs. The Westfield district will be using the (SBIRT) Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment protocol with students in grades 7 & 9. Utilizing the CRAFFT+N Screening tool, the survey consists of a one-on-one conversation between the student and the school counselor. The goal is to prevent alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, or other drug use. The SBIRT program reinforces healthy decisions and addresses concerns about substance use to improve health and safety in our schools.
Students who are not using substances will have their healthy choices reinforced. When any student reports using alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, the counselor will have a brief conversation with that student. The screening process is confidential. There is no identifying information and the results will not be shared with anyone without written consent.
If you want to opt your child out of the screening, you can contact the school in writing by Friday, October 13. If you would like to view the CRAFFT+N tool and other SBIRT resources they are available on this website: www.masbirt.org/schools