**ADFA-R - BODY MASS INDEX (BMI) SCREENING PROCEDURES** **Last Updated Date:** 11/26/2013 **Adoption Date:** 10/27/2010 Parents, guardians, students, school administrators, and staff should all be informed about the purpose and process of the school’s Body Mass Index (BMI) screening initiative.  Using Sample Letters #1 and #2 (provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health) as guidelines, each school nurse shall notify administrators, staff, and families in advance of BMI screenings after choosing dates for the screenings.  Sample Letter #3 shall be sent once to area pediatric offices utilized by South Hadley students as an Introductory Courtesy Letter to notify the physicians of the new Massachusetts Department of Public Health BMI screening initiative.  (The school nurses will compile a list of local pediatric offices utilized by South Hadley students for this purpose.)  Parents/guardians will be given the opportunity to opt their child out of the screening if so desired, but must do so in writing.  Proper supervision of appropriately trained staff under the direction of the school nurse will take place.  - The school nurse has the responsibility for training, monitoring and following up on all screening activities. - To improve accuracy, the Department of Public Health recommends that at least two staff conduct the BMI screening: one to measure the child and one to record data as this greatly reduces recording errors. - School nurses and any other staff conducting screenings should participate in a Massachusetts Department of Public Health-sponsored training. - Training should include: 1. Proper use of equipment for accurate and precise measurement. 2. Review of forms for the recording of information. 3. Emphasis on the importance of privacy and confidentiality for the students; and 4. Appropriate and sensitive communication with students regarding height and weight measurement.  Properly prepared and equipped space for screening, as well as appropriate and well-maintained screening equipment, are essential as are protocols to assure privacy of the screening process and confidentiality of results.  There should be adequate time for screening as well as provisions for student supervision, access to proper equipment, and any special accommodations that are necessary to ensure appropriate assessment and individual privacy.  Use of appropriate equipment that has been properly maintained and calibrated annually or more frequently as necessary is vital.    Each student should be weighed and measured in private with no other students present.  Students react in a variety of ways to being weighed and measured at school.  Girls most often are concerned about being overweight regardless of their actual size.  Boys worry about being too short or too thin.  Space should be arranged so that confidentiality is assured in terms of both sight and sound.  In order to promote confidentiality of results and reduce anxiety, all students should be weighed and measured  facing away from the scales.  Students’ BMI screening results are part of the permanent health record and as such are strictly confidential.  Care should be taken that findings are never accessible to other students or shared with staff and are communicated to parents/guardians in a direct and confidential manner.