Hey High School Students with Food Allergies! The Food Allergy Center at MGH Food Allergy Buddies Program is looking for dedicated and responsible "Mentors"!
Check it out and apply now!Hey High School Students with Food Allergies! We are looking for dedicated and responsible "Mentors"!
The MassGeneral Hospital for Children Food Allergy Center at MGH, is excited to launch the first year of its Food Allergy Buddies Program, a program of community-building events for children and families managing food allergies.
In this yearlong program, young children with food allergies will be teamed with older children and teenagers managing food allergies (“Mentors”); over the course of 4-5 events annually, the groups will share experiences, build confidence, develop self-management skills, and – most importantly – create friendships and have fun! Interested parents, as well, will benefit from access to community-building and educational events throughout the year with our partner AAFA New England.
What you need to know:
Applications are open December 1 through December 30.
Apply here: forms.gle/5eixGg2opXPywLqR7
Teen mentors (students in 9th-12th grade) will be eligible for college recommendation letters and community service hours through this program.
Teen Mentors are also required to have a character reference complete a recommendation form as part of the application. Teens should direct their reference to complete the form found here: forms.gle/xp7botrHcTsNcBt49.
Applications can be submitted prior to the reference person submitting their form.
Participation in this program is free and is open to all children / families managing food allergies, even those receiving care outside of the Massachusetts General Hospital Food Allergy Center.
We are committed that costs should not be a barrier for participation in this program; transportation can be arranged for children and families, as needed.
Please be aware that we will be requesting signed parental consent forms to participate in this program. If you are selected as a mentor, you will receive this form with other orientation materials and asked to bring it to the first event.
As this is the first year for the program, we anticipate we will have a limited number of slots available. Applicants who are not selected will be provided with a list of local supports and resources for families and children managing food allergies; we hope to be able to accommodate more children and families in future years, and we will contact interested families about those opportunities.
Tentative program dates for the 2020 year are January 26th, March 29th, May 17th, September 13th, and December 6th. We ask that all program participants commit upfront to make every effort to attend all sessions.
For more information and to apply, please visit bit.ly/FoodAllergyBuddies. If you have questions, please email us at [email protected]
We look forward to your enthusiasm and support for our program! ... See MoreSee Less
4 months ago ·
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There's Big (and Little! and Middle) news for our #foodallergy community. Food Allergy Center at MGH is launching Food Allergy Buddies Program in January 2020. The mentorship program will group high-school-age children (Bigs) with elementary-school-age (Littles) and middle-school-age children (Middles) who have a food allergy through free in-person events. Learn more and apply to the program here! [link to the website www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-community]We have Big (and Little! and Middle!) news! We're launching The Food Allergy Buddies Program in January 2020. The mentorship program will group high-school-age children (Bigs) with elementary-school-age (Littles) and middle-school-age children (Middles) who have a food allergy through free in-person events.
Learn more and apply to the program here! [link to the website www.massgeneral.org/children/food-allergies/food-allergy-community] ... See MoreSee Less
4 months ago ·
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Thank you to our amazing #S255 #foodallergy advocates, @mghfc advocacy team, Dr. Chris Olsen, @cindycreem, @AAFANE, @EndAllergies, @FoodAllergy for all the effort today! ... See MoreSee Less
6 months ago ·
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Dear MA Advocacy Friends,
For those that can join us tomorrow, please email your legislator tonight to make an appointment for a personal meeting with them and/or their staff between 11:30 am-1pm, and to invite them to attend the Advocacy Day (see below).
If you can't make it, please email your legislators and invite them to the advocacy day. Please see below.
WHO: You and other food allergy advocates, local legislators
WHAT: Lobby Day in support of S.255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School
WHERE: Massachusetts State House, Room 222
WHEN: Oct 17th, 10:30AM - meet with other advocates and local legislators, hear update on the bill; 11:30AM - meet with YOUR legislator
Please use the template invitation below. You can identify your State Representative and Senators here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Dear XXX,
Tomorrow (10/17) I will be attending a briefing about S.255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School at 10:30am in Room 222. In addition to inviting you to join us I would like to schedule a time to meet with you and/or your staff at the conclusion of the briefing, around 11 AM.
This bill requires Massachusetts school districts to develop a Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan, which will ensure that schools have policies and procedures in place for the management of students with food allergies. This bill would also require school staff to receive annual professional development on providing a safe environment for students with food allergies. If passed, this legislation will build on the already comprehensive MA guidelines by making policy, education, and stock epinephrine availability necessary instead of voluntary.
Today, one in 13 children has food allergies, or roughly two in every classroom. Nearly 40 percent of these children have already experienced a severe or life threatening allergic reaction. Allergic reactions should always be handled as a medical emergency and the provisions of the new bill will ensure that schools are fully equipped to avoid, recognize and treat allergic reactions. Adoption of this bill is the best way to help children make the transition between a safe home environment and school while making profound differences in the comfort level of families with children who suffer from severe food allergies.
In just over a month, we have collected over 1,200 signatures from people all over Massachusetts who would like to see this bill become law. We hope that you or a member of your staff can join a briefing about this bill on October 17, with Dr. Michael Pistiner, Director of the Food Allergy Advocacy, Education and Prevention, Food Allergy Center at MassGeneral Hospital for children, along with founding members of the Food Allergy Science Initiative at the Broad Institute, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter and dozens of family members whose loved ones suffer from food allergies. This bill has the support of the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization, the MA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, New England Allergy Society, Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), Boston Children's Hospital Division of Allergy and Immunology and the MassGeneral Hospital for Children's Food Allergy Center.Dear MA Advocacy Friends,
For those that can join us tomorrow, please email your legislator tonight to make an appointment for a personal meeting with them and/or their staff between 11:30 am-1pm, and to invite them to attend the Advocacy Day (see below).
If you can't make it, please email your legislators and invite them to the advocacy day. Please see below.
WHO: You and other food allergy advocates, local legislators
WHAT: Lobby Day in support of S.255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School
WHERE: Massachusetts State House, Room 222
WHEN: Oct 17th, 10:30AM - meet with other advocates and local legislators, hear update on the bill; 11:30AM - meet with YOUR legislator
Please use the template invitation below. You can identify your State Representative and Senators here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Dear XXX,
Tomorrow (10/17) I will be attending a briefing about S.255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School at 10:30am in Room 222. In addition to inviting you to join us I would like to schedule a time to meet with you and/or your staff at the conclusion of the briefing, around 11 AM.
This bill requires Massachusetts school districts to develop a Food Allergy Management and Prevention Plan, which will ensure that schools have policies and procedures in place for the management of students with food allergies. This bill would also require school staff to receive annual professional development on providing a safe environment for students with food allergies. If passed, this legislation will build on the already comprehensive MA guidelines by making policy, education, and stock epinephrine availability necessary instead of voluntary.
Today, one in 13 children has food allergies, or roughly two in every classroom. Nearly 40 percent of these children have already experienced a severe or life threatening allergic reaction. Allergic reactions should always be handled as a medical emergency and the provisions of the new bill will ensure that schools are fully equipped to avoid, recognize and treat allergic reactions. Adoption of this bill is the best way to help children make the transition between a safe home environment and school while making profound differences in the comfort level of families with children who suffer from severe food allergies.
In just over a month, we have collected over 1,200 signatures from people all over Massachusetts who would like to see this bill become law. We hope that you or a member of your staff can join a briefing about this bill on October 17, with Dr. Michael Pistiner, Director of the Food Allergy Advocacy, Education and Prevention, Food Allergy Center at MassGeneral Hospital for children, along with founding members of the Food Allergy Science Initiative at the Broad Institute, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America New England Chapter and dozens of family members whose loved ones suffer from food allergies. This bill has the support of the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization, the MA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, New England Allergy Society, Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), Boston Children's Hospital Division of Allergy and Immunology and the MassGeneral Hospital for Children's Food Allergy Center. ... See MoreSee Less
6 months ago ·
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