Dear #FoodAllergy Advocacy Friends,
Please invite your legislators to S. 255 Advocacy Day!
We have the opportunity to hold an advocacy day for S. 255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School, at the State House.
This will give our community the opportunity to let our legislators know that S. 255 is important to all MA Students!
If you can join us, we need you! If you can't, please email your local legislators and invite them to the Advocacy Day!
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: 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,
We are writing to invite you to attend a briefing about S.255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School on Thursday, October 17th at 10:30am in Room 222.
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.
If you or a member of your staff are able to join us on October 17, please let us know by emailing foodallergy@mgh.harvard.edu. If you can't make it in person, we hope you will consider co-sponsoring of S.255, and would be happy to provide your office with more information.Dear #FoodAllergy Advocacy Friends,
Please invite your legislators to S. 255 Advocacy Day, October 17th!
We have the opportunity to hold an advocacy day for S. 255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School, at the State House.
This will give our community the opportunity to let our legislators know that S. 255 is important to all MA Students!
If you can join us, we need you! If you can't, please email your local legislators and invite them to the Advocacy Day!
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: 10:30AM, October 17th - 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,
We are writing to invite you to attend a briefing about S.255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School on Thursday, October 17th at 10:30am in Room 222.
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.
If you or a member of your staff are able to join us on October 17, please let us know by emailing foodallergy@mgh.harvard.edu. If you can't make it in person, we hope you will consider co-sponsoring of S.255, and would be happy to provide your office with more information. ... See MoreSee Less
3 days ago ·
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We need your help to pass #S255, An Act to Establish #FoodAllergy Plans in School!
Please join us at the State House on October 17th. In order to make the strongest possible case, we need your help to tell legislators how critical it is that they pass this bill. We have circulated a petition that shows our strength in numbers and now have over 2,400 signatures. If you haven't yet, please sign and share our petition with your social media networks: chng.it/6w9VFhWF
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: 10:30AM - meet with other advocates and local legislators, hear update on the bill; 11:30AM - meet with YOUR legislator
Our advocacy team will help arrange for you and our local experts to meet with your local legislators in addition to the chairs of the Education Committee. We will have material available for you to leave behind with your legislators.
Please bring as many supporters as you can! We need our legislators to know that we care about this!
Please let us know that you will join us by emailing foodallergy@mgh.harvard.edu with your name, town and zip code.
If you can't make it in person please email your legislators prior to the 17th asking for their support and co-sponsorship of S.255. You can identify your State Representative and Senators here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator ... See MoreSee Less
4 days ago ·
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Please join us for Lobby Day in support of S255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School!
We now have an exclusive opportunity to advocate for this bill in person at the State House on October 17th. In order to make the strongest possible case, we need your help to tell legislators how critical it is that they pass this bill. Our petition already shows our strength in numbers - will you join us on October 17th so we can carry that support to the State House and make the case directly to our local legislators?
Thanks to your support, we now have over 2,000 signatures putting us in a much stronger position to move this bill forward. If you haven't yet, please sign and share our petition with your social media networks: chng.it/6w9VFhWF
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: 10:30AM - meet with other advocates and local legislators, hear update on the bill; 11:30AM - meet with YOUR legislator
Our advocacy team will help arrange for you and our local experts to meet with your local legislators in addition to the chairs of the Education Committee. We will have material available for you to leave behind with your legislators.
Please bring as many supporters as you can! We need our legislators to know that we care about this!
Please let us know that you will join us by emailing foodallergy@mgh.harvard.edu with your name, town and zip code.
If you can't make it in person please email your legislators prior to the 17th asking for their support and co-sponsorship of S.255. You can identify your State Representative and Senators here: malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator ... See MoreSee Less
2 weeks ago ·
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Dear Friends,
Thank you so much for your support of S 255, An Act to Establish Food Allergy Plans in School! We now have over 2,000 signatures to bring to the Joint Committee on Education and to our local legislators for support and co-sponsorship. (If you haven't yet, please sign and share chng.it/6w9VFhWF)
Please join us on October 17th from 10:30-12 in room 222 of the MA State House for a briefing and S 255 advocacy talking points, followed by meetings with your local legislators. Please schedule in person appointments (malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator) after the briefing if possible. We will have material available for you to leave behind with your legislators. If you can't make it in person please email your legislators prior to the 17th asking for their support and co-sponsorship.
Please bring as many supporters as you can! We need our legislators to know that we care about this!
If you can please let us know that you will join us either at foodallergy@mgh.harvard.edu or leaving a comment on the Food Allergy Center at MGH Facebook page. ... See MoreSee Less
2 weeks ago ·
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We are currently enrolling infants in a new research study on early peanut introduction to determine the best approach to peanut introduction. Specifically, we are seeking infants aged 4-11 months who have not yet consumed peanut-containing foods and belong to at least one of the following groups:
-Infants with a sibling or parent with peanut allergy
-Infants who have been diagnosed with another food allergy
-Infants with moderate to severe eczema
Compensation will be provided. The study will span two years with three clinic visits and periodic telephone/smart phone follow-ups. If you’re interested in learning more about enrolling, please contact Mharlove Andre at 617-643-8642 or foodallergy@mgh.harvard.edu. ... See MoreSee Less
4 weeks ago ·
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