Haverhill Public Schools has adopted a student medication policy in accordance with Massachusetts General Law regarding medication administration in schools. These policies have been designed for the safety of all students attending the Haverhill Public Schools.
Daily or As Needed Prescribed Medications
Any child requiring medications during the school day, either scheduled, or as needed must have appropriate orders and permissions.
If your child needs to take prescription medication during the school day, please do the following:
- For any prescription medication (daily or as needed) to be given during the school day, the parent/guardian must complete the Parent/Guardian Permission to Administer Medication Form:
- HPS Parent Guardian Consent for Medication Administration
- HPS Parent Guardian Consent for Medication Administration-Spanish
or contact your child’s school nurse for a copy.
- Have your child’s doctor complete the Medication Administration Form. This form must be signed by the doctor and the parent/guardian.
- Deliver the medication to the school nurse. Parents/guardians must bring the medication to the school nurse. Do not send in medication with your child.
- Medication must be supplied in the original container and labeled with the pharmacy label.
- Medication in current pharmacy labelled container must match description on pharmacy label.
- Medications must be delivered by an adult. do not send medications with yoruru child to deliver to the nurse!
- We cannot accept “loose” medication in baggies.
- If the medication is also taken at home, ask the pharmacy to dispense with medication in two separate containers, one for home and one for school.
- Only 30 days worth of medication (20 school days per month!)can be accepted at a time.
- Parents/guardians must pick up all unused, discontinued, or outdated medications at the end of each school year. Uncollected medications will be destroyed by the school nurse according to Massachusetts regulation.
- Whenever it is possible t0 maintain the medication administration at home, it is recommended. This reduces lost time on learning, and increases consistency when child is not at school. some examples are: Medications prescribed once per day (extended release), or twice per day (in the AM before school, and in the evening), or even three times per day (in the AM, after school, before bedtime).
Students may not self-administer medication in school unless they have been approved to do so by the School Nurse. Contact your child’s School Nurse for further information.
School Standing Orders
Health offices are equipped with a limited number of As Needed medications prescribed by our school physician. Use of these medications is at the discretion of the school nurse, based on assessment. These medications include: Epinephrine Auto-injector, Nasal Narcan, Ibuprofen (Motrin), Acetaminophen (Tylenol), Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), Calcium Carbonate (TUMS – age 12 and up), Burn Gel or Aloe Vera Gel, Bacitracin Ointment, Calamine-based/Anti-itch Lotion/Gel, 1% Hydrocortisone Ointment, Oragel, and Hand Sanitizer 60-70% Ethanol Alcohol
Please complete the Annual Health Update to renew your permission for these medications to be administered at school.
Self Administration of Medication In schools
Students may be approved by the school nurse to self-administer medication (without visiting the school nurse) during the school day. A number of requirements must be met in order to allow students to self-administer, including, but not limited to:
- Written agreement between the nurse and parent/guardian
- Student demonstrates to the nurse that they are capable of self-administering medication according to school and medication administration policies
- Self-administration is safe and appropriate for the student’s health condition.
If you have any questions, contact your child’s School Nurse.