1. Referral procedures in case of school absence after reporting sick
The Dutch MASS intervention (acronym of Medical Advice for Sick-reported Students)
Referral procedures in case of school absence after reporting sick
Yvonne Vanneste

2. Take home messages
Sickness absence (school absence after sickness reporting) among students is caused
not only by illness, but
by a wide variety of problems and factors, the most of which can be influenced
MASS
halves the absence level of students with extensive sickness absence and
prevents students from reporting sick
and thus is an essential part of tackling early leaving education and training (ELET) 2

3. Structure of this presentation
Reasons to develop the MASS intervention
Underlying problems of sickness absence
Factors influencing the sickness reporting
Description of MASS
Success factors
Challenges
The future of MASS
Transferability of MASS across the countries 3

4. 1. Reasons to develop the MASS intervention
School absenteeism is a main risk factor for ELET
The Dutch Drive to Reduce Dropout Rates focused, among other things, on tackling unauthorized / unexcused school absenteeism, also called truancy
However, school absenteeism after reporting sick received little attention:
Authorized / excused absence – no agency
The assumption that it requires only standard medical treatment 4

5. The growing recognition, acknowledgment and problem of students’ absences from school, especially those absences resulting from sick reports
Schools encountered problems in approaching these students and in managing their absences 5

6. 2. Underlying problems of sickness absence6

7. 7

8. 3. Factors influencing the sickness reporting8

9. Absence as necessity, as asking for understanding or as pardonable
The degree of medical legitimacy
The degree to which they feel able to take their own responsibility
The degree to which they feel themselves to be taken seriously at school
The degree to which the sickness reporting procedure at school is perceived as anonymous and easy
Schematic representation of the relationship between the way students perceive their sickness absence and the background experiences involved. 9

10. 4. Description of MASS
early identification of students with high absence level, followed by
a methodological approach and cooperation, involving a strong focus of school actors on the student and cooperation with parents,
tailored responses to individual needs
making and monitoring a management plan 10

12. Evaluation Monitoring the management plan, by evaluating regularly
School:
The absence rate
The school and education related agreements
YHCP:
The cure and care related agreements 12

13. Core elements of MASS Personalizing the sickness reporting procedures
Demonstrating interest rather than control while discussing the sickness absence
Using (objective) MASS-criteria for intervening with the absence
School first discussing the context of the sickness absence with students and their parents before referring to the YHCP
The involvement of a YHCP 13

14. 5. Effectiveness 14

15. 15

16. The mind-set of the teachers toward sickness absence
5. Succes factors
The mind-set of the teachers toward sickness absence
A clear division of tasks and roles between all involved and a shared responsibility
Autonomy in implementing MASS
Simplicity of the approach 16

17. 6. Challenges
MASS requires a partnership between the healthcare system and the education system
Discussing the sickness absence with students and their parents by school personnel 18

18. 7. The future of MASS Implement MASS at national level
Financial needs - the inclusion of MASS in the basic tasks of the YHC and schools
A national institute to disseminate and to ensure quality (working according to the core elements) by education and monitoring
Cooperation with the health and safety organisation (ARBO UNIE) of the Netherlands 19

20. 8. Transferability of MASS across the countries
What legislations or policies are already present in a country, region, or school concerning school absenteeism?
And what is needed to supplement this with an approach to sickness absence? 20