For additional resources on these topics and others related to school health
education and services, visit the School Health Program website at
www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child
The education, public health, and school health sectors have each called for greater alignment, integration, and collaboration between education and health to improve each child’s cognitive, physical, social, and emotional development. Public health and education serve the same children, often in the same settings. The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) focuses on the child to align the common goals of both sectors.
The WSCC model expands on the eight elements of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) coordinated school health approach and is combined with the whole child framework. CDC and ASCD developed this expanded model—in collaboration with key leaders from the fields of health, public health, education, and school health—to strengthen a unified and collaborative approach designed to improve learning and health in our nation’s schools.
Postings and Notifications:
Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest for K through 8th Grade – Deadline: April 8, 2016
The Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Branch will be conducting a statewide “Rabies Awareness & Prevention Poster Contest” for K through 8th grade. Students that participate in the contest will learn about the importance of rabies vaccinations, respecting wildlife from a distance, and notifying adults if they think they may have been exposed to an animal with rabies. Prizes will be provided for winners in each age group (Kinder, and grades 1-2, 3-5 & 6-8), by the Zach Jones Memorial Fund. This would be a perfect activity for schools participating in C-Scope as an informational text or procedural text assignment or as an extra credit project for an art or science class. Information about the contest can be downloaded from the DSHS Zoonosis Control website at http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/idcu/health/zoonosis/.
Community Involvement:
Study: Poverty Harms Brain Development in Children
Between 2009 and 2010, 1 million more children in America joined the ranks of those living in poverty, bringing the total to an estimated 15.7 million poor children. Poverty can impede a child's ability to learn and contribute to social, emotional and behavioral problems, as well as poor health and mental health. In fact, new research shows poverty appears to affect the brain development of children, hampering the growth of gray matter and impairing their academic performance. Read more at http://exclusive.multibriefs.com/content/study-poverty-harms-brain-development-in-children/medical-allied-healthcare.
Social and Emotional Climate:
R-E-S-P-E-C-T
"If you treat your students as people, people who have something of value to contribute, you are more likely to have a classroom where people work as a team to achieve a common goal," writes teacher and ASCD EDge community member Barbara Persoon. In a recent ASCD EDge blog post, Persoon explains the importance of a mutual respect in the classroom and shares how you can create a positive environment in your classroom. Read about it at http://edge.ascd.org/blogpost/r-e-s-p-e-c-t.
Cyberbullying on Rise, Particularly For Teen Girls, Study Says
A study of more than 16,000 Boston-area high school students suggests cyberbullying is on the rise, most sharply with girls as victims and abetted by the prevalence of smartphones among teenagers. The percentage of the students who said they experienced cyberbullying jumped from 14.6 percent to 21.2 percent over a six-year period ending in 2012, according to the study by the nonprofit Education Development Center. The study used self-reported health survey data from 17 unidentified schools west of Boston. Read the news story at https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/08/02/study-boston-area-teens-suggests-cyberbullying-rise/R4fQNCY13o4mrpe41dwagI/story.html.
Obese Kids a Universal Target for Bullies
"Being fat" is seen as the most common reason why children are bullied, a new study reveals. Researchers who surveyed more than 2,800 adults in the United States, Canada, Iceland and Australia said at least 70 percent of respondents believed that weight was a common reason for bullying. A similar number regarded weight-related bullying as a serious or very serious problem. Weight-related bullying was considered to be more common than bullying for reasons such as race/ethnicity, sexual orientation or religion. Read the story at http://healthfinder.gov/News/Article/701725/obese-kids-a-universal-target-for-bullies.
UCLA Mental Health in Schools
The August 10th edition is now on line. It focuses on social-emotional health and positive school climate. Access the newsletter at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/mhpractitioner/practitioner.pdf.
Indiana District to Adopt Best Buddies Program
Middle- and high-school students in an Indiana district this fall will participate in the Best Buddies program. The international program pairs students with disabilities and those without disabilities to encourage friendships and help students with special needs to develop social skills. Read about it at http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/best-buddies-program-heads-to-griffith-school/article_6998c659-b931-54d0-be7a-3816932b289c.html.
America's New Norm: Teen Dating Violence (TVD)
Every day in America, nearly one in two teenagers, or about half of all youth who are in a relationship feel they are "being threatened, pressured and/or controlled to do things they do not want to do." Approximately 72 percent of eighth and ninth graders are "dating" and more than half of all high school students report seeing TDV among their peers. Youth in high school (grades nine through twelve), found that of those they knew that had been in a relationship over the course of one year, 1 in 10 had encountered TDV. Read the news article at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tania-bradkin/teenage-dating-violence-a_b_7798926.html.
Physical Education and Activity:
Analysis: Exercise Has Cardiovascular Benefits in Overweight Children
When obese kids get moving, their cardiovascular health quickly improves even if they don't lose weight, a new review finds. Australian researchers looked at six studies on the effects of exercise for obese children and teenagers. On average, the studies found no impact on kids' weight in the short term -- six to 12 weeks. There was, however, a clear benefit seen when it came to kids' fitness levels and blood vessel function. Read more at http://consumer.healthday.com/fitness-information-14/dancing-health-news-246/exercise-boosts-obese-kids-heart-health-702143.html.
Study Connects Exercise, Math Ability
Students who are physically fit may do better in math, according to a study by the University of Illinois. Researchers found that aerobic exercise thinned the gray matter of 9- to 10-year-old children, which may help to develop the areas of the brain responsible for math achievement. Read more at http://www.ibtimes.com/university-illinois-researchers-link-physical-fitness-better-mathematical-skills-2053521.
Health Education:
Liquid Nicotine from E-Cigs Poses Poison Danger to Kids
Nicotine poisoning is a growing concern for American children, but proposed U.S. federal government regulations alone aren't enough to solve the problem, an expert says. The increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes has led to a number of cases of nicotine poisoning in recent years, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration hopes to require warning labels and child-resistant packaging on liquid nicotine products, such as those used in e-cigarettes. Even a small amount of liquid nicotine can be lethal, Jonathan Foulds, a professor of public health sciences at Penn State College of Medicine, said in a university news release. Read more at http://healthfinder.gov/News/Article/701676/liquid-nicotine-from-e-cigs-poses-poison-danger-to-kids.
Nutrition Environment and Services:
Study: School Lunches Now Healthier at Racially Diverse Schools
First lady Michelle Obama's prized healthy school lunch standards have given students at smaller and racially diverse schools access to healthier lunches, a new study from a health and health care advocacy group found. The study, commissioned by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, found that during the 2010-2011 school year, the odds of having both fruits and vegetables, as well as whole grains, available everyday was 2.4 and 2.3 times higher, respectively, for students in predominantly white middle schools than for students in more diverse schools. Read more at http://thehill.com/regulation/249277-school-lunches-now-healthier-at-racially-diverse-schools-study-says.
Study: Free Veggies, Fruit at School Helps Curb Childhood Obesity
A program that provides free vegetables and fruit to students at school was effective in helping to curb childhood obesity, said researchers at the University of Arkansas. The study in the journal Applied Economics Perspective and Policy revealed it also was a cost-effective solution. Read about it at http://www.takepart.com/article/2015/08/11/free-fruit-vegetables-obesity.
"Let's Move" Director Has Long History of Supporting Child Nutrition
The new director of first lady Michelle Obama's anti-obesity initiative is a lifelong child nutrition advocate. In her new role, Debra "Deb" Eschmeyer will advocate for federal nutrition standards for schools and transition the "Let's Move" initiative into its post-presidency phase. Read more at http://bigstory.ap.org/article/a87d95c2008645ca9fb82d8f7cbb1941/first-ladys-healthy-kids-director-aims-get-things-done.
Health Services:
Study Finds State Policies Influence Vaccination, Disease Outbreak Rates
Lax state vaccination laws contribute to lower immunization rates and increased outbreaks of preventable diseases — like whooping cough and measles — according to a new study from the University of Georgia. Vaccination exemption rates have increased drastically in the past 10 years, according to the study, due largely to religious and philosophical reasons, which fall under the nonmedical exemption category. All but three states allow exemptions based on religious reasons. Only 17 allow philosophical exemptions. And 39 states use a standardized exemption form. Read more at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/297824.php.
CDC: Percentage of Children with ADHD Increases in the U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the percentage of U.S. children, ages 4 to 17, diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder from nearly 8 percent in 2003 to 11 percent in 2011. The FDA issued a statement encouraging parents to consult their family physician or pediatrician if they think their child has ADHD, as undiagnosed ADHD is tied to school and relationship problems, risky behavior and more emergency department visits. Read more at http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/more-american-children-are-being-diagnosed-with-adhd-702140.html.
Teens' Unmet Health Care Needs Tied to Poor Health in Adulthood
Adolescents who had unmet health care needs were more likely to have overall poor health, depression symptoms, suicidal thoughts and difficulty with daily activities later in life, compared with those whose needs were addressed, according to a study in Pediatrics. The findings, based on data from 14,800 U.S. teens, showed 19% of them reported having a health care need that was not addressed. Read more at http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/adolescents-and-teen-health-news-719/neglecting-teens-health-care-leads-to-bigger-problems-as-adults-702336.html.
Counseling, Psychological and Social Services:
Most High-School Students Don’t Get Enough Sleep on School Nights, CDC Says
Eighty-three percent of schools in the U.S. start before 8:30 in the morning, which contributes to two-thirds of high-school students not getting the recommended 8.5 to 9.5 hours of sleep every night, according to a report from the CDC. Failure to get enough sleep can put teens at higher risk of alcohol, tobacco or illegal drug use, and of being overweight or depressed. Sleep deprivation also can lead to type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Read more at http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/08/06/teen-sleep-school-start/31212457/.
How Social Media Can Support Young Users with Emotional Distress
Social media can be a powerful tool for helping adolescents cope with anxiety and depression, writes Melinda Ring, the medical director of the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine. As an example, she cites her teenage son, who used Instagram to build a support network of more than 6,000 followers. Read about it at http://edition.cnn.com/2015/08/05/health/teen-depression-social-media/.
New Study: Picky Eating May Suggest ADHD, Depression or Anxiety
A new study published in Pediatrics has found an association between eating habits and neurological conditions. The researchers, who interviewed parents of 917 children ranging in age from two to six over the course of three years, found a connection between moderate selective eating — indicative of those choosy eaters mentioned — and symptoms of conditions including anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Children who exhibited severe selective eating — such strict food preferences they have trouble eating away from home — were found to be seven times more likely to be diagnosed with social anxiety, and twice as likely to become depressed. Read more at http://www.additudemag.com/adhdblogs/19/11484.html.
More Social Media Use Linked to Mental Health Concerns in Teens
Teens who frequently use social media are more likely to say they struggle with mental health concerns that are not being addressed, according to research published in Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking. Hugues Sampasa-Kanyinga, M.D., and Rosamund Lewis, M.D., from the department of epidemiology at Ottawa Public Health,found that just over a quarter of the studies participants said they accessed social networking sites for more than two hours every day, while about a fifth said they never did or did so rarely. More than half (54 percent) said they surfed such sites, but for two hours or less daily. Read more at http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/pb/57140.
Schools Face the Teen Cutting Problem
Schools around the country have begun offering new classes and mental-health programs to help stem a sharp rise in the number of adolescents found to be engaging in self injury, especially cutting. Read the article at http://www.wsj.com/articles/schools-face-the-teen-cutting-problem-1438018567.
Young People with Mood Disorders Have Increased Risk of Developing Early Cardiovascular Disease
Published in the journal Circulation, the paper said more doctors should begin actively monitoring and intervening on that risk. While the links between depression and adult cardiovascular disease are well known, the statement called on more awareness and action in catching the risks among youth with mood disorders. Read more at http://blog.heart.org/young-people-with-mood-disorders-have-increased-risk-of-developing-early-cardiovascular-disease/.
Family Engagement:
From the Outside in: Rethinking Parent Engagement
"If we expect our impact on students to last beyond our six hours with them, we must come to the realization that we simply can't do our jobs without parents and families," writes ASCD Emerging Leader Laurie Namey. In a recent Inservice post, Namey explains why she has found an outside-in approach, one that is driven by the communities she serves, effective. Read more at http://inservice.ascd.org/from-the-outside-in-rethinking-parent-engagement/.
Comprehensive Policies, Reports, Research and Resources:
School Weight Screenings for Teens Don't Curb Obesity
Weight screenings conducted in high school are apparently not enough to get overweight and obese kids get down to a healthier weight, according to a study. In 2003, Kids who were screened in early high school and again in their junior and senior years did not seem to benefit compared to kids who were exempt from screening, the study found. There does not appear to be any evidence that the screenings are effective at reducing the rate of obesity. Read more at http://www.youthhealthmag.com/articles/20279/20150730/obesity-teen-obesity-weight-screening-programs.htm.
Standing Desks at Schools: The Solution to the Childhood Obesity Epidemic?