Friday Beat
September 8, 2017 Edition
The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach.
Announcements
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizes September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month (NCOAM). With one in three children being overweight in the United States, more children are at risk for type two diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. By coming together, communities, health professionals, and families can create opportunities for kids to eat healthy and get active. Check out some ideas to combat obesity from the HHS website.
Texas Obesity Awareness Week—September 11-15, 2017
Texas Obesity Awareness Week (TOAW), established in the 80th Legislative Session is meant to raise awareness of the health risks associated with obesity and to encourage Texans to achieve a healthy lifestyle. TOAW consists of many statewide events and is highlighted by the Texas Health Champion Award Ceremony. Learn more on the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living website.
Dealing with Disasters
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers a Frequently Asked Questions page for Dealing with Disasters. Topics covered include homelessness status,student enrollment, Title I services and other pertinent information. Please review the webpage to learn more.
Professional Development
Southern Obesity Summit—October 1-3, 2017
The Southern Obesity Summit will take place in Atlanta, GA at the Marriot Marquis Hotel. The goal of the summit is to help strategize next steps to implement policy and program initiatives to support obesity prevention. Breakout sessions will discuss obesity prevention settings, including schools. Group blocks may be reserved for a discounted rate, until September 8. Registration is now open for the summit.
Health Education
SHAPE America Guidance Document
The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) has released a new Guidance Document. Developed by Shape America and a task force of health educators the document describes best practices for learning environments, curriculums, student engagement, creating a positive school health culture and much more. Download your free copy of the guide off the SHAPE America website.
Physical Education Physical Activity
I Can Do It, You Can Do It!
I Can Do It, You Can Do It (ICDI) partners with K-12 schools districts, colleges, universities, and community based organizations to provide opportunities for children and adults with disability to be healthy and active. The program encourages participants to set goals, be active, eat healthy, and works towards the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+).
Walk and Bike Back to School
Walking or biking to school are excellent opportunities for physical activity and developing the child-parent relationship. The Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership offers resources to begin programs in the community and tips for how to stay safe on school commutes. UseStep by Step: How to Start a Walking School Bus at Your School and Wolf Whistles and Creepy Compliments to start walking today.
Nutrition Environment & Services
Breakfast Blueprint
The Food Research and Action Center released a report titled Breakfast Blueprint in July, 2017. The report includes a comprehensive guide for planning, implementing, and evaluating breakfast after the bell programs. Check out their website to access additional tools and learn more about after the bell breakfast programs.
Health Services
Epinephrine Auto-Injector Poster
The Allergy and Asthma network has developed an Auto-Injectors Comparison Chart. The chart compares pediatric and adult auto-injectors available from four different brands. Download the chart for your health services area.
Counseling, Psychological, & Social Services
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the Classroom
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder can affect a child’s ability to learn. Teachers may struggle to recognize symptoms of OCD, which is often mistaken as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Read the Child Mind Institute’s article to learn which behaviors are associated with OCD and how to address them in school.
Teacher Guidelines for Discussing Hurricanes
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) has developed a pamphlet titled Teacher Guidelines for Helping Student after a Hurricane.The pamphlet describes ways for teachers to provide emotional support to students who have experienced trauma from a hurricane. To learn more about common reactions from students and ways to promote emotional wellness at school, review the pamphlet.
Social Emotional Climate
Summary of School Safety Statistics – The State of School Safety
The National Institute of Justice recently released a report titled Summary of School Safety Statistics. The report discusses school crime, violence, trauma, shootings, and social media. Learn more about school safety, by reading the report.
Physical Environment
Effective School Indoor Air Quality Management
The United States Environmental Protection Agency encourages efforts to create healthy school environments through school policy and other strategies. Their tool, The Framework for Effective School IAQ Management: Key Drivers describes programming ideas to create sustainable indoor air quality management programs. To advance environmental health and air quality in schools, Review the framework.
Family Engagement
Eating with the TV Off
A recent study suggests that eating dinner with the TV on, even as background noise, may contribute to kids’ poor eating habits and obesity. Families who watched TV while dining tended to eat less healthfully, and rated their meals as less enjoyable. Family dinners are an important opportunity for parents to check in with children and discuss a healthful diet. Review the study’s results in the article.
MyPlate, MyWins for Families
MyPlate, My Wins is aimed at developing a heathy eating style for every family. Launched by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) the campaign offers ideas for activities to do with kids, how to make family mealtimes more enjoyable, and much more. Check out their website to explore the resources.
Community Involvement
Teen Driving Safety: 2017 Resource Guide
The Children’s Safety Network recently released their Teen Driving Safety 2017 Resource Guide. Teenagers (ages 15-20) both cause and suffer from more motor vehicle accidents then their adult counterparts. To learn which factors contribute to crashes and find ways to address motor vehicle accidents in your community, review the resource guide.
Quote to Note
“By all these lovely tokens September days are here, With summer’s best of weather And autumn’s best of cheer.”
—Helen Hunt Jackson; American poet, novelist, and activist.
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The articles and hyperlinks to external websites appearing in Friday Beat are intended to be informational and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Other websites may not be accessible to people with disabilities. External email addresses may also be provided as a courtesy. If you choose to correspond, please be advised that DSHS policies may not apply. For information about any of the programs listed, contact the sponsoring organization directly. For comments or questions about Friday Beat, email the School Health Program at or call (512) 776-7279.
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