Friday Beat
October 13, 2017 Edition
The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child(WSCC) approach.
Announcements
DSHS-School Nurse Notes
Last week the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released a new issue of DSHS-School Nurse Notes (DSHS-SNN). The October 2017 issue, Delegation of Nursing Care, is posted on the Texas School Nurse Practice webpage. There is a DSHS-School Nurse Notes box to click on at the top of the page. If you have any suggestions/questions, please use the Email School Nurse Consultantlink at the bottom of the webpage. The Texas Board of Nursing is now collaborating with the DSHS School Health Program by contributing content to the DSHS-SNN. The next issue will be published in on the topic of Supervision.
Professional Development
Healthier Texas Summit—November 6-7, 2017
This inaugural Summit will be held in Austin as the kick-off event of Healthier Texas, a new public-private initiative designed to rapidly reduce the burden of preventable chronic disease in Texas. Online registration is open through October 29.
Funding Opportunities
Farm to School Grant Request for Applications (RFA)
Thefiscal year 2018 Farm to School GrantRFA opened last week, and there is an overview webinar on October 16 at 2:00-3:00 p.m. CDT. The purpose of thisgrant program is to assist eligible entities in implementing farm to school programs that improve access to local foods in eligible schools.Visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website for more information. Applications are due by December 8, 2017.
Health Education
Eating to Protect Your Teeth
October isNational Dental Hygiene Month. Here are some tips from a registered dietician regarding foods high in acidity that can strip the enamel from your teeth versus foods that have protective ingredients. Drinking water frequently and milk with meals helps to maintain a healthy oral environment.
Physical Education Physical Activity
Concussions More Common Among Female High School Athletes
A study published earlier this year compared the concussion rates between girls and boys playing sports at the high school level from 2011 to 2015. Students from 26 states and representing 27 sports were included. More research is needed, but possible reasons for the gender disparity include boys being less likely to report concussive symptoms and girls being more likely to have problematic contact with equipment (e.g., soccer balls).
Nutrition Environment & Services
National School Lunch Week—October 9-13, 2017
The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) highlights the many benefits of the National School Lunch Program providing a nutritious lunch tomore than 30 million students on an average school day. FRAC also providestwo-page fact sheets on the National School Lunch Program and the Community Eligibility Provision.
Food Allergies Webinar—October 18, 2017
From 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. CDT, the School Nutrition Association (SNA) will host Askthe Expert. Dr. J.J. Levenstein and registered nurse Jessica Gerdes will discuss the common questions they hear about food allergy management, as well as answer many of those submitted through the SNA’sFood Allergy Resource Center.One continuing education unit is awarded for successful completion of the webinar/quiz.
Health Services
Youth Safety Net Project (YSNP)
The YSNP is an initiative of the School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA). With support from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, the SBHA is linking safety net providers with the skills and training to boost population-level health outcomes for school-aged youth. Check out their Youth Engagement Toolkit.
Social Emotional Climate
Youth Empowerment Webinar—October 18, 2017
At 12:00-1:00 p.m. CDT, Community Matters will presentEngaging Students as Contributors to Improve School Climate and Reduce Disciplinary Incidents. The webinar will explore the benefits of andbest practices for increasing student voice through a variety of initiatives.
Employee Wellness
Teachers, Take 5!
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools, with the support of dozens of partner organizations, are empowering teachers to take just five minutes a days to focus on their own health. You can visit the Teachers Take 5 website to access healthy five-minute activities, as well as a survey that may be used at your next staff meeting to identify activities for teachers to do together.
Archived Webinar: Understanding Educator Resilience & Developing a Self- Care Plan
On September 18, 2017, the U.S. Department of Education co-hosted this webinar with the Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools Technical Assistance Center (REMS TA Center). The purpose of theone-hour webinar is to provide staff in the educational community with a better understanding of resilience strategies that can be used to increase their ability to work more effectively with students impacted by stress, loss, and trauma.The presentation and handouts may be downloaded.
Family Engagement
Discussing Alcohol Responsibility at Home
Ask, Listen, Learn is a program of the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility that is geared towards youth aged 9-12 and their parents and educators. This past summer the program developed new web materials for parents to encourage conversations about underage drinking and alcohol responsibility at home. The program also released new Spanish-language content. Educators may want to share these resources with parents, while introducing lessons to students.
Community Involvement
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offersDating Matters®, a free, online course for educators, school personnel, youth mentors, and others dedicated to improving teen health. The initiative focuses on youth aged 11-14 in high-risk, urban communities and includes preventative strategies for families, schools, and neighborhoods. See the CDC’s compilation of resources for other evidence-based curricula.
Quote to Note
“We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
—T.S. Eliot,poet, literary critic, and publisher
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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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