For Additional Resources on These Topics and Others Related to School Health s5
For additional resources on these topics and others related to school health
education and services, visit the School Health Program Web site at
www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth
Quote to Note:
“If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
Abraham Maslow, American psychologist
Notices and Postings:
School Health Advisory Council Awards: Deadline – April 15, 2010
The Texas Education Agency’s (TEA) School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) grants are now available. Approximately $72,000 is available to fund SHAC grantees. A maximum of sixteen $4,500 grants will be awarded. Awards are paid for with funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthier Outcomes for Youth cooperative funding through the TEA. Education Service Center, Region XIII is the administrator of the grant. Applications must be submitted electronically as a PDF file to act School Health Specialist Cheryl Myersat 512-919-5462 for an application.
Fitness Assessment Data Submission Requirement: Deadline – May 14, 2010
The system for collecting fitness assessment data for all students in grades 3-12 is now open. Each school district is required, per the Texas Education Code Chapter 38.101-104, to submit their 2009-2010 fitness assessment data to the Texas Education Agency by 5:00 pm on Friday, May 14, 2010. A letter detailing the requirements for submission was sent to administrators on March 26. Access the letter at http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/taa/fitness03262010.html. Questions can be sent to or by phone at (512) 463-3070.
Available Funding for New Teen Pregnancy Initiative: Deadline – June 1, 2010
On April 2, the Office of Adolescent Health released guidelines for applying for their new teen pregnancy prevention initiative. The funding announcement provides guidance about the $75 million available for competitive grants to replicate evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention programs, including a list of curricula eligible for this funding. The announcement may be viewed here via the following link: www.hhs.gov/ophs/oah/prevention/grants/announcements/funding_announcement_04012010.pdf.
Conferences, Trainings and Professional Development:
Evidence-Based Approaches and Programs: What You Need to Know to Compete for the Dough in Reproductive Health Funding! Webinars
Healthy Teen Network presents a series of three free webinars of knowledge, skills, and resources to compete for teen reproductive health prevention funding.
Webinar #1: Wednesday, April 14, 2010, 2-4 p.m. EST
Your Recipe for Success! : Using Evidence-Based Approaches in Teen Pregnancy, STI, and HIV Prevention
Register at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/283632297
Webinar #2: Wednesday, April 21, 2010, 2-4 p.m. EST
The Ingredients for Success! : Using an Evidence-Based or Innovative Program in Teen Pregnancy, STI, and HIV Prevention
Register at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/967108128
Webinar #3: Wednesday, April 28, 2010, 2-4 p.m. EST
Tailoring the Recipe for Greater Success! : Making Informed Adaptations to Evidence-Based Programs in Teen Pregnancy, STI, and HIV Prevention
Register at www1.gotomeeting.com/register/303049928
How State Wellness Policies Can Support School Physical Activity Webinar – April 15, 2010, 3-4:30 p.m. EST
This webinar by the National Association of State Boards of Education, will focus on Hawaii’s and Tennessee’s physical activity/physical education policies by using the “through-line” analytical method, an educational leadership model that states, school districts and schools can use to align policies, practices and actions related to school wellness. The program will feature the key leadership and learning factors necessary for successful policy implementation from the state policy level down to implementation at the district and school levels. To register, go to https://sites.google.com/a/nasbe.org/nasbe-webinar.
Teen Tobacco Summit and Comprehensive Tobacco Prevention Conference – July 25-28, 2010
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) and the Texas Department of State Health Services sponsor the conference to be held at The Woodlands Resort and Conference Center in The Woodlands, TX. Targeted to law enforcement officers, educators, health professionals, tobacco awareness instructors, substance abuse professionals, counselors, parents, community leaders, volunteers, youth leaders and youth between the ages of 12-17, the conference is focused on protecting Texas youth from the dangers of tobacco use and helping those who smoke to quit. In addition to traditional adult sessions, this conference offers learning and leadership opportunities for youth groups. To register, please contact the TxSSC at 877-304-2727 or go to www.txtobaccoconference.com.
Counseling and Mental Health Services:
study on sexual behavior and attitudes of girls in grades 6-9
Girl Inc. has released a report on the sexual behavior and attitudes of girls grades 6-9. The Girls Shape the Future study was conducted in collaboration with Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. from 2001–2006 and examines risk and protective factors for early sexual activity. For an online overview of the report or to download the summary or full report, go to www.girlsinc.org/resources/girls-shape-the-future.html.
Schools as Entry Points for Children's Mental Health Services
The April issue of Grantmakers in Health brief presents the magnitude of this issue, benefits and challenges of providing school based services, and the importance of multisector collaborations that go beyond education to include health care providers, nonprofit and community-based organizations, foundations and others. To access the brief, go to www.gih.org/topics3985/topics_list.htm?attrib_id=8494.
Youth subcultures: Understanding subgroups to better address barriers to learning and improve schools
This series of brief information resources, published by the Center for School Mental Health Policies, examines the multifaceted and complex phenomena of youth culture and youth subgroups with a view to better understanding implications for public health and education policy makers, practitioners and researchers. The series includes publications about youth gangs, Goths and Hip Hops. To access the brief, go to http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/qf/youthculture.htm.
New Teen Suicide Prevention Campaign Launched
A new multimedia teen suicide prevention campaign was launched by the federal government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration on April 1, 2010. This prevention campaign hopes to raise awareness in teens that are contemplating suicide that there are resources they can turn to and other teens that have contemplated suicide and made it through. We Can Help Us encourages young people to visit the web site connected with the campaign, Reachout.com that highlights success stories and teen coping strategies. Each page on reachout.com includes the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for teens that need immediate support. To view the Web site, go to http://us.reachout.com and http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/43256 to read about the campaign.
Nutrition Services and Education:
Senate committee advances school nutrition bill
The Senate Agriculture Committee unanimously approved a bill that would add $4.5 billion over 10 years to child-nutrition programs and give the Department of Agriculture authority to formulate new standards for food served in schools. The legislation "puts us on the path to ending childhood hunger and addressing the epidemic of childhood obesity," said Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., chairwoman of the committee. Read about it at www.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-03-24-school-lunch-safety_N.htm.
Reality show joins campaign to improve student nutrition
A reality-television show is the latest installment in the effort to better the health of U.S. children by improving school lunches. Students at a West Virginia school featured in "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" -- which aired last week on ABC -- disliked many of the healthy choices that replaced their regular school meals, but many said they had learned to try new foods, a survey showed. Read about it at www.nytimes.com/2010/03/31/dining/31lunch.html.
FoodPlay breaks the rules to teach students good eating
The Emmy Award-winning national tour group FoodPlay breaks all the school cafeteria rules when teaching elementary students about healthy eating. The program, the idea of nutritionist Barbara Storper, includes acrobatic characters that dance, sing, and throw and juggle food. Read about it at www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100405/NEWS/4050309/1018/OPINION.
Health Education:
Promoting Healthy Teens Brochure
This Healthy Teens Network brochure focuses on the advantages of integrating HIV, STI and pregnancy prevention education and services, tips for integrating a program or services and HIV/pregnancy prevention resources. To access the brochure, go to http://healthyteennetwork.org.
Replicating Effective Programs webinar archive
On February 22, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy staff conducted a webinar/conference call to provide general information on evidence-based programs, tips on how to successfully replicate programs in the community, and resources to help consider whether to apply for the funding. This was the second in a series of calls and webinars designed to help groups and individuals prepare for the new federal funding for programs to prevent teen pregnancy. The recording of this webinar, accompanying PowerPoint presentation, and other resources from this webinar are available for download at www.thenationalcampaign.org/federalfunding/default.aspx.
National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy – May 5, 2010
The purpose of the National Day sponsored by The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and other serious consequences of sex. The National day web site at www.thenationalcampaign.org/national/default.aspx offers promotional and other resources to support local and state activities.
Don’t Fry Day – May 28, 2010
In an effort to raise awareness about a health issue that is largely preventable and too often ignored – skin
cancer, the Environmental Protection Agency encourages the promotion of sun safety. To learn more about Don’t Fry Day, visit the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention’s Don’t Fry Day resource page at
www.skincancerprevention.org for background information, skin cancer statistics and facts, and public service announcements. Take the Don’t Fry Day Pledge at www.epa.gov/sunwise/dfdpledge.html to receive a Don’t Fry Day poster and a set of sun safety stickers.
FDA Publishes New Rule on Tobacco and Children
The Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools reports on a rule published March 19, 2010 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)aimedat protecting kids from tobacco addiction and premature death from tobacco use. To read about the new rule, go to http://healthinschools.org/en/News-Room/News-Alerts/March-2010/New-FDA-Rule-Protects-Kids-from-Tobacco.aspx.
Healthy and Safe School Environment:
June is National Safety Month
This year's National Safety Month theme is "A million acts of safety". The campaign, conducted by the National Safety Council (NSC), encourages businesses and individuals to take advantage of the NSC safety education materials, and reduce the risk of unintentional injury and death in everyday life. Each week of National Safety Month has a specific focus: Week 1 - prescription drug overdose prevention; Week 2 - teen driving safety; Week 3 - preventing overexertion at work and at home; Week 4 - dangers of cell phone use while driving; and Week 5 - summer safety. For more information, go to www.nsc.org/nsc_events/Nat_Safe_Month/Pages/home.aspx.
Reducing Youth Alcohol Abuse Funding: Deadline – April 16, 2010
The Reducing Youth Alcohol Abuse program from the U.S. Department of Education provides funding to develop and implement innovative and effective programs to reduce alcohol abuse in secondary schools. To access criteria, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-4317.pdf.
Should school officials be held responsible for bullying?
A Massachusetts case of bullying that occurred during and after school and resulted in the suicide of a 15-year-old girl has prompted questions regarding teacher and administrator accountability. Although more than 40 states have anti-bullying laws, few districts provide training on how to handle bullies and their victims. Read the article at http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/100330/world/us_school_bullying.
What’s Working Around the Nation:
The brain also gets exercise in school's gym class
A Brain Gym Lab in a Florida elementary school aims to get students in kindergarten through second-grade learning while they exercise. Students rotate among activities that teach skills such as cooperation and balancing but also emphasize reading the alphabet, recognizing numbers and learning poems. Read more at www.floridatoday.com/article/20100324/NEWS0305/3240302/Total+child+gets+exercise+at+brain+gym.
Maryland school strives for anti-bullying culture
A Maryland middle school is devoting classroom time to talk about anti-bullying tactics -- instead of calling an occasional assembly on the topic -- by using the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. Urbana Middle School aims to create a no-tolerance culture by teaching students to not bully, help peers who are being bullied and tell an adult if bullying is occurring. Read about it at www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=125137071.
3rd-graders ask lawmakers for healthier school lunches
Third-grade students at Lee Elementary School in Columbia, Mo., wrote to lawmakers, telling them they wanted healthier, fresh food instead of prepackaged and frozen products for their school lunches. The letters, promoted by Slow Food USA, asked lawmakers to increase funding for the Child Nutrition Act. Read the article at www.columbiatribune.com/news/2010/mar/31/lunchtime-laments.
After-school program has students improving community health
An after-school program run by students at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is helping students at one New Jersey middle school better their school and community through neighborhood-based health projects. Students in the program are learning how to take charge of their health and one student is leading efforts to beautify a vacant lot littered with debris left behind by drug users. Read about it at www.philly.com/philly/news/20100404_Small_steps_to_improve_East_Camden.html.
Program uses hip-hop to teach positive behavior, self-respect
A program called Bridge Da Gap is using hip-hop music to teach students about positive attitude and behavior. The program, which has been piloted at two Atlanta-area schools, includes 19 lessons on topics such as anger management, self-determination and how to avoid peer pressure. "We are trying to give them tools to work with so that despite the obstacles they meet in life, they can reach their goals," one of the program's creators said. Read about it at www.thetandd.com/articles/2010/04/06/news/doc4bbb9db295cbe813457021.txt.
Comprehensive Policies, Reports, Research and Resources:
Significant multiple risk behaviors among U.S. high school students fact sheet and Interventions
This fact sheet, published by the National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, uses the data from the 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine multiple health risk behaviors among high school students. The 12 analyzed types of significant health risk behaviors include: unsafe sexual behaviors; unhealthy eating and exercise patterns; mental health and substance use problems; and behaviors that contribute to violence. The researchers found that over half of all U.S. high school students are engaged in two or more significant risk behaviors, and 15 percent are involved in at least five. Recommendations for improving preventive interventions are included. To access the report, go to www.thenationalalliance.org/jan07/factsheet8.pdf.