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:
ATTENTION SCHOOL NURSES…
“Step UP and Be COUNTED” Campaign and Survey for Texas School Nurses – Deadline: June 15, 2015
This notice serves as both an invitation to participate in this national data collection project as well as give you basic information about the survey. This survey is a collaborative project between the National Association of School Nurses, the National Association of State School Nurse Consultants, the Texas School Nurse Organization and the Texas Department of State Health Services. This is the first national survey that will collect a uniform national school nursing data set. This will allow for the aggregate data to be utilized in promoting school nursing. For more information on the national data collection project, please go tohttps://www.nasn.org/Research/StepUpBeCounted.
To access the survey, go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/StepUPandBeCountedTEXAS. For your information, the survey questions are provided here. For more information or questions, contact Anita Wheeler-Hill, MSN, RN at .
Webinars, Conferences, Trainings, and Professional Development:
Closing the Gap: Addressing Asthma Disparities in Schools Webinar
In this prerecorded webinar on AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org, hear two unique case studies on leveraging school resources to address asthma disparities in student populations and reduce school absenteeism due to asthma. Access the webinar at www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org/asthma-disparities-schools-webinar.
The Media-Smart Youth Program: Helping Kids Develop Healthy Habits and Media Smarts Webinar –
June 11, 2015, 12:30-1:30PM EDT
The National Institutes of Health developed the free after-school program Media-Smart Youth: Eat, Think, and Be Active! to teach upper-elementary and middle-school students about media, nutrition, and physical activity. In this free webinar, hear success stories from past sites and learn how to lead a Media-Smart Youth program in your own community. This webinar is hosted by Let's Move Faith and Communities which equips community-based health leaders with resources and best practices that can be adapted to fit the needs and goals of their communities. A certificate of completion will be provided to all participants who attend the entire webinar online. To register, go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3560294883494123778. To access the program, go to http://www.nichd.nih.gov/msy/Pages/index.aspx.
Social and Emotional Climate:
Why Nonacademic Skills Matter
Educators and experts agree about the importance of nonacademic skills in education. This article explores the various terms used to describe this "stuff," including character education, grit and soft skills. Read the news story at http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/05/28/404684712/non-academic-skills-are-key-to-success-but-what-should-we-call-them.
Physical Environment:
IAQ Tools for Schools Managing Asthma in the School Environment
This brochure offers steps for establishing an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management plan, developing an asthma management plan and reducing environmental asthma triggers through case studies and school success stories. Access the brochure at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/pdfs/publications/managing_asthma.pdf.
IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed guidance to reduce exposure to indoor environmental contaminants in schools through voluntary adoption of sound and effective IAQ management practices. Access the document at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/actionkit.html.
IAQ Tools for Schools Framework for Effective School IAQ Management
This set of strategies, approaches and techniques can help immediately put the IAQ Tools for Schools guidance into action to achieve results.Access the document at www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/excellence.html.
Community Involvement:
AsthmaCommunityNetwork.org
This online Network is designed for representatives of community-based asthma programs and related organizations—including health plans and providers, government health and environmental agencies, nonprofits, coalitions, schools and more. Join today to gain real-time access to other registered programs and their best practices; cutting-edge Internet tools to facilitate collaboration, problem solving and information exchange; and the most current strategies for sustaining a thriving and comprehensive asthma management program.Access the Network at www.asthmacommunitynetwork.org.
Physical Education and Physical Activity:
Childhood Sports Participation Linked With Activity in Early Adulthood
Children who never participated in sports were more likely to become inactive when they reached early adulthood, according to a recent study. "This study suggests that sports participation could be critical to avoid a consistently inactive pattern and that the developmental pathways of [physical activity] and television viewing behaviors could be related," Soyang Kwon, PhD, from the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and colleagues wrote. Read more at http://www.healio.com/pediatrics/practice-management/news/online/%7Bd3820fd5-b7ee-4f0a-a5a4-4bdd4db975b7%7D/childhood-sports-participation-linked-with-activity-in-early-adulthood.
National "Let's Move!" Campaign Gets New Champion
Debra Eschmeyer has her own farm in western Ohio and over the past decade, Eschmeyer has traveled the world as a program director for a variety of non-governmental organizations, grappled with farm politics as an advocate in Washington, and become an authority on food policy. In January, she was tapped to head the White House’s “Let’s Move!” campaign, succeeding the First Family’s former chef Sam Kass. Read about her at http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/qa/ohio-farmer-debra-eschmeyer-now-running-the-michelle-obama-lets-move-campaign.php.
Health Services:
Outbreak of Skin Lesions among High School Wrestlers
Skin infections are a common problem among athletes at all levels of competition; among wrestlers, 8.5 percent of all adverse events are caused by skin infections. Wrestlers are at risk because of the constant skin-to-skin contact required during practice and competition. The most common infections transmitted among high school wrestlers include fungal infections (e.g., ringworm), the viral infection herpes gladiatorum caused by herpes simplex virus–1, and bacterial infections (e.g., impetigo) caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus species, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcal aureus. Read the report at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6420a6.htm?s_cid=mm6420a6_e. Access general guidelines for sports hygiene, skin infections and communicable diseases from the National Federation of State High School Associations at http://www.nfhs.org/sports-resource-content/general-guidelines-for-sports-hygiene-skin-infections-and-communicable-diseases/.
Asthma-Friendly Schools Initiative Toolkit
This toolkit, created by the American Lung Association, is a planning tool based on real-life activities that have been used in schools throughout the United States to create a long-term asthma management plan. It provides step-by-step guidance that includes tools, templates and resources that aim to keep students healthy, in school and ready to learn. Access the toolkit at www.lung.org/afsitoolkit.
Telehealth in Schools: Expanding Access to School Nurses
Telehealth in schools may be the answer to limited resources and a need to increase health care access for kids. Telehealth in school could maximize the benefits of a school nurse program, while also permit access to physicians or mental health providers, as needed.Read about it at http://blog.chron.com/bakerblog/2015/05/telehealth-in-schools-expanding-access-to-school-nurses/.
Calming Chair for Kids on the Spectrum May Be Headed to Market
The chair, which those involved tout as different from anything else available, is meant to provide a calming effect to children with autism, many of whom are prone to maladaptive behaviors such as self-injurious behavior or meltdowns. Read about it at http://www.disabilityscoop.com/2015/05/18/calming-chair-market/20311/.
App to Test Eyesight 'As Accurate' As Traditional Sight Charts, Study Suggests
Using a smartphone app to test eyesight is just as accurate as the traditional sight charts, a study suggests. Read more at http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11636633/App-to-test-eyesight-as-accurate-as-traditional-sight-charts-study-suggests.html.
Study: Asthma Intervention Can Lead to Fewer School Absence
Greater communication between school nurses and families on how to manage asthma could help reduce the number of school absences for children afflicted with the chronic disease, according to preliminary data from an ongoing study in Hartford. After screening at three city elementary schools, 67 Hartford students with high-risk asthma were enrolled in an intervention program last school year to try to keep symptoms under control. Read more at http://www.courant.com/health/hc-hartford-asthma-study-0519-20150518-story.html.
Health Education:
Strategies for Addressing Asthma within a Coordinated School Health Program
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified six strategies for schools and districts to consider when addressing asthma within a coordinated school health program. These strategies can be effective whether your program is for one school or the entire school district. Access the strategies at www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/asthma/strategies/asthmacsh.htm.
Nutrition Environment and Services:
Summer Meals for Kids and Teens
During the school year, 30 million children in the U.S. receive lunch through USDA’s National School Lunch Program. Of these, 21.4 million children receive their lunch at a reduced-priced or at no charge. Yet when school lets out for the summer, only 3.8 million children participate in the summer meal programs. To find a summer meals site near you, call 1-866-3-HUNGRY (o llamando al 1-877-8-HAMBRE) or visit Summer Food Rocks. The Summer Food Rocks website locator will be updated throughout the summer as new sites are added. Access the website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks.
Positive Messages May Get Children to Eat Healthier Foods
Children are more likely to eat healthy foods if parents offer positive messages emphasizing nutritional value and health benefits instead of a negative approach that focuses on the harmfulness of junk food, nutrition experts say. Study data also show people respond better to a positive message. Read the news article at http://www.cbsnews.com/news/positive-negative-messages-about-food-diet-healthy-eating/.
Six of the Nation's Largest School Districts Dump Polystyrene Trays
Six of the largest U.S. school districts have pooled their collective purchasing power to make significant changes to school lunch, and they’re starting by jettisoning the polystyrene tray. The Urban School Food Alliance, a coalition that includes the school systems of New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami-Dade, Dallas and Orlando, has commissioned a school lunch dish that is made from recycled newsprint and can be turned into compost after use. The plate replaces trays made from polystyrene — most commonly known by the Dow Chemical brand name Styrofoam — a petroleum-based plastic that gets buried in landfills after use. Read about it at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/six-of-the-nations-largest-school-districts-dump-polystyrene-trays/2015/05/24/3abb5636-00b4-11e5-8b6c-0dcce21e223d_story.html?postshare=3701432666617770.
Counseling, Psychological and Social Services:
UCLA Mental Health in Schools June Newsletter
The newsletter is available at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/enews/june15.pdf.
Study: 75 Percent of Colleges, Universities Collect Discipline Data on Applicants
About 75 percent of colleges and universities collect students' high-school disciplinary records, and about 89 percent use that data in admissions decisions, according to a study released Friday by the Center for Community Alternatives. Supporters say the data helps colleges keep campuses safe, while others suggest the practice has civil rights implications. Read the article at http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2015/05/29/most-colleges-weigh-student-discipline-records-in.html.
Teens, Suicide and Schools: Screening Versus Privacy
A recent World Health Organization report points to depression as the leading cause of illness and disability worldwide in 10- to 19-year-olds. Suicide by teens is ranked as the third leading cause of death in this age group. A question that comes up time and again is whether schools should be involved in screening adolescents. But many parents and students find schools' involvement in mental health to be a violation of their privacy. Read more at http://www.science20.com/the_conversation/teens_suicide_and_schools_screening_versus_privacy-155813#ixzz3bTzbWGCz.
How Schools Can Help Nurture Students' Mental Health
By the time he entered second grade, Eric had already witnessed graphic violence and watched as his family fell apart. He'd been moved to a new state and a new home, but he wasn't thriving, especially in school. Eric's reading level was measured in single digits — that is, below the 10th percentile for children his age. "He was so preoccupied by the trauma he'd experienced that it was impairing his learning," says Steve Lepinski, who followed Eric's progress. Read more at http://ww2.kqed.org/mindshift/2015/05/22/how-schools-can-help-nurture-students-mental-health/.
Comprehensive Policies, Reports, Research and Resources:
Childhood Poverty Rises in U.S., Data Show
There has been a 6 percent increase in childhood poverty from 2000 to 2013 -- with about 1 in every 5 U.S. schoolchildren living below the federal poverty line -- according to data released by the U.S. Department of Education. The highest rate of poverty for children ages 5 to 17 was found in the South at 23 percent. Read about it at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/one-in-five-us-schoolchildren-are-living-below-federal-poverty-line/2015/05/28/2402f164-0556-11e5-bc72-f3e16bf50bb6_story.html.
Report Examines Car Crashes Involving Teen Drivers
A report from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found 67 percent of people injured and 66 percent of people killed in car crashes involving teen drivers ages 15 to 19 were people other than the teen driver. Almost 50 percent of people injured were those in another vehicle, 17 percent were inside the teen driver's car and 2 percent were cyclists or pedestrians. Meanwhile, almost 30 percent of those killed were in another car, 27 percent were in the teen driver's car, and 10 percent were cyclists or pedestrians, the report stated. Read the news article at http://www.doctorslounge.com/index.php/news/hd/55506.
Obesity Disparity Grew Among U.S. Kindergarteners
Obesity rates among children entering kindergarten in the U.S. have increased since 1998 — except among those from the wealthiest families, according to new research. The findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, add to evidence that suggests not all young people are benefiting from a leveling out of obesity rates as reported last year by the CDC. Read more at http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/18/us-pediatrics-obesity-economic-disparity-idUSKBN0O31LQ20150518.
Study Examines Teens' Sources of Health Information
Researchers from the Northwestern University surveyed 1,156 U.S. teenagers and found that 84 percent of teens searched the Internet for health information, with 23 percent of them having searched for information on a condition affecting family members or friends. The study, to be released today, also revealed that 55 percent of teens said they got most of their health information from their parents, followed by health classes in their schools, and doctors and nurses. Read more at http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/nearly-13-of-teens-changed-health-habits-based-on-digital-search-study-finds/2015/06/01/c6679aec-0892-11e5-95fd-d580f1c5d44e_story.html.
Tougher Alcohol Laws for Adults May Also Lower Teen Drinking
Researchers evaluated CDC surveys on teen drinking and binge drinking across the U.S. from 1999 to 2011 and found that teens had 8 percent and 7 percent lower chances of drinking and binge drinking, respectively, for every 10 additional percentage points in the overall score of stronger alcohol-related laws in each state. The findings, published in the journal Pediatrics, also revealed a drop in the odds of drinking and binge drinking among teens, even for alcohol-related legislation that targeted adults. Read about it at http://consumer.healthday.com/kids-health-information-23/kids-and-alcohol-health-news-11/tougher-alcohol-laws-for-adults-may-lower-teen-drinking-699878.html.