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
Notices and Postings:
Bullying Bill Passed into Law
Many bills addressing bullying at school were filed this legislative session. HB 1942 has been signed into law effective for the 2011-2012 school year. For more details about this new law, go to www.iamherecoalition.org/newsletters/vol3no3.html.
Opportunity to Provide Feedback: Texas Cancer Plan Revision
The Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas in collaboration with members of the Texas Cancer Plan Revision Work Group, is requesting feedback in regards to the next revision of the Texas Cancer Plan that is scheduled to be finalized in January 2012. Please access the following link to provide feedback or attend a Webinar: www.cprit.state.tx.us/about-cprit/texas-cancer-plan/opportunities-to-provide-feedback.
We are Getting Fatter: Obesity Rates Remain High – New State-Ranking Data from the CDC
Obesity has become a problem in every state, according to data analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). No state reported that less than 20 percent of adults were obese in 2010, which means that no state met the national Healthy People 2010 goal to lower obesity prevalence to 15 percent within the past decade, CDC researchers say.
The data also show 30 percent or more of adults in 12 states were obese, compared to no states with that level of obesity in 2000, and nine states in 2009. The new data and updated national obesity trends map was released July 20th online at www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html.
HIV/AIDS Video Contest for Youth Advocates – Deadline: August 31, 2011
Red Hot and Advocates for Youth are looking for young filmmakers and artists to share their perspectives about HIV/AIDS. Videos can be submitted as a short film or an educational PSA, must be about HIV/AIDS, and should incorporate a song from the Red Hot archive. Four winners will be selected to receive a cash prize of $2,500 and a trip for two to New York City. For more information and to register, go to www.redhotand.us.
Get Kids to Explore the Outdoors with Grant from The North Face – Deadline: September 1, 2011
The North Face Explore Fund will grant up to $2,500 to nonprofit organizations that encourage community involvement and focus on getting youth outdoors to connect with nature. To apply for a fall/winter grant for this year, go to www.explorefund.org/application.php.
Conferences, Trainings and Professional Development:
Southern Obesity Summit - October 2-4, 2011
This year's Southern Obesity Summit will be held in New Orleans. For more details and registration information, go to www.cvent.com/events/5th-annual-southern-obesity-summit/event-summary-127f68896739445f9d4c74cdd0cf1fa6.aspx.
Free Online Training Available for Suicide Prevention
The Mental Health America (MHA) of Texas' "At Risk" program is offering free online training for suicide prevention. MHA Texas has 40,000 training slots available for faculty and staff working in public high schools in Texas. Please access this link for more information on this training and other suicide prevention news: www.iamherecoalition.org/newsletters/vol3no3.html.
Third Annual International Conference on the Health Risks of Youth – January 4-7, 2012
The 3rd Annual International Conference on the Health Risks of Youth will be held. The conference will take place at the Conrad San Juan Coronado Plaza in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Professional colleagues will present on the health risks of youth. Registration for this conference is now available at www.healthadvocatesllc.com/thirdannualconference.html.
Nutrition Services and Education:
USDA Releases First Farm to School Evaluation
Efforts to serve local food in schools are expanding nationwide, but creating a market between small farms and school districts still poses many challenges, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's first report on farm-to-school initiatives. Over the past year, a team of nine government representatives visited 15 school districts operating farm to school programs to determine how these types of projects can be strengthened and repeated in other regions. Read the article at www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/07/usda-releases-first-farm-to-school-evaluation-1. Read the report at www.foodsafetynews.com/2010_summary-report%5B1%5D.pdf.
McDonald’s Happy Meals to Change
McDonald's Corporation said on Tuesday it will soon tweak its Happy Meals, reducing the french fry portion by more than half and automatically adding apples to the children's meals, after coming under pressure from consumer groups to provide healthier fare. McDonald's -- which has been taking heat from parents, consumer groups and local lawmakers over the nutritional content and marketing of Happy Meals -- said it would start making the changes in September and the new Happy Meals would be available in all of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants by the end of the first quarter of 2012. They also plan a 15 percent reduction in sodium by 2015. Beyond that, it vowed to cut sodium, added sugars, saturated fats and calories in domestic meals by 2020. Read about it at www.publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news.newsmain/article/0/0/1832546/US/McDonald's.Happy.Meals.get.apples..fewer.fries.
Health Education:
National Drug Facts Week (NDFW) – October 31-November 1, 2011
NDFW is a health observance week for teens to learn the facts about drugs and drug abuse through community-based events and activities. The National Institute on Drug Abuse offers toolkits for anybody who is interested in organizing their own community NDFW event. For more information, please contact NIDA at .
Health Services:
VSP: Sight for Students
Sight for Students, a Vision Service Plan (VSP) charity, provides free vision exams and glasses to low-income, uninsured children. Parents and guardians interested in seeking assistance through this program must be eligible for help. For more information please visit www.sightforstudents.org.
Family Feels Lack of School Nurse Contributed to Daughter's Death
A young child who suffered from asthma died. "The family says, even though the school had a plan of action and an EpiPen in case of emergency, Mercedes didn't get her medication or even CPR. School officials did call an ambulance, but it was too late. Mercedes died in a hospital that morning." For more information on this story, go to www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7373297n&tag=contentMain;contentBody.
Counseling and Mental Health Services:
New Legislation Calls for Early Mental Health Intervention and Suicide Prevention in Schools
The new legislation requires the Texas Education Agency to oversee the implementation of early mental health intervention and suicide prevention programs in all elementary, junior high, middle and high schools in the state of Texas. Information is available at www.iamherecoalition.org/newsletters/vol3no3.html.
Newly Added to PPN's Programs that Work Section: Attachment-Based Family Therapy Leads to Reductions in Depression and Suicidality Among at-risk Adolescents
The Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) is a therapeutic model that is based upon the belief that strong relationships within families can buffer against the risk of adolescent depression or suicide and help in the recovery process. The ABFT model aims to strengthen or rebuild secure parent-child relationships and promote adolescent autonomy. Read the new Attachment-Based Family Therapy program summary at
www.promisingpractices.net/program.asp?programid=274.
Parent and Community Involvement:
"Don't Be in the Dark" When Looking for Day Care
Many Texas families are making arrangements for day care for their preschoolers as the new school year approaches. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services urges parents to do their homework carefully and always choose regulated day care. While illegal day care may seem attractive - it may be cheap or convenient - without regulation there are no checks and balances to protect children. Read the press release at www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/dontbeinthedark/News_Releases/2011press.asp. Go to the Don’t Be in the Dark Web site at www.dfps.state.tx.us/Child_Care/dontbeinthedark/default.asp.
Healthy and Safe School Environment:
Distracted Driving in the United States and Europe
Distracted drivers affect the life and safety of themselves and those around them. Nearly 15 people die each day in the United States in crashes that involve distracted driving, and another 1,200 people are injured. For more information, please visit www.cdc.gov/features/dsDistractedDriving/?source=govdelivery.
2011 Teen Near-Miss Driving: SADD Study
This study, conducted by Liberty Mutual and Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD), reveals an alarmingly high number of young drivers who have had “near misses”. In the national study of 2,294 high school students, 68 percent of teens admit to have narrowly avoided a crash – with more than half of those (56 percent) reporting multiple near misses. One in three drivers (34 percent) who say they have had a near miss blame another driver, while 21 percent say the weather was the primary cause. Yet when asked what they were doing in the car at the time of the incident, teens admitted to a rash of distractive or dangerous behaviors: speeding - 30 percent; texting while driving - 21 percent; talking to passengers - 20 percent; and changing songs on their MP3 player -- 17 percent. Read the report at www.sadd.org/press/presspdfs/Summer_Driving_Release.pdf.
Intimate Partner Violence – New Avatar: A That’s Not Cool Online Tool
The That's Not Cool campaign has launched a new speaking avatar application. The application provides teens with a unique way to "Have Their Say" when it comes to relationship abuse. After watching an animated homepage video addressing digital dating abuse, teens are prompted to create a personalized cell phone character and voice to respond to the question posed in the video. Using text-to-speech technology, the character speaks the written response in the selected voice. Access the tool at
www.thatsnotcool.com/avatarcreator/CreateVideoResponse.aspx?defVideo=sMzUnQhP3A0.
How Educators Can Address Bullying of Children with Exceptionalities
Children with special needs are often the most common target for bullying in schools. As an article from the Council for Exceptional Children mentions, these bullying incidents can sometimes increase as an unintended result of inclusion into general education classrooms. The article also outlines suggested steps that school staff can take to instill antibullying culture in classrooms. Read the article at www.cec.sped.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=12979&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CAT=none.
What’s Working Around the Nation:
Young Americans E-Book
Across the country, through President Obama's Roundtable Initiative for Young Americans, 384 youth roundtables were held with youth in 46 states, DC, and Guam. As the initiative wrapped up at the end of May, President Obama and White House staff began to follow-up, with the launch of "How to Make Change," an ongoing summer program that connects young people to the issues they cared about most during the roundtables. Download the e-book, review the summary, and read feedback that young people gave to the White House at www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2011/07/14/100-roundtables-e-book-launched.
Washington-Area School Districts Step up Nutrition Programs
Maryland's Montgomery County complies with federal school nutrition standards but is not the leader of the pack in the region. In Alexandria, Virginia, 8 percent of produce used in school meals is grown locally; in Maryland's Anne Arundel County, students get all-you-can-eat fruit and vegetables; in the District of Columbia, there are restrictions on fat and sodium content of meals; and in Virginia's Fairfax County, tasting parties let students try new foods before they go on the lunch menu. Read about it at www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/mongtomery-school-meals-get-passing-grade-for-nutrition-with-a-caveat/2011/07/19/gIQAvmpzNI_story.html.
How One District is Working to Curb Student Cyberbullying
School officials in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are taking steps to curb student cyberbullying by limiting wireless access for students, and training educators and administrators on how to recognize and address the issue. An analysis of school records found cyberbullying incidents often began outside of school before affecting the classroom environment. Read more at www.annarbor.com/news/ann-arbor-schools-cyber-bullying.
Greenville, South Carolina Schools to Launch a Healthier Menu
School-cafeteria workers in Greenville, South Carolina, are taking culinary classes this summer as they prepare to offer a more nutritious school-lunch program. Meals will cost more and students will be given a longer lunch break so they can spend time at salad bars, and nutritionist Jennifer Sharp said she encourages the public, especially parents, to join students for lunch. Read more at www2.wspa.com/news/2011/jul/25/5/new-healthier-school-lunches-will-take-longer-and--ar-2184574.
Illinois Enacts Law to Increase Concussion Safeguards for Student Athletes
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed new legislation on Thursday strengthening regulations concerning concussion injuries in student athletes. Under the bill, students from elementary school through high school must be examined by a medical professional before resuming athletic play. In addition, parents, players, coaches and referees will receive specialized training in recognizing concussion symptoms. Read about it at www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-quinn-signs-school-athletes-concussions-legislation-20110728,0,5836420.story.
Comprehensive Policies, Reports, Research and Resource
Recently Updated State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent Obesity and Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity Database
The database of State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent Obesity and Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity (SLRA) provides legislative and regulatory information related to select nutrition, physical activity and obesity health topics. SLRA features significant content enhancements including how data is searched, categorized, and presented. To better meet the needs of policy analysts, state programs, local health departments and researchers, CDC updated the SLRA to include new topic areas such as active transit, breastfeeding, school nutrition, television time, and Safe Routes to Schools. SLRA also now contains enacted regulations disseminated by state agencies. http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DNPALeg/?s_cid=govD_dnpao_084&source=govdelivery.
Youths' Positive Outlook has Positive Long-Term Health Effects
Data on 10,147 adolescents who were followed from 1996 to 2001 indicate that those who exhibited high positive well-being as teens were less likely to take part in unhealthy behaviors, including smoking and binge drinking, in young adulthood. "Our study shows that promoting and nurturing positive well-being during the teenage years may be a promising way to improve long-term health," said Lindsay Till Hoyt, the study's lead author. Read more at www.upi.com/Health_News/2011/07/19/Positive-teens-as-healthy-as-young-adults/UPI-18881311131127.
Advocacy Groups Work to Reverse Childhood Obesity in Communities of Color
Ethnic communities of color across the United States are taking efforts to clamp down on childhood obesity rates with the help of a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Communities Creating Healthy Environments program. Grantees are implementing projects such as making playgrounds more safe and accessible to neighborhood children, working with schools to anchor community wellness programs, and replacing unhealthy items with fresh foods in local corner stores. Read the article at www.rwjf.org/newsroom/product.jsp?id=72401.
Quote to Note:
“The right to be heard does not automatically include the right to be taken seriously."
Hubert Humphrey, 38th U.S. vice president
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The articles and external links to other sites appearing in the Friday Beat are intended to be informational and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The sites also may not be accessible to people with disabilities. External email links are provided to you as a courtesy. Please be advised that you are not emailing the DSHS and DSHS policies do not apply should you choose to correspond. For information about any of the programs listed, contact the sponsoring organization directly. For comments or questions about the Friday Beat, contact Ellen Smith at (512) 458-7111 ext. 2140 or by email at . Copyright free. Permission granted to forward or make copies as needed.