Additional Resources
Surprising Findings Emerge from a National Study on Diabetes among Youth
A study called SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth has found that, despite national media attention on the skyrocketing rates of type 2 diabetes in children, the majority of new cases of diabetes in children are type 1. SEARCH also found that in ages from 10 to 19, type 1 diabetes has been diagnosed in children of all races.
Expert Committee Releases Recommendations to Fight Childhood and Adolescent Obesity
Recently, the Expert Committee on the Assessment, Prevention and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity released recommendations for the management of overweight and obese children and adolescents. Convened by the American Medical Association (AMA) and co-funded in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the committee gathers representatives from organizations involved in medicine, nutrition, mental health, epidemiology and psychology.
Tobacco Remains the Biggest Public Health Threat for Youth
Despite a substantial decline in the prevalence of smoking in the past 4 decades, tobacco use continues to cause more deaths each year in the United States than any other cause. 440,000 deaths per year are caused by tobacco use and another 50,000 deaths are caused by exposure to secondhand smoke. One in five U.S. adults is a smoker and almost all of them began smoking as teenagers. The economic consequences of tobacco use are in the billions of dollars. Due to these startling statistics, tobacco use remains the most significant threat to public health and especially dangerous to the health and futures of young people.
New GAO Study Shows the Status of School Districts’ Planning and Preparedness for Emergencies
The nation’s more than 17,000 school districts are challenged on a daily basis to maintain the safety and security of approximately 49 million public school students. Events such as recent shootings by armed intruders, natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and potential flu pandemics have heightened awareness for the need for school districts to be prepared to address a range of emergencies within and outside of school buildings. A new study conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reveals that school districts have taken steps to plan for a range of emergencies, as most have developed multi-hazard emergency management plans; however some plans and activities do not address federally recommended practices.
Are Your Schools 100% Tobacco-Free? It’s World No Tobacco Day!
Scientific evidence has determined that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Exposure to SHS causes heart disease and lung cancer and increases the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle-ear disease, asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth.
New Publication Shows that Health Issues Among Other Factors Contribute to Truancy – A Strong Predictor of Educational Failure
A new tool kit released by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention shows that contributing factors to truancy among youth includes health issues such as unmet mental health needs, alcohol and drug use and abuse, teen pregnancy or parenting as well as poor family health and/or parental alcoholism or drug abuse. The tool kit reveals that addressing truancy is of great importance in order for youth to achieve academic and personal success. For instance, the tool kit shows that truancy has been clearly identified as one of the early warning signs of students headed for potential delinquent activity, social isolation, or educational failure via suspension, expulsion, or dropping out.
New Study Reveals Perceptions of Children’s TV Viewing
The Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has announced the availability of the March 2007 highlights report, Reducing Children's TV Time to Reduce the Risk of Childhood Overweight: The Children's Media Use Study. This report highlights children’s and parents’ perceptions of television usage to better understand the barriers and opportunities for reducing children's time watching television.
Participate in the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness for Schools Broadcast
On May 17, 2007 the California Department of Health Services Immunization Branch and Emergency Preparedness Office, the California Department of Education, and the California Distance Learning Health Network will launch a multi-media training program to prepare local health department personnel and county and district school administrators for a possible influenza pandemic.
The Institute of Medicine Releases Nutrition Standards for Foods and Beverages in Schools
On April 25, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) unveiled a new report with recommendations for schools to improve the nutrition of children and ultimately help decrease obesity rates. Congress directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to undertake this study along with the IOM to review and make recommendations about appropriate nutritional standards for the availability, sale, content and consumption of foods at school, with attention on “competitive foods."
Mental Health Resources Made Available for Schools in Response to the Virginia Tech Tragedy
In response to the Virginia Tech (VT) shootings, The National Assembly on School-Based Health Care (NASBHC) has released a list of available resources to help people around the country cope with this tragedy and the grievance process, including the students served by school-based health centers. Below are some resources that NASBHC has identified for school-based health center staff and others to use to respond and cope with this tragedy:
Help Teens Avoid Early Pregnancy and Parenthood: Participate in the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy and Stay Teen
The sixth annual National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy will take place on May 2, 2007. Promoted by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, the purpose of the National Day is to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and other serious consequences of sex.
May is Asthma Awareness Month
This is a great time for schools and other community organizations to join together and increase public understanding of asthma. Asthma has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, affecting approximately 20 million people of all ages, particularly children. Although asthma is widespread, public awareness of common asthma triggers and ways to manage asthma remains limited. In 1999, the Global Initiative for Asthma, a joint project of the World Health Organization and the National Heart, Lung, Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health, established World Asthma Day (Tuesday, May 1, 2007) and Asthma Awareness Month.
Help Promote Healthy School Environments for Children and School Personnel: Celebrate National Healthy Schools Day
April 30th is National Healthy Schools Day – An opportunity for schools and communities to get involved in the important issue of ensuring that children and school employees have environmentally safe and healthy learning environments that are clean and in good repair.
New Searchable Database of Evidence-Based Practices in Prevention and Treatment of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has released a new National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices (NREPP) to help local organizations make informed decisions about evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of mental health and substance abuse disorders.
Celebrate National Kick Butts Day - March 28th
National Kick Butts Day (KBD) is Wednesday, March 28th, 2007. KBD is an annual celebration of youth advocacy, leadership, and activism in the fight against tobacco. It’s a day to stand out, speak up, and take control. Schools and individuals can use this opportunity to raise awareness about the tobacco problem and support strong tobacco prevention policies.
The Surgeon General’s Office Issues First Call to Action to Prevent and Reduce Underage Drinking
On March 6, 2007 the Surgeon General’s Office released a new Call to Action urging that all sectors of society address the problem of underage drinking in the U.S., which affects approximately 11 million adolescents. Developed in collaboration with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the document underscores the need to address underage drinking with a developmental framework, using a systematic approach that spans from childhood through adolescence and into adulthood.
Take Action in National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
March 10, 2007 is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. In its second year, this event seeks to raise awareness of the increasing impact of HIV/AIDS on the lives of women and girls. This year’s theme is “Taking Action to Save Our Lives.” This day provides an opportunity for everyone to take action and advance education, prevention and treatment efforts. It also encourages women and girls in particular to fight HIV/AIDS in a variety of ways such as getting tested for HIV, practicing safe methods to prevent HIV infection, deciding not to engage in high risk behaviors, talking about HIV prevention with family, friends and colleagues, empowering oneself, and providing support to those living with the disease.
Participate in Cover the Uninsured Week 2007
April 23 through 29 is Cover the Uninsured Week. Currently in its fifth year, Cover the Uninsured Week has served as a national platform for discussion and debate about the need to cover America’s uninsured. During that week, people from all sectors of society and from all 50 states join together to demand that the nation’s leaders make this issue a priority.
New Government Report Shows That Prescription Drugs are an Emerging Threat to the Health of Youth
An analysis of recent trends on the emerging drug threat released this month by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Executive Office of the President, shows that teens are turning away from street drugs and using prescription drugs to get high. It also reveals that, for the first time, there are just as many new abusers (12 and older) of prescription drugs as there are for marijuana.
New Action for Healthy Kids Report Shows How to Engage School Leaders in Creating a Healthier School Environment
A new Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) report shows that without buy-in by superintendents, administrators, and principals, any school wellness initiative is destined to be less successful and lasting, than it might otherwise be. The report also reveals that it takes persistence and ingenuity in order to access, excite and engage school leaders in issues pertaining to the health of students.
CDC Releases Interim Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance
Developed in close collaboration with Federal agencies and partners in the public health, education, business, healthcare, and private sectors, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new interim pre-pandemic planning guidance. The guidance is intended for State, territorial, tribal, and local communities and focuses on several non-pharmaceutical measures (interventions other than vaccination and drug treatment) that might be useful in reducing the harm posed by an influenza pandemic.
Increasing Physical Activity Shown to be Essential in Combating Childhood Obesity – Coordinated School Health Programs Can Be a Catalyst for Change
A new Government Accountability Office (GAO) literature review suggests that the most important means to prevent or reduce childhood obesity is “increasing physical activity.” It also reveals that multiple factors that affect physical activity among children may contribute to childhood obesity and that parental and social support for physical activity is associated with increased physical activity.
Participate in the National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day February 7, 2007!
Throughout the years, overall rates of HIV/AIDS infection have declined in the U.S. Nevertheless, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HIV/AIDS is still a health crisis for African Americans. In 2005, African Americans, who make up approximately 12% of the U.S. population, accounted for almost half of the estimated number of HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed.
New CDC Materials Reveal the Health Status of Americans and Show the Importance of Preventing Health Risk Behaviors among Youth
Two new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) materials show that, although life expectancy among the U.S. population has increased, certain chronic diseases and conditions that are associated with aging have also risen. In addition, they reveal that the prevalence of health risk behaviors among youth remain at inadequate levels, and that in 2005, almost three quarters of HIV/AIDS diagnoses were for male adolescents and adults.
New Study Reveals What Americans Drink and Its Relation to Weight Gain
A new study conducted by ENVIRON International Corporation suggests that when it comes to managing weight, Americans should not only be careful with the amount of food they put in their plates, but also be aware of what goes in their glasses, cups, cans and car drink holders. The study shows that more than 99% of Americans ages 4 and older consumed at least one beverage other than plain water on any particular day, with nearly 50% of people ages 4 and older consuming regular soft drinks on any given day. It also reveals that, on average, beverages provided nearly one-quarter (22%) of total calories in a day, along with comparable or even higher percentages of carbohydrates, added sugars and key vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium.
New Report Provides Comprehensive Picture of the State of Local Wellness Policies
An analysis of local wellness policies across a sample of district sizes and geographic regions conducted by the School Nutrition Association (SNA), shows that components required by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 such as nutrition guidelines, nutrition education and physical activity are included in over 94% of policies.
Apply for the EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Awards Program
The U.S. EPA’s IAQ TfS Awards Program was initiated in 2000 to recognize schools and school districts that have demonstrated a strong commitment to improve children’s health by promoting good indoor air quality (IAQ) practices. From schools and districts just beginning to implement IAQ management plans to those who have mature, sustainable, district-wide IAQ programs, EPA provides a series of national-level awards. As the stature of the awards increase, so does the value gained by each recipient in terms of improved IAQ and improved health and performance of faculty, staff, and students.
Are Your Schools Tobacco-Free?
The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) has published a new report, Policies to Prevent Tobacco Use, calling on comprehensive tobacco bans in all schools, and noting that only five states—Arkansas, Delaware, Massachusetts, Mississippi, and Oregon—currently have a comprehensive tobacco-free schools policy.
Be a Leader in the Fight against HIV/AIDS: Participate in World AIDS Day
World AIDS Day is December 1, 2007. This year’s theme is “leadership.” According to the World AIDS Campaign website, experience has clearly shown that significant advances in the response to HIV have been possible when there is strong and committed leadership. However, leaders are not always just the people in the highest positions, but also anyone in families and communities who demonstrates powerful actions, innovation and vision. The Campaign hopes that this year’s theme will help encourage leadership on AIDS within all levels and sectors of society.
CDC Releases SHPPS 2006 - Study Shows Progress But More Needs to be Done
A study conducted last year by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that there have been considerable improvements in U.S. schools’ policies and programs that promote the health and safety of students, particularly in the areas of nutrition, physical activity and tobacco use. Survey results indicate, for instance, that states prohibiting schools from offering junk foods in vending machines increased from 8 percent in 2000 to 32 percents in 2006.
Get Schools Involved in Preventing a Leading Cause of Death among Young People in the U.S. - Participate in the National Suicide Prevention Week
September 9-15 is Suicide Prevention Week. Suicide is the eleventh cause of death in the United States and the third leading cause of death among youths and young adults aged 10-24 years. During National Suicide Prevention Week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages parents, educators, health-care providers, and health authorities to learn more about suicide, including the groups at greatest risk, warning signs for suicide, and potential prevention strategies.
Good News, Bad News on Teen Smoking
The results of the University of Michigan’s 2007 Monitoring The Future study were released last week, showing a 33 percent decline in teen cigarette use between 2001 and 2007. While at first glance this looks like good news, the fact is that while there was a decline in smoking among 8th graders for the first time in four years, there has been no significant change in smoking rates for 10th or for 12th graders during that time period. Other recent surveys also indicate that smoking declines have stalled among youth and adults.
Help Prevent a Leading Cause of School Absenteeism -- Attend EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Symposium
September is back-to-school month, and as stated in a September 6, 2007 NPR Morning Edition article, it is the peak month for asthma attacks that send children to hospital emergency rooms. According to the NPR, experts call it the “September epidemic.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies asthma is a leading chronic illness among children and youth in the United States; on average, in a classroom of 30 children, about 3 are likely to have asthma. This chronic condition is also one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. In 2003, an estimated 12.8 million school days were missed due to asthma among the more than 4 million children who reported at least one asthma attack in the preceding year.
Help Prevent Teen Pregnancy – Nominate Young People for the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy Youth Leadership Team
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy is currently in the process of recruiting their next class for the Youth Leadership Team (YLT). Each year and a half, teens from around the nation are selected to serve on the YLT for an 18-month term and be the National Campaign’s eyes and ears into teen culture and advise them on a variety of issues surrounding teen pregnancy. The classes are recruited from national youth-serving organizations such as the 4-H Club, Boys and Girls Clubs, the YWCA, the Girl Scouts, and others of similar caliber and reach. Those chosen come from communities large and small, urban and rural, from every geographic region of the nation, and from diverse backgrounds.
Help Schools Prevent and Prepare for the Flu: Participate in the National Influenza Vaccination Week
The Holiday season is here – one that brings many reasons to celebrate, but that also brings an unwelcome virus that can have a great impact on school attendance: the seasonal flu. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the flu season begins as early as October and can last as late as May. The CDC has announced November 26 to December 2 as National Influenza Vaccination Week.
NASPE Releases New Evaluation Tool to Help Identify Quality PE Teachers
With the current high rates of obesity and the rise in chronic conditions such as diabetes among children in the U.S., the need for physical activity is imperative. Physical activity is shown to prevent and ward off these conditions and growing evidence is linking physical activity to improved academic achivement. Physical education (PE) in schools is essential to help maintain children's physical and mental health. Nevertheless, the benefits of physical activity are greatly impacted by the quality it presents. According to National Association for Sport & Physical Education (NASPE), quality physical education requires an appropriate infrastructure (opportunity to learn), a relevant content defined by curriculum, adequate instructional practices, as well as ongoing and meaningful program assessment and evaluation, which NASPE classifies as a benefit for PE teachers.
BMI Measurement in Schools: Relevant or Not?
With growing obesity rates among U.S. children, many schools have sought to implement programs and policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity. Much attention has also focused on the benefits of school involvement with body mass index (BMI) measurement programs.
New Online Searchable Version of Making It Happen: School Nutrition Success Stories!
The online searchable version of Making It Happen!: School Nutrition Success Stories is now available. Making It Happen!, a joint publication of U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Food Nutrition Services and Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the support of the Department of Education shows the bold steps that many schools and school districts have taken to increase the availability of healthy food options outside of school meal programs.
New Report Shows Improvement in Nutrition Programs Within School Districts
A new report released on August 7, 2007 by the School Nutrition Association is giving many school districts a reason to celebrate and to hope for a healthy and successful academic year. The report State of School Nutrition 2007, shows that school districts have put an emphasis on healthy school environments and also increased the availability of healthy food options.
New Report Shows Progress in Implementation of School Wellness Policies
September marked the one-year anniversary of the adoption of 15,000 local school wellness policies nationwide. A new report released by the School Nutrition Association (SNA) shows that there has been some progress in the implementation of those policies. The report’s primary goals included not only understanding districts’ progress toward implementation of local school wellness policies, but also the impact that nutrition standards have had on school nutrition programs, and the common challenges associated with the implementation of local school wellness policies.
New Research Findings on Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy and STDs
The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy has released the 2007 “Emerging Answers.” Although not all-encompassing, this report relays important statistics related to teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among adolescents, shows the personal and societal costs involved with teenage sexual risk-taking, and offers a summary of new research findings on programs to reduce teen pregnancy and STDs among youth.
New Spanish Language Kit On Secondhand Smoke Available From CDC
The Office on Smoking and Health (OSH) at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new Hispanic/Latino community outreach kit called “Sabemos: Por respeto - Aqui no se fuma,” which means, “Out of Respect We Know Not to Smoke Here.”
New Study Reveals a Relationship between Weight and School Attendance, while Obesity Rates Continue to Increase
A study released in the August issue of the journal “Obesity” shows that, the more overweight a child, the more likely he or she will be absent from school. The study sought to determine the relationship between relative weight and school attendance among elementary schoolchildren. The study revealed that overweight children were absent significantly more than normal-weight children and linear regression showed that being obese remained a significant contributor to the number of days absent even after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and gender. On average, underweight children were absent 7.5 days, normal weight children 10.1 days and the obese 12.2 days.
Office on Women’s Health Toolkit and Program Help Adolescent Girls Improve Physical Activity Levels and Eating Habits
The Office on Women’s Health (OWH) has developed an obesity prevention toolkit and program called BodyWorks, designed to help parents and caregivers of young adolescent girls (ages 9-13) improve family activity and eating habits. Created after a two-year formative research phase, the program focuses on parents as role models and provides them with hands-on tools to make small, specific behavior changes to help girls maintain a healthy weight and prevent obesity.
Participate in Walk to School Day
Walk to School Day is October 3, 2007. Kids, families, and school staff are encouraged to walk or bicycle to school to celebrate and spread the word of the many positive benefits incurred when children walk to school every day. Walking and bicycling to school provide opportunities to enhance children’s health, improve air quality and the environment, and create safer outdoor spaces, but only about 10% of children in the United States walk to school on a regular basis. The entire month of October is specifically dedicated to International Walk to School Month. In 2006, 40 countries participated in the event in hopes of creating communities with more safe places to walk.
School Dropout: A Public Health Issue?
An article released in the October 2007 issue of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) journal “Preventing Chronic Disease: Public Health Research, Practice, and Policy,” considers proposing school dropout as a public health issue. The article shows the cause and effect relationship between health and high school dropout. Being unhealthy can interfere with high school completion, and dropping out of high school can be a predictor of poor health outcomes.
Stay up-to-date with NSBA’s "101" Packets, which includes a NEW Wellness Packet!
NSBA’s School Health Programs has a collection of "101" Packets with valuable information on specific school health issues such as asthma, healthy eating, and tobacco use prevention as well as on coordinated school health programs, ways to build community support for school health, and school health issues in communities of color. The Packets have recently been updated and include background information and guidance for policy and program development.
Steps Schools Can Take to Prevent Staph Infections
Recent cases of staph infections in schools, particularly MRSA, have alarmed school officials, students, parents and the general public. Schools have been closed, and school events have been canceled in order for cleaning crews to disinfect buses, lockers and classrooms. Within this context, a few questions have been raised such as: What can schools do to prevent such infections?; and How should schools proceed if an infection occurs?
U.S. Government’s Annual Report on the Well-Being of Children and Youth Shows Gains, But Also Setbacks
This year’s U.S. Government’s report America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well Being, reveals that some areas of children’s well-being have improved, yet others have gotten worse. For instance, compared to national statistics for the previous year, there has been an increase in the percentage of children living with at least one working parent. Nevertheless, the percentage of children living in physically inadequate or crowded housing or housing that cost more than 30 percent of household income has increased.
31st Annual Great American Smokeout - November 15, 2007
Tobacco-free environment laws are sweeping the nation. The rising public support for clean indoor air makes the 31st annual Great American Smokeout on November 15 a perfect day to update tobacco-free schools policies. While the Smokeout is intended to get smokers to quit for a day, taking the first step toward quitting all together, it could serve as a catalyst for school policymakers to broaden the scope of their tobacco-free schools policies.