Transcript Title

Promoting Healthy Weight for
Children (and Staff) in DCPS
DC State Education Office Policy Forum: Cutting the Fat -Local & National Efforts to Provide Healthy School
Environments for Students
Julia Graham Lear, PhD, Research Professor, Department of Prevention &
Community Health and Director, The Center for Health & Health Care in
Schools,School of Public Health and Health Services
George Washington University Medical Center
June 14, 2007
The Center for
Health and Health Care in Schools
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Summary
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What the data show
Lessons from research
School-community collaboration
Seize the low-hanging fruit
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What the data shows & your
eyes see…
Confirming what you already know -the calorie/energy equation is out of
balance
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Lessons from research
1. Prevention is more important and
effective than treatment.
2. Single-shot projects on their own don’t
work. Multi-faceted interventions and
collaboration are key.
3. To partner effectively, communities &
schools need to understand each
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Always Check Your Map: A Guide to School
Health Services & Prevention Programs
Mayor & School
Board
Community
Chancellor
• Parents
• Voters
• Community
Policy
Program
Associate
Superintendent
Facilities
Associate
Superintendent
Special
Education
Associate
Superintendent
Pupil Support
Associate
Superintendent
Academic
Affairs
based
Planning &
management
Principals
providers
School-Based
Health Center
- Physical
health
- Mental
health
- Nutrition
School
Nurses
Health
Aides
Guidance
Counselors
Mental health
professionals
School mental
Health program
- Individ. & group
counseling
- Family
counseling
- Teacher
consultations
Testing for
Special Ed.
placement
School
psychologists
Related Services
- Health
education
- Mental health
- OT/PT
- Health Services
- Physical
education
Services &
prevention
-Recess
Policy
Program
Planning and
Management
Community-based sponsor:
- Health system
- Community health center
- Health department
- Hospitals
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
2121 K Street, NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20037
www.healthinschools.org
copyright©2005 Send permissions for reprint to [email protected] or call 202-466-3396.
Community-based sponsor:
- Community mh center
- City/county mh dept.
- Other human services
organizations
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What Do Schools Want to Know?
• How to keep kids in school
• How to perform well on statewide tests
• How to engage families in schoolconnected activities
• How to do non-academic tasks quicker
and easier
• What do some school staff (nurses,
counselors, school-based health center
staff) want to know? What to DO when a
child is seriously overweight? What NOT to do?
How to help parents?
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Places to Start…
• Increase exercise opportunities
• Involve students in planning
• Go for low-hanging fruit
– Add BMI to school health records
– Build on 2008 Olympics -- look for
funding for a DC Olympics project
– Work with teachers to create a
Healthy DC cookbook
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Assessing the Climate for
Prevention Programs at School
• What is the level of pressure to improve student
achievement?
• Is the administrative staff supportive of implementing
prevention programs?
• Are a majority of teachers supportive of implementing
prevention programs?
• Is there student free time to allow prevention programs to
be conducted during school hours?
• Is the physical environment of the school conducive to
health promotion activities?
Source: Eisen M, Palletto C, Bradner C. Prevention Readiness Checklist
in Problem Behavior Prevention and School-Based Health Centers:
Programs and Prospects, The Urban Institute, December 1999.
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They need to know that you care
before they care what you know.
Bernie Siegel, MD,
National Assembly on School-Based Health Care
June 2005
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Contact information
Julia Graham Lear
Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
2121 K Street, NW Suite 250
Washington, DC 20037
www.healthinschools.org
[email protected]
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