MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN
SCHOOL SETTINGS:
TOP 10 BEST PRACTICES
Making It Better - MCC
November 15, 2011
Presenters:
Deb Loy, MN Department of Education
Gabriel McNeal, MN Department of Health
Terri Swartout, MN Department of Education
THREE LEARNING OBJECTIVES



Participants will gain a broader understanding of
school culture and applying a comprehensive
school health framework.
Participants will increase their capacity to build
effective school partnerships.
Participants will learn how to assess which
school-based policies and practices are most
likely to work in the areas of physical activity,
nutrition, and tobacco-free initiatives.
WHAT A LOT OF SCHOOLS LOOK LIKE…
THE ROLE OF SCHOOLS IN PREVENTING
CHILDHOOD OBESITY & TOBACCO PREVENTION
More than 95% of young people are enrolled at
schools.
 PSE change within schools is possible. Example:
Tobacco-Free Campus.
 Students have the opportunity to eat a large
portion of their daily food intake and be
physically active at school.
 An ideal setting for teaching young people how to
adopt and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.
 A link between health and learning!

Weight status of children based on Body Mass Index for
age (BMI-for-age)
Children age 10-17 years only
Minnesota vs. Nationwide
National Survey of Children's Health. NSCH 2007. Child and Adolescent Health Measurement
Initiative, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health website. Retrieved [mm/dd/yy]
from www.nschdata.org.
Weight status of children based on Body Mass Index for age (BMI-for-age)
Children age 10-17 years only
Minnesota
Race/ethnicity of child
National Survey of Children's Health. NSCH 2007. Child and Adolescent Health Measurement
Initiative, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health website. Retrieved
[mm/dd/yy] from www.nschdata.org.
Smoked cigarettes the last 30 days
EXPANDED FRAMEWORK FOR IMPLEMENTING
AND PROMOTING SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS
Healthy, Successful
Students
Goals
Promote Health
Objectives
State Actions
District/ School Actions
CSH Components
COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH
(CSH)
Health Education
Physical Education
Family/Community
Involvement
Health
Services
Health Promotion
for Staff
Healthy School
Environment
Counseling,
Psychological, &
Social Services
Nutrition
Services
WHY USE A CSH APPROACH
Empowers
students with
knowledge and
skills
Engages
students,
families and
communities
Links
Health
and
Learning
Builds on team
effort and
coordination
Adressess the
impact of
policy, systems
and
environmental
changes
1. SECURE AND MAINTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE
SUPPORT AND COMMITMENT.
2. ESTABLISH A SCHOOL HEALTH
COUNCIL OR TEAM.
School Health Councils?
School Wellness Committee?
School Health Advisory?
School Health Team?
Any others?
“An effective school health system uses a
team approach to guide programming and
facilitate collaboration between the school
and the community. At the district level,
this group is typically called a school health
council, and at the school level, it is
typically called a school health team.”
CDC- Healthy Youth! Coordinated School Health
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School
Health
School Health Councils – Nationwide Survey
Building Level
School Health Teams
District Level
School Health
Councils
Active
Active
39.5%
27%
73%
NonExistent
61%
SHPPS 2006. Journal of School Health, Volume 77, Number 8, October 2007.
NonExistent
Keys to
Success
Get broad representation
Get administrative/school support
early and often
Develop a timeline
Set mini milestones/goals
Be realistic of school set calendar
3. IDENTIFY A SCHOOL HEALTH
COORDINATOR OR “WELLNESS CHAMPION”
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
~Margaret Meade
4. ASSESS
•Where are you now?
•What data is available?
•What tools can assist you?
•How do you get started?
SCHOOL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
•School Health
Index
•Healthy Schools
Builder
•Healthy Schools
Report Card
WHY USE THE
SCHOOL HEALTH INDEX?
 Enables
schools to identify strengths and
weaknesses of health-related policies and
programs.
 Enables
schools to develop an action plan
for improving student health and
integrate efforts into school improvement
plans.
 Engages
teachers, parents, students, and
the community in promoting healthenhancing behaviors and better health.
CDC GUIDELINES AND STRATEGIES FOR
SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS
5. ADDRESS PRIORITY HEALTH ENHANCING
AND HEALTH-RISK BEHAVIORS.
Physical activity
Nutrition
Tobacco-use prevention
Safety (unintentional injury and
violence prevention)
Physical
o Asthma
Activity
o
o
o
o
=
Tobacco
Nutrition
H
E
A
L
T
H
C
A
R
E
C
O
S
T
S
6. DEVELOP A PLAN.
•Identify priorities and their feasibility.
•Explore readiness for change.
•Start with achievable successes.
•Include promotion of successes.
•Build a constituency of supporters.
“There are three kinds of groups: Those that make things happen; those
that wait for things to happen; and those that wondered what happened.”
~Anonymous
7. IMPLEMENT MULTIPLE STRATEGIES THROUGH
MULTIPLE COMPONENTS
•Parent
Involvement
•Counseling
Policies and
Procedures
Nutrition
services
•Community
Involvement
Environmental
Change
Classroom
Instruction
•Social
Support
8. FOCUS ON STUDENTS (YOUTH)
THE ABCS-- FOR YOUTH
FACTORS THAT CAN INCREASE SCHOOL CONNECTEDNESS
1.
Adult Support
2.
Belonging to a Positive
Peer Group
3.
Commitment to Education
4.
School Environment
9. PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (PD)
FOR STAFF
PD provides opportunities for:
Identifying areas of improvement
Using proven practices
Developing Skills and Reflecting on
new strategies
CSH Professional Development
should focus on:
Development of Leadership
Communication
Collaboration Skills
PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
FOR TEACHERS
• Focuses on the subject matter teachers
will be teaching.
• Align teachers’ learning opportunities
with their real work experiences.
• Provide adequate time for professional
development.
• Ensure that school districts have
reliable systems for evaluating the
impact of professional development on
teachers’ practices and student
learning.
10. MAKE IT HAPPEN!
Resources to share...
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Deb Loy- Director, Coordinated School Health
MN Department of Education
651.582.8306
[email protected]
Gabriel McNeal- Director, Coordinated School Health
MN Department of Health
651.201.5399
[email protected]
Terri Swartout- School Coordinator, SHIP
MN Department of Education
651.582.8377
[email protected]
Thank You!