Evidence shows that inactivity and malnutrition in children can result in the early expression of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These risk factors include obesity, and elevated cholesterol and glucose levels. Research also indicates that healthy behaviors that are adopted by children may be maintained into adulthood. Therefore, school environments play influential roles in preventing and controlling chronic disease. In collaboration with the University of Arizona (UofA), College of Public Health, two counties along the U.S. – Mexico border have initiated a process to empower elementary schools to make health policy changes. The Southeast Arizona Area Health Education Center, Inc. in Santa Cruz county and the UofA College of Agriculture in Yuma county worked with eight elementary schools to implement the School Health Index for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating (SHI). The SHI is a self-assessment and planning guide developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with school administrators and staff, school health professionals, parents,and national education and health organizations. The goal is to help create healthier schools by identifying strengths and weaknesses in health promotion policies, guiding the development of an action plan for improving student health, and involving teachers, parents, students and community members in improving the health of the schools. This involvement of the entire school community is believed to shift the impetus for change from financially driven to community driven. This presentation will report on the implementation process and action plans developed by the eight schools.
Learning Objectives: 1) Recognize the value of using the School Health Index as a tool for assisting schools to set health policy. 2) Identify two reasons schools will want to implement the School Health Index.
Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Education
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.