4230.0: Tuesday, November 14, 2000 - 3:00 PM

Abstract #8961

Enabling the nation's schools to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes: A CDC initiative

Diane Allensworth, PhD, RN, Howell Wechsler, EdD, Lydia Blasini-Caceres, PhD, MPHE, and Carolyn Fisher, EdD. Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy. NE, MS K-31, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770/488-3252, dda6@cdc.gov

Description of Program Content and Methods: This presentation will provide the rationale for and an overview of a new CDC initiative designed to enable the nation's schools to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. The initiative will address the four risk behaviors responsible for much of the morbidity and mortality from these diseases: tobacco use, excessive consumption of fat and calories, inadequate physical activity, and obesity. CDC will use four interrelated strategies to help schools identify and implement effective policies and programs to promote lifelong physical activity and healthy eating and to prevent obesity and tobacco use: (1) Monitor critical health events and school policies and programs; (2) Synthesize and apply research to improve school policies and programs; (3) Enable CDC's constituents to help schools implement effective policies and programs through extensive collaboration with other federal agencies and a wide range of non-governmental health and education organizations; and (4) evaluate to improve policies and programs.

Brief Program Summary: This presentation will describe a new CDC initiative to enable schools to prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. CDC will use four interrelated strategies to help schools promote physical activity and healthy eating and prevent tobacco use: (1) monitor health events and school programs; (2) synthesize and apply research; (3) enable constituents to help schools through extensive collaboration; and (4) evaluate.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participant will be able to: 1) Describe the key components of CDC's new intiative to help schools prevent cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes 2) Identify 3 benefits of using one of the new CDC tools to help schools implement school health guidelines 3) Identify 2 ways that organizations with which they are affliated can participate in the new initiative

Keywords: School Health, Disease Prevention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
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.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA