 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Lynn Seim, MSN, RN, Jennifer Pruitt, Josefine Wendel, MS, RD, and Roy Grant. The Children's Health Fund, 317 East 64th Street, New York, NY 10021, 212-535-9400, lseim@chfund.org
In order for children to reach their academic potential, they must be healthy and ready to learn. School-based and school-linked health care models are important access points for medically underserved children. Schools can play an additional role in promoting healthy choices by providing comprehensive, culturally relevant health education programs. “Healthy B.A.S.I.C.S.” is a series of brochures, curricula, and a parent’s guide to help students make healthy choices. Topics and lesson plans include hygiene; dental care; hand washing; nutrition; exercise; body changes associated with puberty (with different editions for boys and girls); self esteem; anger management; and smart choices about tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. Each topic area includes a curriculum that can be implemented by health professionals in the context of a school-based health center, or by school personnel, and may be further adapted to meet different student needs. The parent’s guide complements material directly presented to students. Like the brochures, it is available in English and Spanish. It includes information, goals, age-appropriate activities to be done with their child, and additional resources available. All materials are produced with a consistent layout in accordance with low literacy design conventions. They are highly visual, culturally relevant in content and illustration, and easy to understand. The Healthy B.A.S.I.C.S. model for collaboration between health agencies and local schools is discussed. Healthy B.A.S.I.C.S. is a partnership between The Children’s Health Fund and the MetLife Foundation.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.