Gail Schroeder¹, Kathy Akpom, PhD, MPH², and Lana Ilain, BSAS¹. (1) Department of Health Professions, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555, (2) Community Health Program, Department of Health Professions, Youngstown State University, One University Plaza, Youngstown, OH 44555, 330-941-1901, kakpom@aol.com

An assessment parallel to the CDC School Health Education Profiles Study was conducted in two local counties that are part of the service area for a midwestern urban university. The assessment identified health teacher characteristics, curriculum policies, and curriculum content. The results compare local schools to the national benchmarks of the CDC study. Results indicate the local sample does not meet the national benchmarks on any variable. Nationally, 45 % of the schools use National Health Education Standards (NHES) for curriculum planning, compared to 17% of the local sample. The percentage of schools in the local sample that teach prevention is lower for each of the acknowledged 7 youth high risk behaviors as compared to CDC benchmarks. The local sample less frequently teaches each of the 6 NHES skills as compared to the CDC benchmark. The results of the local assessment have been used to impress upon health teachers in-training the importance of planning a curriculum according to the NHES for each of the 7 areas of youth risk behavior prevention, even if that is not the practice in the school in which they may be hired. Additionally the results suggest the need for continuing education for incumbent local health education teachers concerning the NHES and their use as the basis for curriculum development. Two priority continuing education risk behavior topic areas identified were suicide prevention, taught in 70% of the local schools and violence prevention, taught only in 63% schools locally, compared to 90% nationally.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the session, particpants will be able to

• Describe the CDC School Health Education Profiles Study.
• Describe the National Health Education Standards.
• Discuss the importance of developing local health education currucula according to the National Health Education Standards.

Keywords: School Health Educators, Health Education

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.