Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113618

Libby Carter-Otuya, MPA, PS 57 School Health Team, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 158 E. 115th Street, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10029, 212-360-5980, queenotuya@netzero.com, Maureen McGovern, RN, CPNP, North General Hospital, 1879 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10035, and Elizabeth Solomon, MS, RD, FoodChange, 39 Broadway, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10006.

Public School 57 located in the East Harlem, New York is burdened by disproportionately high rates of asthma, obesity and a lack of opportunities for safe physical activity. In an effort to bring about change, a School Health Team (SHT), based on the Center for Disease Control (CDC) model, was established. The project was able to build on existing school and community-based programs, including the development of a school-based health center to address students' primary and mental health needs (in partnership with a local community hospital), and a collaboration with the local district health office. These relationships lead to additional opportunities to engage community-based organizations with similar goals. These community representatives as well as school staff and parent volunteers make up the school health team (SHT). The SHT will identify, develop and implement programs and policies that address the comprehensive health needs of this school community.

Baseline and multiple year outcome data will be captured in a database that will include health status (BMI), health knowledge and academic performance for each student. Research demonstrates that improved nutrition and physical fitness are directly linked to enhanced academic performance and emotional functioning, making school a very natural environment for implementing this community-based approach to health behavior change.

Learning Objectives:

• how to negotiate the multiple dynamics associated with developing a coordinated school health team. 2)how to establish a comprehensive school health needs assessment.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.