Back to Annual Meeting

Back to Annual Meeting

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Deborah Davenport, RN, MS¹, Grace Lubwama, MPH², Susan Enguidanos, MPH, PhD³, Jean Varden, RN, MEd², and Bart Hoffman, MA EdAdmin⁴. (1) Public Health, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 5300 Tujunga Street, North Hollywood, CA 91601, 818-487-0028, ddavenport@ladhs.org, (2) Antelope Valley Partners for Health, 1122 West Avenue L-12 Suite 102, Lancaster, CA 93534, (3) Research Center, Partners In Care Foundation, 732 Mott Street, Suite 150, San Fernando, CA 91340, (4) Superintendent of Instructional Services, Keppel Union Elementary School District, P. O. Box 186, 34004 128th Street East, Pearblossom, CA 93553

Obesity and type 2 diabetes have become major public health problems among American youth. As the rate of obesity increases among youth, so too does the risk of developing serious health problems, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. In an effort to identify effective strategies for reducing obesity and diabetes, a public-private partnership was developed as a collaborative effort between public health, school district, and non-profit organizations through funding from the U.S. Department of Education. This collaboration utilized the Coordinated School Health Model in 5 rural elementary schools, and one junior high school with the goal of improving health and wellness through a community-wide campaign that includes school staff/teacher wellness programs, student physical activity curriculum, enhanced health education and nutrition modification in school cafeterias; and community fairs and activities and public awareness efforts. This session will present the strategies engaged in this effort as well as preliminary findings from the evaluation of the project on student and teacher health and satisfaction. Preliminary analysis from this model has demonstrated significant improvement in youth aerobic capacity as well as greater portions of youth meeting state physical fitness standards. Additionally, significant inroads have been made in providing higher nutritional content in school meals.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the basic components of the School Coordinated Health Model
• Describe strategies for local public health to facilitate partnership with school districts to initiate physical activity programs and change nutrition patterns in local schools
• Identify at least three measures for childhood fitness
• Identify at least three key changes in school nutrition policy that positively impact dietary intake by school-age children.
• Describe at least three strategies for engaging parents, school boards, and communities to support changing exercise and nutrition patterns among school- age children.

Keywords: Physical Activity, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation