Building staff capacity to provide health education in after-school settings

The New York Academy of Medicine, Office of School Health Programs is collaborating with United Neighborhood Houses of New York (UNH) to develop and implement a program, Building Staff Capacity to Provide Health Education in After School Settings. The pilot program is designed to improve the skills of those staff members at UNH member agencies who work with early adolescents to promote healthy eating and physical activity to reduce the risk of obesity, address issues of healthy sexuality and relationships, and promote mental and emotional health including stress management. Program components include curriculum development, a series of professional development training workshops and reconvening sessions, implementation by the member agencies at after-school sites, and on-site consultation and technical assistance.

After school programs provide a unique educational opportunity to reach young people with important health promotion messages and skills. This project targets after school staff who work with early adolescents ages 11-14. Professional development training workshops provide opportunities for participants to practice dynamic hands-on strategies and activities for each health topic and assist them in tailoring approaches to meet needs of specific program settings and populations of young people. Follow-up visits provide individual consultation and technical assistance at each of the sites. Peer education/networking symposia and general reconvening sessions provide opportunities to share and discuss successes and challenges, provide and receive feedback, problem-solve, re-assess staff needs, identify issues associated with utilization of the curriculum, address content questions, and strengthen staff facilitation skills.

Data will be presented. Capacity building handouts will be provided.