CALL FOR ABSTRACTS — APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo

School Health Education and Services

Meeting theme: Creating the Healthiest Nation: Health Equity Now

Submission Deadline: Monday, February 26, 2018

The School Health Education and Services (SHES) section of the APHA invites abstracts for oral presentations and posters from those with an interest in the health and well being of students and staff members in preschool, K-12 school, and college settings. Findings from well designed research studies, case studies, policy development, and programs regarding current best practices, lessons learned, and policies are invited.  Abstracts should be no more than 250 words.  All presenters must be individual members of APHA to present and must register for the meeting.  Abstracts cannot be presented or published in any journal prior to the APHA Annual Meeting.  You must include learner-centered objectives with your abstract. Please use one of the examples of measurable action words provided on the submission form and format your learning objectives according to APHA's specific instructions. These are needed so we can get ANCC, MCHES, and CHES credit for our sessions.

Should your presentation need technology beyond a computer and projector, such as the internet, please submit to the APHA HIIT center call for abstracts. Should your presentation seek to preview a film, please submit to the  APHA film festival call for abstracts.

Potential topics include:

        • Active transport to school
        • Alcohol, tobacco (including e-cigarettes), and other drug use prevention in schools
        • Application of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model
        • Current trends in school-based health centers
        • Diversity in schools
        • Effective funding for public health education
        • Effective health education curricula: Emerging trends
        • Effective sexuality education programs in schools
        • Environmental health in schools
        • Equity in schools
        • Evidence-based practice in school nursing: Emerging innovations
        • Food and nutrition in schools
        • LGBTQ students and school health
        • Mental health and trauma in schools
        • Policies in school health
        • SHES Business Meeting
        • SHES Business Meeting
        • SHES Business Meeting
        • SHES Networking Meeting
        • School health is public health
        Peer reviewers will assess the suitability of abstracts for presentation on the above format and the following criteria:
        1. Significance of study in relation to school health
        2. Appropriate methodology
        3. Significance of findings/results
        4. Quality of conclusions or recommendations
        5. Usefulness for supporting or strengthening school health and the health of children, adolescents, and college students

        The section will present an award for the “best” student research abstract. Preference will be given to completed research rather than to proposed projects or pilot studies.

        Currently enrolled students in health education, nursing, medicine, social work, and counseling (and students enrolled in related programs of study) are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts of research work performed to satisfy academic coursework or requirements. Be sure to identify your academic program and institution. 

        Continuing Education Credit

        APHA values the ability to provide continuing education credit to physicians, nurses, health educators, and those certified in public health at its annual meeting. Please complete all required information when submitting an abstract so members can claim credit for attending your session. These credits are necessary for members to keep their licenses and credentials.

        For a session to be eligible for Continuing Education Credit, each presenter, panelist, discussant, and/or faculty must provide:

        1) an abstract free of trade and/or commercial product names;

        2) at least one MEASURABLE SINGLE outcome (“to understand” or “to learn” are not measurable outcomes and compound outcomes are not acceptable). Use ONLY the following Measurable Action Verbs: 

        Explain, Demonstrate, Analyze, Formulate, Discuss, Compare, Differentiate, Describe, Name, Assess, Evaluate, Identify, Design, Define or List. 

        3) A signed Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form with a relevant qualification statement; Example of Acceptable Biographical Qualification Statement: (I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on the epidemiology of drug abuse, HIV prevention and co-occurring mental and drug use disorders. Among my scientific interests has been the development of strategies for preventing HIV and STDs in out-of-treatment drug users.) Please note that I am the Principle Investigator of this study is NOT an acceptable qualification statement. 

        4) All continuing education learning content must be of sound science or professional practice and serve to maintain, develop, or increase the knowledge, skills and professional competence of the health professional. Learning content should be evidence-based if available. A list of over 30 areas will be provided online for you to choose from. You will be asked to choose at least one or up to 6 areas that your presentation will address.

        Thank you for your assistance in making your session credit worthy. Contact Mighty Fine at mighty.fine@apha.org if you have any questions concerning continuing education. For program questions, contact the program planner listed below.


        Ready?

        Program Planner Contact Information:

        Amy Cory, PhD, MPH, RN
        College of Nursing and Health Professions
        Valparaiso University
        836 LaPorte Avenue
        Valparaiso, IN 46383
        Phone: 2199285474
        amy.cory@valpo.edu