Friday Beat March 31, 2017 Edition

The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach.

Announcements Awards for Excellence (AFE) in Texas School Health The AFE in Texas School Health is an awards program led by the School Health Program of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). AFE gives schools and school districts cash prizes for school health projects that improve the lifelong physical, mental, and social well-being of students, staff, and the school community. Applications for the three types of awards are due by August 31, 2017. However, we strongly recommend that potential applicants begin reviewing the new streamlined applications and general information documents as soon as possible.

National Child Abuse Prevention Month (NCAPM) The 2017 NCAPM website is live and brimming with resources! The English/Spanish activity calendars outline ways that parents, programs, and community partners can build hope during April by engaging in activities related to the six protective factors (listed across the top of calendars). On April 5, 2017, at 1:00-1:30 p.m. CDT, the Children’s Bureau, Office on Child Abuse & Neglect (CB/OCAN) will host the third Digital Dialogue in a series of six to support NCAPM.

National Youth Violence Prevention Week—April 3-7, 2017 Everyone can help stop youth violence before it starts. Effective prevention strategies promote awareness of youth violence as a public health problem that can be prevented. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers numerous resources, including the Youth Violence Prevention Technical Package. Refer to the Appendix on pages 60-61 for the six evidence-based strategies and associated approaches for preventing youth violence.

Professional Development Opportunities Adolescent Sleep, Health, and School Start Times—The National Conference The Conference will be held in Washington, D.C. on April 27-28, 2017. You may want to take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to meet and hear from the experts who wrote the healthy school-start-time recommendations. Registration for educators, school administrators, and community leaders is significantly discounted!

Funding Opportunities Improving Diabetes and Obesity Prevention and Care Independent school districts are eligible for this funding through the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The purpose of 1 the grants are to improve the care and health outcomes of individuals with diabetes or at risk for diabetes and/or at risk for overweight or obesity by improving healthcare delivery. Applications are due by May 1, 2017.

Regional Telehealth Resource Center (RTRC) Program Grants The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering funding to support 12 RTRCs that focus on statewide and regional telehealth activities. RTRCs assist health care organizations, health care networks, and health care providers in the implementation of cost-effective telehealth programs to serve rural and medically underserved areas and populations. Independent school districts are eligible to serve as RTRCs that advance the effective use of telehealth technologies in their communities. Grant applications are due by May 2, 2017.

Health Education Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping Webinar—April 13, 2017 At 9:30-10:30 a.m. CDT, Children’s Health LIVE will present Findings and Health Effects on the Adolescent Population. Nurses may earn one contact hour of continuing education credit.

Sexual Assault: Acute Care and Prevention The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) just published the clinical report Care of the Adolescent After an Acute Sexual Assault, based on input from the AAP Committees on Adolescence and Child Abuse and Neglect. Although the report contains clinical guidance for pediatricians, it also addresses sexual assault prevention as well as mental health consequences and follow-up care.

Physical Education & Physical Activity Webinar: Promoting Screen-Free Activities at School At 3:00-3:30 p.m. CDT on April 12, 2017, the Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) will present Turn It Off! Attendees will learn how to organize Screen-Free Week and promote screen-free activities year-round for families in the school community.

PALA+ Joins SuperTracker The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) program is now integrated with SuperTracker! This allows anyone age six and older to log individual food items and physical activities into their SuperTracker profile while working to complete the eight-week PALA+ program, which focuses on fitness and healthy eating goals.

Nutrition Environment & Services Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) Adoption Last week the Food Research & Action Network (FRAC) released data regarding schools and districts participating in the CEP for the 2016-2017 school year. The number of schools adopting the provision continues to climb! Visit FRAC’s Community Eligibility webpage for their Outreach Tools and Resources, which include the two-page FRAC Facts: Community Eligibility and the new report. You can see how Texas compares to other states in take up of community eligibility and trends that are emerging in the third year of nationwide availability.

2 Social & Emotional Climate Restorative Practices Webinar—April 13, 2017 At 12:00-1:00 p.m. CDT, Community Matters will present Tips to Strengthen School Climate & Improve Discipline Efforts through Restorative Practices. Participants will learn about the role of adult-student relationships in creating a positive school climate and the power of engaging students in school-climate transformation efforts.

Family Engagement AAP Recommendations on Media Use In October 2016, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released the policy statements Media Use in School-Aged Children and Adolescents and Media and Young Minds (for infants/pre-school children). Lead author Jenny Radesky, M.D. explained, “What’s most important is that parents be their child’s ‘media mentor.’ That means teaching them how to use it as a tool to create, connect and learn.” Check out the English/Spanish Family Media Use Plan tool, which can help with setting age-appropriate screen free times and zones as well as device curfews.

Community Involvement Policing America’s Schools A project of Education Week’s Research Center, Policing America’s Schools includes in-depth reporting and data analysis about policing and arrest rates in schools across the U.S. You can use the interactive data tool to view information about your local public school(s) that relates to enrollment, referrals to law enforcement, arrest rates, and presence of school-based officers. You can also use the data tool to obtain an overview of how Texas compares to other states and the U.S. percentage.

Quote to Note “ All kids need is a little help, a little hope and somebody who believes in them .” — Earvin “Magic” Johnson Jr., basketball player

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The articles and hyperlinks to external websites appearing in Friday Beat are intended to be informational and do not represent an endorsement by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Other websites may not be accessible to people with disabilities. External email addresses may also be provided as a courtesy. If you choose to correspond, please be advised that DSHS policies may not apply. For information about any of the programs listed, contact the sponsoring organization directly. For comments or questions about Friday Beat, email the School Health Program at [email protected] or call (512) 776-7279.

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