Health Resources

Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) announced the initial release of the Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT). The HECAT can help school districts and school analyze health education curricula based on the National Health Education Standards and CDC's Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula in order to select or develop appropriate health education curricula. Currently available only via the website in PDF format, the HECAT includes an overview chapter; instructions to guide a curriculum review; chapters to analyze preliminary curriculum considerations (accuracy, acceptability, feasibility and affordability) and curriculum fundamentals (teacher materials, instructional design, instructional strategies and materials); and modules to analyze concepts and skills in curricula that address alcohol and other drug prevention, promotion of healthy eating, promotion of physical activity, and tobacco use prevention. Other modules will be available in the future, as they are completed.

Student Health and Academic Achievement Web Page

Also new this month from CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) is its new Student Health and Academic Achievement web page that highlights the strong association between the academic success of America's youth and their health. Included is a link to the November 2007 Journal of School Health article entitled "Coordinated School Health Programs and Academic Achievement" by Murray et al. The article examines evidence that school health program interventions that fit within the eight components of the Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) model improve academic success among students.

In the near future, the Student Health and Academic Achievement web page will have:

• One-page fact sheets highlighting significant associations between health-risk behaviors and academic grades based on YRBS data.
• PowerPoint slides containing graphs of all the significant associations among health-risk behavior variables and academic grades based on YRBS data.
• Presentation slides and scripts on health and academic achievement.

Health Education Competencies

The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing has published A Competency-Based Framework for Health Educators - 2006. The competencies and sub-competencies described in the document can be used to guide hiring, job descriptions, program development and program assessment. The publication may be ordered from the Commission's website.

Case Studies for Teaching Health

The National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science at the University of Buffalo features a wide array of case studies for use in teaching anatomy, environment, medicine and health, nutrition, and other health-related topics. Designed primarily for teaching college undergraduates, the cases may be adapted for high school health education classes.

Building Healthier Schools

Building Healthier Schools is a new publication from the National Association of County and City Health Officials that outlines innovative approaches to collaboration and creative health-promoting activities that emerged from partnerships between local public health agencies and schools. The focus is on strategies to improve poor nutrition and physical inactivity.

Physical Activity Grants for Youth

Nike, Inc. supports programs that increase and promote physical activity and seeks to (1) get youth more physically active; (2) get youth involved in the teamwork of sports; and (3) have a real, positive, and measurable impact. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status in communities where Nike has a significant employee or business presence. There is a rolling deadline. Contact Nike, Inc. directly for complete program information and application guidelines.

U.S. Potato Board Gives School Health Grants

The U.S. Potato Board, in collaboration with the School Nutrition Foundation, is launching its first School Wellness Grant program. The board intends to award ten $2,500 grants to public elementary schools in 2008. The grants may be used toward food service equipment for the healthful preparation of potatoes, physical activity equipment for playgrounds or physical education classes, or development/execution of nutrition or physical activity education programs. Applications, due April 15, 2008, are available at www.healthypotato.com/health.asp or http://www.schoolnutrition.org.

Guides to School Health Grants

Looking for a grant to support your school health project? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains a Healthy Youth Funding Database which includes funding opportunities from federal agencies and the private sector that are relevant to adolescent health or one or more components of a coordinated school health program. A Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded initiative provides links to private sector funding opportunities on its Leadership for Healthy Communities Web site, along with a number of resources about school-based efforts to combat obesity.