Shirley Schantz, a nurse affiliated with the National Association of School Nurses (NASN), deals with the issue of childhood obesity within their organization. We asked her a few questions and below are her responses. She was a great help to us in identifying ways that nurses can get involved with this issue!
Q:How do you think that school nurses specifically can play a role in the school environment educating children on the importance of healthy lifestyle choices and physical activity?
A:School nurses have an intimate and credible relationship with students and families and have the knowledge and skills related to nutrition and physical activity. They are the health experts in the schools. For some students school nurses are the only access to health care. The number of students with asthma and diabetes (type 1 and 2) are increasing, making the school nurse even more vital.
Q:Do you think it is possible to fight the issue of childhood obesity solely by promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices, or it is an issue that must be dealt with in many aspects of life, and not just through the school systems.
A:Childhood obesity is a public health problem, not just a school or home problem. Changes have to made in the home, school, community, primary health care and the environment. Students spend about ½ of their waking hours in school, so school is important, but other things have to be addressed. Proximity of grocery stores to buy healthy foods, safe places to play and walk and a recognition from primary health care that this needs to be addressed with parents. Changes need to take place at a practice and policy level. We have to look at prevention policies and intervention practices, both at the same time.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Where Our Bill Stands
While following the progress of our bill, we were under the assumption that it had been blocked in the house, but it has passed unanimously. We are very excited that this bill is progressing and hope it will have a positive outcome on the health of children in America. We will continue to update further progress on the bill as it is made available.
Responses of Stakeholders
Last week we sent out emails to those we felt were key stakeholders to the bill. We emailed Senator Peterson, but at this time haven't heard back. We contacted a Physical Education teacher, Kate Tynes about the importance of physical education in a school curriculum. She emailed back stating she was very interested in this matter and would love to view our blog. We haven't heard back with any comments, although we asked her to just comment on the blog itself. Shirley Schantz, the Nursing Education Director of the National Association of School Nurses, she responded giving us a hyperlink, http://www.nasn.org/Default.aspx?tabid=594, to view resources provided by NASN on childhood obesity. We contacted Sallie Strickler, chairwoman of the Harrisonburg Public School Board and this is how she responded:
"Thanks for contacting me regarding the issue of childhood obesity and the school system.
Several years ago when I was a candidate for the board, one of my concerns was and continues to be the amount of exercise children get in school. I want to clarify that the school board does not develop curriculum but does give guidance to what we would like to have offered by the schools. The assistant superintendent, Dr. Mike Loso, is responsible for curriculum development.
For the current school year, the board gave a direction to increase the amount of time children spend in "specials", (art, music, PE and library). While the goal of that direction was to increase the frequency, the duration was increased. This did add to the total minutes a student was in specials each week, it did not increase the frequency as desired. The staff reported to the board their concerns that the duration is now too long so the principals were adjusting the time back to a shorter duration.
As I go to the schools, I continue to be concerned about the number of overweight students. I will continue to advocate for increased frequency of exercise for students. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Sallie"
We emailed Lynn Alexander, a Physical Education teacher; William Howell, the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates; Mike Loso, Assistant Superintendent for Harrisonburg public schools. We are waiting on replies and as soon as we get those we will post them.
"Thanks for contacting me regarding the issue of childhood obesity and the school system.
Several years ago when I was a candidate for the board, one of my concerns was and continues to be the amount of exercise children get in school. I want to clarify that the school board does not develop curriculum but does give guidance to what we would like to have offered by the schools. The assistant superintendent, Dr. Mike Loso, is responsible for curriculum development.
For the current school year, the board gave a direction to increase the amount of time children spend in "specials", (art, music, PE and library). While the goal of that direction was to increase the frequency, the duration was increased. This did add to the total minutes a student was in specials each week, it did not increase the frequency as desired. The staff reported to the board their concerns that the duration is now too long so the principals were adjusting the time back to a shorter duration.
As I go to the schools, I continue to be concerned about the number of overweight students. I will continue to advocate for increased frequency of exercise for students. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions.
Sallie"
We emailed Lynn Alexander, a Physical Education teacher; William Howell, the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates; Mike Loso, Assistant Superintendent for Harrisonburg public schools. We are waiting on replies and as soon as we get those we will post them.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Contacting Key Stakeholders
Our group emailed Senator Chapman, two Physical Education teachers, the Harrisonburg School Board Chairwoman, the National Association of School Nurses, and William Howell (speaker of Virginia House of Delegates).
We first emailed Senator Chapman because he is the patron of the Bill SJ Resolution No. 85. We asked him what his ideas would have been for implementing the bill if it had not been blocked.
Physical Education teachers play a vital role in a child's development while they are in the school setting. These teachers have the opportunity to educate children on the importance of exercising daily and eating a healthy diet.
We emailed the Harrisonburg School Board Chairwoman because the school board creates the curriculum and makes important decisions for the public school system.
We also contacted The National Association of School Nurses because we feel that school nurses can play a key role in the education in children about making healthy life style choices.
William Howell was emailed because he is the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. We contacted him about why the bill was blocked and what changes need to be made for the bill to pass.
We first emailed Senator Chapman because he is the patron of the Bill SJ Resolution No. 85. We asked him what his ideas would have been for implementing the bill if it had not been blocked.
Physical Education teachers play a vital role in a child's development while they are in the school setting. These teachers have the opportunity to educate children on the importance of exercising daily and eating a healthy diet.
We emailed the Harrisonburg School Board Chairwoman because the school board creates the curriculum and makes important decisions for the public school system.
We also contacted The National Association of School Nurses because we feel that school nurses can play a key role in the education in children about making healthy life style choices.
William Howell was emailed because he is the speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. We contacted him about why the bill was blocked and what changes need to be made for the bill to pass.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Political Action Plan and Key Stakeholders
As a group we are in support of Senate Joint Resolution No. 85. As stated in the previous blog posting, childhood obesity in rising rapidly. In the last 30 years, obesity in young children has more than tripled. According the the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, obese children are at a a greater risk for Cardiovascular disease, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, diabetes, stroke, cancer, as well as social and psychological problems. Research has shown that promoting healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating healthy and physical activity, have decreased the risk of childhood obesity and related diseases. While we are in support of the overall bill, there are not specific guidelines set in place on how the education and health promotion will be implemented in the school systems. If the bill is passed, there is no set plan on enforcing changes in the schools.
Political Action Plan:
- Contact key legislators and invite them to look at our blog
- Ask key legislators how they plan on implementing the bill in schools if it is passed
- Contact local school systems and inquire about current health education and physical activity programs
- Contact the National Association for School Nurses and invite them to view our blog
- Contact the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and NFL's Play 60 and invite them to view our blog and ask for support
- Each member of the group will contact our local legislators and ask them to view our blog
Key stakeholders:
- Young children in public schools
- Teachers, specifically physcial education and health teachers
- School adminstrators
- Parents of students
- School Nurses
Key Legislators:
- Senator J. Chapman Peterson
Political Action Plan:
- Contact key legislators and invite them to look at our blog
- Ask key legislators how they plan on implementing the bill in schools if it is passed
- Contact local school systems and inquire about current health education and physical activity programs
- Contact the National Association for School Nurses and invite them to view our blog
- Contact the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and NFL's Play 60 and invite them to view our blog and ask for support
- Each member of the group will contact our local legislators and ask them to view our blog
Key stakeholders:
- Young children in public schools
- Teachers, specifically physcial education and health teachers
- School adminstrators
- Parents of students
- School Nurses
Key Legislators:
- Senator J. Chapman Peterson
Friday, February 26, 2010
Influences and Impact
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity rates have nearly tripled between the years 1980 and 2004. In 2006, there was a 17% prevalence rate of obesity in children between the ages of six and eleven-years-old. With the rise of obesity in children, there is also a rise with immediate and long term health impacts.
Schools can be considered key partners in the effort to reverse the growing issue of childhood obesity. It is estimated that more than 95% of children are enrolled in schools. The school environment is an ideal setting for educating children on how to implement and continue a healthy, active lifestyle. Research has shown a positive relationship between physical activity, nutrition, and academic performance. If this resolution is enacted, we feel it will have a positive impact on nurses, clients, and the health care system.
Nurses can continue to educate clients about the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. If consumers are more informed and are physically active at a young age, it will decrease the likelihood of weight related health problems later in life. Spending the money and time now to educate the youth, will hopefully decrease the health care costs of future generations.
Schools can be considered key partners in the effort to reverse the growing issue of childhood obesity. It is estimated that more than 95% of children are enrolled in schools. The school environment is an ideal setting for educating children on how to implement and continue a healthy, active lifestyle. Research has shown a positive relationship between physical activity, nutrition, and academic performance. If this resolution is enacted, we feel it will have a positive impact on nurses, clients, and the health care system.
Nurses can continue to educate clients about the importance of physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. If consumers are more informed and are physically active at a young age, it will decrease the likelihood of weight related health problems later in life. Spending the money and time now to educate the youth, will hopefully decrease the health care costs of future generations.
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