DSHS School Health Program Friday Beat - February 17, 2023

 

Friday Beat
February 17, 2023 Edition

The newsletter that takes a Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach. The Friday Beat is a free publication of the Texas Department of State Health Services. It is edited and compiled by the School Health Program.

Announcements
Attend the Texas School Health Advisory Committee Meeting
The Texas School Health Advisory Committee will hold its Spring Semester meeting on Monday, February 27, 2023. There is an option to attend virtually through Microsoft TEAMS or in person. View the agenda and meeting information.

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
Teen dating violence is an issue that impacts everyone. Parents, teachers, friends, and communities can help prevent violence and promote safe, healthy relationships. Visit youth.gov for toolkits, programs, and planning guides for young people, educators, and families.

Professional Development
2023 Texas School Safety Conference
Texas School Safety Center is hosting their conference themed Developing School Safety Leaders on June 18-22, 2023 in San Antonio. The conference will offer strategies to empower everyone in the school community to lead with confidence. Nationally recognized keynote speakers and relevant breakout sessions, based on best practices in the field of school safety, will equip participants to improve the school safety posture of districts and communities. Register by May 26, 2023 to receive a discount.

Office of Disability Prevention for Children 3rd Annual Statewide Virtual Conference
Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) is hosting their statewide virtual conference, Creating Connections: Prevention with Purpose. The conference will take place on Tuesdays from March 7-28, 2023, from 10 am –12:30 pm CT. The conference will highlight key topics on preventing intellectual and developmental disabilities in children. The goal is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including community-based and government organizations, health care professionals, educators, families, caregivers and others to discuss and learn about strategies for creating positive change in the lives of children and families across Texas. Continuing education credit for multiple disciplines will be provided for this event. Register for the sessions on the HHS webpage.

Health Education
Vaping Prevention and Education
The United States Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) has an online vaping prevention and education resource center. The center provides free, science-based, standards-mapped materials that teachers can use to help their students understand the dangers associated with vaping and nicotine addiction. CTP also developed free materials for parents and teens.

Nutrition Environment and Services
Seeds of Success Toolkit
KidsGardening has compiled a Seeds of Success toolkit to support edible school gardens. The toolkit was created from a wealth of knowledge from school gardeners across the country to provide the necessary resources to initiate and sustain a successful school food garden. Topics include planning, designing, funding, safety, and more. Resources include downloadable chapters and recorded webinars.

Social and Emotional School Climate
School Connectedness
The Centers for Disease Control has resources to support school connectedness. Schools play a critical role in promoting students’ health and development by creating environments where all students feel that they are cared for, supported, and belong. When schools put in place strategies that create safe and supportive environments, including strategies focused on building school connectedness, youth are less likely to engage in risky sexual, violence, and substance use behaviors.

Physical Environment
February is National Pesticide Safety Education Month
During the month of February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognizes National Pesticide Safety Education Month to raise awareness for pesticide safety education and share best practices for using pesticides safely in and around schools and homes. Learn about pesticide safety in schools and share resources with school families.

Family Engagement
Quality Time in No Time: Quick and Simple Ways to Make Family Time More Meaningful
Healthier Generation, Kohl’s Healthy at Home, and Blue Star Families have created a resource to support families to have meaningful time together. Spending quality time with family and loved ones can improve social skills, boost children’s confidence, and increase feelings of happiness. Share this course with families and community partners.

 

Community Involvement
Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Texas System of Care, in collaboration with the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health at the University of Texas at Austin, is excited to announce the return of the Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest in 2023. The contest will accept individual and group submissions through March 10, 2023. The contest seeks to raise awareness of mental health experiences, challenge stigma, and provide an opportunity to express complex emotions through creative outlets. For more information, including past winners, rules, and instructions for submitting artwork, visit the Texas Mental Health Creative Arts Contest webpage.

Quote to Note

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.” - Hans Christian Andersen

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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 or server restrictions. 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 schoolhealth@dshs.texas.gov or call (512) 776-7279.

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