Friday Beat

July 21, 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
Prepping for Back to School
In preparation for the new school year, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) provides information on the required vaccines to keep children from kindergarten through 12th grade healthy, happy and prepared for their education. To help residents keep track of their vaccination records, DSHS maintains the Texas Immunization Registry (ImmTrac2). ImmTrac2 keeps vaccination records for people who have opted into the registry. Share these resources with parents, families, and community members as we go into the new school year.

Professional Development
The Emerging School Nurse Leader Role in Decreasing School Absenteeism in Children with Migraine Headache
The National Association for School Nurses offers this self-paced program for 1.0 Continuing Nursing Education contact hours. This program includes information about the Headache Action Plan Project for Youth, a framework for timely identification and effective management of childhood migraines. Content is also provided on the school nurse’s role as a leader of school-based health to help manage childhood migraines while at school. Share the registration page with local school nurses.

Health Education
Youth Vaping Prevention and Resources to Quit
Truth Initiative and Kaiser Permanente in collaboration with the American Heart Association launched Vaping: Know the Truth, a free digital vaping prevention curriculum. In addition to encouraging students to live vape-free lives, this self-led interactive curriculum offers resources to help young people who are currently using e-cigarettes to quit through a text message youth quit vaping program called This is Quitting. Download the course overview and learn more on the curriculum webpage.

Resources for Tobacco-Free and Vaping-Free Schools
Alliance for a Healthier Generation published resources to strengthen district policies, support tobacco-free and vaping-free environments, and focus on the use of healing practices to curb tobacco use. Free resources include a tobacco-free district model policy, an integrative assessment, and tools to help create an action plan to track progress, download data reports, and more.

Physical Education and Physical Activity
Walk Across Texas! Youth
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension is promoting Walk Across Texas! Youth, a free 8-week walking challenge designed to help Texas youth be more active and establish the habit of regular physical activity. Year-round participation is encouraged using locally sponsored program activities. Resources, lesson plans, and registration information are available on the program webpage.

Tips for Active Families
Be Active Kids published 5 tips to encourage families to be active together, including ways to make active play fun, making moving a priority, budget-friendly activities, ways to be active inside and outside, and how to get active with other families. Share this resource with parents and families this summer.

Nutrition Environment and Services
Discover MyPlate: Look and Cook Recipes
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Discover MyPlate team created recipes families can make together this summer. The pictorial recipes, along with an instructional video can be used as a guide and offer kids a simple and visual way to prepare healthy snacks. Recipes have been “kindergarten-tested” by teachers and students. Each recipe is printed in English and Spanish.

Healthy Meals Incentives Recognition Awards for School Food Authorities
Action for Healthy Kids is offering Recognition Awards to celebrate School Food Authorities that have made significant improvements to the nutritional quality of their school meals. The Recognition Awards will spotlight innovative practices, student and community engagement activities, and strategies schools are using to provide meals that are consistent with the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Information on the categories and criteria, application portal, and helpful resources to complete the application can be found on the Recognition Awards page. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis through June 30, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their results within two months of submission.

Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services
Anxiety Resources
Kids can develop anxiety from many things, such as interactions with new animals, being separated from their parents, or doing something embarrassing. The Child Mind Institute created a resource page covering a variety of topics related to anxiety in kids. Anxiety can show up in a lot of different ways, including headaches, stomachaches, extreme shyness, and tantrums. Explore the anxiety resources page for topics including parenting anxious kids, anxiety in schools, specific phobias, and information on different types of anxiety.

Community Involvement
Implementing School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Mandates Webinar
Action for Healthy Kids is hosting a webinar on August 9th at 11:30AM to discuss implementing the new rules for SHACs that were passed in 2021. Join Jasmine Wightman, Senior Attorney with the Texas Association of School Boards as she provides guidance on what and how these rules affect local SHACs and curriculum approval processes. Visit the registration page for more details.

Quote to Note
“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great in whatever they want to do.” –Kobe Bryant

__________________________________________________________

Become a Friday Beat subscriber by signing up on the Friday Beat webpage!

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

Public Domain. Permission granted to forward or make copies as needed.