Friday Beat

August 4, 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
Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month
The National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute (NEI) observes August as Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month. Visit NEI for Kids as a space for children to learn about eye health and safety. Resources include information about vision, an “Ask the Scientist” video series, first aid and healthy vision tips, and related games for kids. To learn more about vision screenings for your school, visit the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Vision and Hearing Screening webpage.

National Immunization Awareness Month
The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognizes August as National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). DSHS has put together a Back-to-School Outreach Toolkit for the 2023-2024 school year, which can be found on the DSHS Back-to-School webpage. This toolkit contains a variety of resources to help promote vaccine efforts on campus.

Professional Development
Incorporating Updated Asthma Guidelines in Clinical Care Webinar
The DSHS Asthma Program is hosting an online webinar on August 9th from 12:00PM to 1:00PM that will cover how clinicians can incorporate the updated asthma guidelines into their clinical care. Hear from pediatricians and pediatric pulmonologists in Texas on the latest asthma guidelines from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, Global Initiative for Asthma, and the American Academy of Pediatricians. Registration is open.

Funding Opportunities
EPA 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the 2023 Clean School Bus Grant Program. The program consists of $400 million in grant funding available to eligible applicants nationwide. The program helps in the purchase of zero-emission school buses, clean school buses and zero-emission charging infrastructure. Applications which aim to replace buses serving high-need local education agencies, rural areas, tribal school districts, and public-school districts receiving basic support payments will be prioritized. Applications are due by August 22, 2023.

Health Education
Online Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) launched the Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center, which provides free science-based, standards-mapped resources that teachers can use to help their students understand the dangers associated with vaping and nicotine addiction. CTP also developed free materials for parents to help them understand and recognize vapes, talk with their children, and keep the conversation going over time. Students can read real-life stories and relatable content to help them understand vaping, nicotine addiction, common myths about vapes, and how to say no to vaping.

Turn To Campaign
The Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) launched the ‘Turn To’ substance use prevention media campaign in collaboration with FleishmanHillard and The University of Texas Center for Health Communication. HHSC will be hosting various back-to-school events, including dynamic activities, distribution of back-to-school supplies, and sharing resources in support of mental health and wellbeing and prevention of substance use and related issues. More information, resources, and materials can be found on the campaign webpage, available in English and Spanish.

Physical Education and Physical Activity
Move Your Way Campaign
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched the Move Your Way campaign. This campaign offers tools, videos, and tips that make it easier for both kids and adults to get more active. Families are encouraged to move together, so everyone gets health benefits.

Nutrition Environment and Services
The Great Garden Detective Adventure Curriculum
The United States Department of Agriculture Team Nutrition created The Great Garden Detective Adventure: A Standards-Based Gardening Nutrition Curriculum for Grades 3 and 4. Discover what fruits and vegetables are sweetest, crunchiest, and juiciest through a series of investigations and fun experiences connecting the school garden to the classroom, school cafeteria, and home. Materials include bulletin board materials, veggie dice, fruit and vegetable flash cards, and ten issues of Garden Detective News for parents/caregivers.

Health Services
Clean Hands and Spaces Web-Based Training
The CDC offers free continuing education credit to those who complete the Clean Hands and Spaces Web-Based Training. This training is available through the Texas TRAIN website. The training is meant for school nurses and other professionals. Participants will gain information and strategies for keeping hands and surfaces clean in educational settings. Begin the academic year with healthy habits and practices to keep the whole school community thriving. The web-based training will provide guidance and resources for creating and following a hand hygiene and cleaning plan. Visit the TRAIN website to enroll in the course. Follow the CDC guidelines to receive continuing education credit.

Family Engagement
It’s That Time of Year Again! Catch Your Child Up on Routine Immunizations for Back to School
The DSHS Immunization Program has information about immunization schedules for school-age children. View the 2023-2024 Immunization Requirements for Schools and the Texas Vaccines for Children Program for more details. Share this information with families before the start of the next school year to make sure everyone is ready to go back to school.

Community Involvement
Transition to Adulthood Learning Collaborative Quarterly Meeting
The Transition to Adulthood Learning Collaborative (TALC) at DSHS is hosting their quarterly webinar meeting on August 23rd from 12:00PM to 1:30 PM. Learn how families, educators, and others can use the tool to help youth with special healthcare needs develop skills to maximize autonomy in adulthood. Participants can share knowledge, information on current events, implementation strategies, and best and/or promising practices to support youth transitioning to adulthood. Providers, youth and young adults, parents, caregivers, as well as representatives from health care plans, hospital and university systems, schools, local community organizations, and others interested in the transition to adulthood, are invited to participate and can find more information on the TALC meeting registration page.

Athletes and Asthma: The Community Coach’s Role
The Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program is offering a free online course for community coaches. Coaches will learn how to help school-age athletes who have asthma play to their full potential through scenarios that mimic real-life decisions experienced during practices and competitive events. The course takes 35-minutes and gives coaches the tools they need to appropriately respond to an asthma attack.

Quote to Note
“If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude.” –Maya Angelou

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

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