Friday Beat

September 29, 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
Sickle Cell Awareness Month
The National Institute of Health (NIH) recognizes September as Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Use the NIH resources to raise awareness in your school community. Nemours Teen Health also has resources for teens to learn about and to manage sickle cell disease. For more information, visit the DSHS Sickle Cell Disease webpage and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Sickle Cell Disease webpage.

IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) observes October as Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Awareness Month. EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit can help ensure good IAQ in your school. Providing a healthy, comfortable environment is an investment in your students and staff. Additional information can be found online at the EPA Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools website.

School Nurse Workforce Survey
The DSHS Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies’ 2023 Texas School Nurse Workforce Survey will open on October 1st-November 17th. The purpose of this survey is to obtain information on school nurses in Texas. The information in this survey will serve as a guide for the development of policy recommendations by the Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies Advisory Committee. Individuals who are working as a school nurse and have a Texas nursing license are encouraged to complete the 2023 Texas School Nurse Workforce Survey.

Professional Development
2023 Texas School Nurses Organization Conference
The Texas School Nurses Organization (TSNO) is hosting the 2023 TSNO Conference in San Marcos, Texas on November 4th–5th. The purpose of the conference is to provide evidence-based and/or best-practice educational offerings that address known gaps in knowledge and skills, promote excellence in clinical practice, and improve quality of health care that School Nurses deliver in schools. Up to 8.5 Nursing Continuing Professional Development credits are available. Register for the TSNO conference by October 15th.

Promoting Outdoor Time in Schools Through School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs)
The Texas Children in Nature Network is hosting a free webinar: Promoting Outdoor Time in Schools Through SHACs on October 18th from 2:00-3:00 pm CT. Parents, families, and community members are encouraged to register for the event to learn how playing outside can help promote children’s health and academic success.

Funding Opportunities
Budding Botanist Grant
Kids Gardening and the Klorane Botanical Foundation are hosting the Budding Botanist Grant. The grant supports programs that help students learn about plants and inspire them to take care of the environment. Read about grant requirements and apply by October 20th.

Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grants
The Oliver Foundation offers several Healthy Choices grants available for schools ranging from $750 to $5,000 to encourage children, families, and communities in Texas to improve both eating and physical activity patterns. The grants have rolling deadlines up to October 15th.

Health Education
Ways to Protect Youth from the Harms of Vaping
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published information on how parents and educators can protect youth from the harms of vaping. The article includes facts about e-cigarettes, the health risks of vaping for youth, how nicotine can be a source of stress, and how parents and educators can provide support and connect them with information and quitting resources.

Physical Education and Physical Activity
Active Schools: Family PE Week
Active Schools and the Online Physical Education Network (OPEN) have partnered to host Family PE Week on October 2nd-6th. The goal of Family PE Week is to help families, schools, and communities understand the importance of physical education. Teachers and schools can download and use the tools and resources on the OPEN website. The entire family can participate in the Active Family Challenge!

Nutrition Environment and Services
Meal Talk: Celebrate Lunch Trays Many Ways Webinar
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Team Nutrition is presenting a Meal Talk webinar on October 12th from 2:00-3:00 pm CT highlighting ways to offer school lunch with inspirational stories from across the country. Speakers will share strategies and success stories related to incorporating student food preferences and locally grown foods in USDA-standardized recipes. Participants will also learn about USDA’s Team Nutrition resources and the Healthy Meals Incentive Recognition Awards. Register and find more information on the webinar registration page.

Counseling, Psychological and Social Services
Accessible Mental Healthcare Services are Now Available to Every Texas Public School
The Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium launched Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine (TCHATT), which provides telemedicine or telehealth programs to school districts to help identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents and provide access to mental health services. Texas public schools have an opportunity to enroll in TCHATT at no cost to the school or parent.

Employee Wellness
Filling Your Cup: Comprehensive Self-Care Strategies
Alliance for a Healthier Generation launched a four-part, on-demand training with tools and resources to help school staff focus on their own well-being. It’s accessible in the Alliance’s free Action Center, where all Healthier Generation resources are housed. A free login is required.

Quote to Note
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” –Theodore Roosevelt

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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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