DSHS School Health Program Friday Beat Feb 9, 2024

Friday Beat

February 9, 2024, 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
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month
Celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM) with a free Health Habits for Healthy Smiles Poster and interactive coloring activities from the American Dental Association. For more information on oral health, visit the Oral Health Improvement Program website. To schedule a free dental clinic for students, reach out to your regional dental team.

Stock Albuterol Stakeholder Questionnaire
The American Lung Association, in partnership with Texas asthma stakeholders, is looking to gain current knowledge and interest in adopting and implementing stock albuterol in schools. This brief questionnaire is intended to gather information for the American Lung Association to find ways to support Texas schools in implementing stock albuterol. If you are interested in sharing more or being part of a brief focus group, please indicate so in the open response question.

Professional Development
Green Schools Conference
The Center for Green Schools is hosting their annual Green Schools Conference on March 5-7, 2024 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The conference will address topics from environmental impact to health and wellbeing. Session topics include school gardens, indoor air quality, social and emotional health, and nutrition programs. Register at the conference registration page.

Standard Response Protocol Train-the-Trainer Training
The Texas School Safety Center in collaboration with the I Love U Guys Foundation, is hosting an online, no cost, 4-hour, train-the-trainer version of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) training. This training also covers mandated drills for Texas schools. All virtual trainings will be provided through Zoom online platform. Learn more and register for either the March 6th, April 10th, or May 8^th trainings on the virtual training’s webpage.

Funding Opportunities
2024 America’s Healthiest Schools Award
Alliance for a Healthier Generation is accepting applications from schools for the America’s Healthiest Schools Award. This award is an annual distinction presented to schools that have demonstrated remarkable efforts to prioritize the essential health needs of students, staff, and families. Award winners are featured on the annual list of America’s Healthiest Schools and receive a digital promotion package. Complete the America’s Healthiest Schools award application by April 16, 2024.

Grant Funding to Address Indoor Air Pollution at Schools
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking applications from eligible entities to assist K-12 schools in low-income, disadvantaged, and/or Tribal communities in the development and adoption of comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) management plans to address air pollution and energy efficiency consistent with EPA’s recommended best practices. EPA requests that applicants email an optional Notice of Intent to Apply by February 22, 2024, to IAQSchools@epa.gov. Applications are due March 19, 2024. More information can be found on the grant webpage.

Health Education
Texas Tobacco Quitline
The Texas Tobacco Quitline is a toll-free service available for those ages 13 and older who want to quit tobacco or are thinking about quitting tobacco. Call the Quitline at 1-877-YES QUIT (1-877-937-7848) or by visiting www.yesquit.org to learn more about how you can quit tobacco.

Physical Education and Physical Activity
Teacher’s Lesson Plan: Getting Fit
Promoting “moving” forward in the new year, Nemours KidsHealth shares a previously published fitness lesson plan for teachers in grades 9-12. The lesson plan includes a teacher’s guide, handout, quiz, and answer key to encourage the importance of fitness and how students can take simple steps toward becoming more physically fit. Share these resources with teachers, school staff, and administrators.

Nutrition Environment and Services
The Two-Bite Club
The U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service published The Two-Bite Club, an educational storybook developed to introduce MyPlate to young children. Parents or caregivers read the book to children and encourage them to try foods from each food group by eating just two bites, just like the characters in the story. The back of the book contains a MyPlate coloring page, a blank certificate for the Two Bite Club, fun activity pages for kids, and tips for growing healthy eaters. This storybook is available in available in both English and in Spanish.

Physical Environment
Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth
The American Lung Association (ALA) launched a new initiative called Creating Lung-Friendly Environments for Youth, in efforts to help schools and parents address chronic lung diseases like asthma, air quality, and tobacco policies. Check out ALA’s interactive resource tool and take the assessment to help recognize opportunities to improve lung health policies and practices for students and the school community.

National Pesticide Safely Education Month
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognizes February as the 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 communities.

Family Engagement
Helping Kids Who Struggle with Executive Functions
Child Mind Institute published an article where authors share ways to help children build organizational skills. Topics discussed include what executive function skills are, what strategies help kids who struggle with executive functions, and how parents can help kids feel motivated. Child Mind Institute also offers a 10-minute recording to follow along and listen to as you read through the article.

Quote to Note
“Remember there’s no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.” – Scott Adams

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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.

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