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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 (DSHS). It is edited and compiled by the School Health Program.
YRBS School Health Profiles Data
The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and 2022 School Health Profiles show that schools with comprehensive health education see healthier student behaviors. These include improved nutrition, less substance use, and improved emotional well-being. Data from the Texas School Health Profiles indicate that schools continue to teach important topics like violence prevention, HIV/STI education, mental health, and emotional well-being. Schools play a key role in helping students access resources and supporting lifelong health. For Texas-specific data from the YRBS and Profiles, visit the Texas Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System or contact YRBSS@dshs.texas.gov.
Ask About Food Allergies and Epinephrine Delivery System Policies
It’s important to talk to your school about its allergy policies. Below are the states key statutes regarding food allergies and epinephrine use:
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Texas Education Code (TEC), Section 25.0022 – Public schools are required to ask parents or caregivers whether their child has a food allergy upon enrollment.
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TEC, Section 38.0151 – Requires school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to create and follow a policy for students with food allergies who may have severe reactions.
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TEC, Section 38.208 – Allows school districts, open-enrollment charter schools, and private schools to establish policies for unassigned epinephrine delivery systems. Schools that choose to do so must follow certain requirements. For instance, if your school adopts an unassigned epinephrine delivery system policy, make sure to check the required DSHS epinephrine delivery system reporting form for schools to report when epinephrine delivery systems are used.
- House Bill 1619, Regular Session, 2025 – Changed “epinephrine auto-injector” with “epinephrine delivery system” across statutes.
Prevent Respiratory Viruses This Fall
Schools and caregivers play an important role in keeping kids healthy and in school by preventing the spread of diseases like respiratory viruses. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shares guidance and resources for caregivers on how to prevent the spread of diseases in schools. The guidance provides tips to help keep children safe and healthy during the fall and winter respiratory virus season. For more information on preventing respiratory illnesses, check out the CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance.
FARE Food Allergy Summit 2025
The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Food Allergy Summit will take place in Washington, D.C. October 31–November 1, 2025. This in-person event brings together people with food allergies and professionals working to address food allergies, and provides two days of educational sessions, insightful discussions, and meaningful connections. For more information and registration details, visit the FARE conference webpage.
Oliver Foundation Healthy Choices Grant
The Oliver Foundation offers several Healthy Choices grants for all K-12 schools ranging from $750 to $5,000 to encourage children, families, and communities in Texas to improve eating and physical activity patterns. The grants have rolling deadlines to apply up to October 15.
Training Module: Big Tobacco’s Targeted Marketing
Texas Say What! Campaign created the Caught in the Nicotine Trap: Big Tobacco’s Targeted Marketing Online Training to share information about the tobacco industry. The training provides an overview of the industry’s marketing practices, uncovering campaigns used to influence tobacco use, and advocating against the industry’s targeted marketing by creating counter messages. Share with students, parents, caregivers, and school staff.
National Bullying Prevention Month
Bullying harms students’ well-being, academic performance, and connection to their schools. The CDC’s “What Works in Schools” program provides schools with ways to prevent bullying and create safe, welcoming environments for all students. For information specific to Texas, visit the Texas Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System or email YRBSS@dshs.texas.gov.
Bullying Prevention Video Series
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) has published a video series called “A Guide to Preventing Bullying.” It helps students in Texas understand what bullying is according to the law and provides them with age-appropriate tools to deal with bullying. School districts can use these resources to improve safety and create positive school climates. Please share the series with teachers and other school staff.
Family PE Week 2025
Active Schools and the Online Physical Education Network (OPEN) have partnered to host Family PE Week October 6-10, 2025. The goal 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. Visit the Active Schools website to read more about becoming an Active Schools Champion.
Every Kid Outdoors
The U.S. National Park Service hosts the Every Kid Outdoors initiative for fourth-grade students. Teachers can submit requests for all fourth-grade students to receive a free National Park Pass. The pass is valid from September 1, 2025–August 31, 2026. Activities and resource guides are available to use with students to learn about the parks. Use this resource to encourage students to stay active and learn about the environment.
Toolkit: Culturally Inclusive Recipes for School Nutrition Programs
The Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition offers a toolkit of diverse recipes, working with school nutrition staff and members of different cultural groups in schools. This toolkit helps school meal programs find, create, test, and include recipes from many cultures.
Toolkit: Back-to-School Eye Health and Safety Education
Prevent Blindness Texas (PBT) presents a Back-to-School Toolkit to help families and health professionals learn about children’s vision and why it is important for school. PBT has trained instructors who can help your school’s health team obtain certification for vision screening. PBT also offers free eye exams and/or glasses to students and families who qualify. To apply, complete the PBT application available in English and Spanish, and submit it via email at info@pbtexas.org.
Advancing Emotional Well-Being in Schools
National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) presents Advancing Emotional Well-Being in Schools Training Series, an online School Health training series to help public health workers and school staff improve emotional well-being in schools. The training teaches best practices for emotional well-being, how to implement these practices effectively, and provides tools for creating a positive change in schools.
Accessible Mental Healthcare Services Available to Every Texas Public School
The Texas Child Mental Health Care Consortium hosts the program Texas Child Health Access through Telemedicine (TCHATT). This program offers telemedicine and telehealth services to school districts to:
- Identify and assess the behavioral health needs of children and adolescents.
- Provide access to mental health services.
Texas public schools have an opportunity to enroll in TCHATT at no cost to the school or parent.
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Action Kit
October is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Awareness Month! Providing a healthy, comfortable environment is an investment in your students and staff. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit can help ensure good IAQ in your school. Additional information can be found online at the EPA Creating Healthy Indoor Air Quality in Schools webpage.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” –Lao Tzu
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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.
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