Supporting Coordinated School Health

Dr. Donna M. Videto Dr. Bonni C. HodgesHealth Department

SUNY College at Cortland

CDC Coordinated School Health Program

• CSHP provides avenues for: – increasing

potential success for school-based health education

– providing a unified voice or message to the school community

– http://www.cdc.gov/healthyYouth/CSHP/

One Voice, One Message

• Working together for healthy and successful children, schools, & communities

Assessing the CSHP via University/School

Partnerships • 2004 developed a required master degree

course focusing on the CSHP & responsibilities & competencies for the health educator

• Course objectives – To facilitate the assessment and development of

CSHP in local schools – To make recommendations for improvement of

CSHP based on assessment– To provide support & resources via student-

developed training modules

Assessing the CSHP

• Two plus districts a year– Over 30 school

assessments conducted

• Organized & established 3-levels of district infrastructure necessary for assessment & program development

• Mariner Model to SHI Assessment process used

Necessary Infrastructure

• A Healthy Schools Coordinator– w/administrative support

• A Representative District Health Council

• Building-level Healthy School Teams

CDC SHI School Health Index

• Self-assessment & planning guide • Assists schools in identifying

strengths & weaknesses of health & safety policies & programs

• Enables schools to develop action plans for improving their CSHP

• https://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/shi/default.aspx

Follow-up Assessment

• 25 project schools– Summer 2006, Fall 2007

• Follow-up assessment purpose– 1) Provide process evaluation data to

improve partnership– 2) Assess level of institutionalization of SHI

generated action plans & training modules

• 27-item questionnaire used in telephone interviews w/key personnel

Instrument Overview

• Process Assessment – 6 items– Value and ease of setting up infrastructure– Value and ease of conducting the SHI assessment

• Product Assessment -12 items– Importance and value of final report on

implementation and update of CSHP – 6 items– Importance and value of PowerPoint presentation on

implementation and update of CSHP – 6 items

• Impact Assessment – 7 items – CSHP and action plan-related changes since SHI

conducted• Comfort level with a future SHI assessment – 1 item • Suggestions for improving the process – 1 item

Sample Instrument Items

Process Assessment Q. How helpful was the initial meeting with the faculty member from SUNY Cortland to assist you in setting up your Healthy School Team and or your District-wide Team?

very helpful helpful somewhat helpful not at all helpful don’t know

Q. What changes or suggestions would you offer to us regarding developing the Healthy School Teams and the data collection process for future efforts?  

Product Assessment for Final Report Items Q. How important was the final report in identifying actions that your district could take to advance or improve the CSHP in your school?

very important important somewhat important not at all important don’t know  Q. How often do you believe the final report has been consulted?

unknown never sometimes often 

Sample Instrument Items Product Assessment for PowerPoint Slideshow Items Q. How important was the PowerPoint slideshow in helping your school/district in advancing and or improving the Coordinated School Health Program at your school?

very important important somewhat important not at all important don’t know  Q. Did the PowerPoint slideshow highlight areas that were specific to your school’s situation?

yes somewhat no unknown Impact Assessment ItemsQ. Identify all the possible outcomes that you are aware of since the SHI assessment took place:

1. Your Healthy School Team now meets on a regular basis

2. Your School or District has received monies as a result of the SHI investigation

yes no don’t know Q. How well did completing the School Health Index help your school identify what you feel were the real strengths and gaps in the eight component Coordinated School Health Program at your school?

very well well somewhat not at all don’t know

Reported Outcomes since SHI Assessment

• 40% reported that their Healthy School Team and their District- wide team now meet on a regular basis

• 65% received monies as a result of having gone through the SHI process

• 75% reported that they changed policies as a result of the assessment

Reported Outcomes since SHI Assessment

• 75% reported that they improved or increased health related programming

• 60% reported that faculty & staff are much more aware of the CSHP and its potential impact on students

• 25% reported that parents are much more aware of the CSHP and its potential impact on their children

• 70% reported now having a healthier environment

Perceptions reported by school/district members after SHI

meetings

• 100 % felt they were provided opportunities to take an active role in the SHI process

• 92% felt they were able to shape the action and implementation plans for their school

• 73% felt they were able to openly discuss problems and played an active role in attempting to address those problems

• 92% were left feeling as if they had the knowledge to make improvements in the CSHP at their school

• 70% continue to care about the CSHP and since then have taken action to make improvements

Impact

• 70% able to publish results of their SHI – Only 57% were able to publish to broader community

(i.e. parents and community outside of school)

• 90% felt SHI process did help identify real strengths and gaps

• 65% felt the process did help select priority goals & objectives (which were or are being addressed)

• 85% would agree to a second SHI assessment – Time concerns identified as major negative & too soon

to know if interested in second assessment

Institutionalization Actions Taken By Schools as a result of SHI Action

Plans

• Faculty-Staff Wellness– Conducted assessment of staff wellness needs– Pursuing funding for fitness equipment for faculty and staff– New fitness center – Expanded Physical Activity opportunities for faculty, staff and

students– Introduced stress management program for faculty/staff– Staff wellness programs including cholesterol checking and

mammograms • Funding

– Wrote/received mini grant• Health Education

– New Health Education Curriculum– Introduced Character Education Program– New Sex Education Curriculum

 

Institutionalization Actions Taken By Schools as a result of SHI Action

Plans • Health Policies &

Communication – Newsletter now includes health

corner/health section– Offering Wellness Wednesday Series– New or improved Wellness Policy – Updated Crisis Response Plan– Began anti-bullying initiative

• Physical Activity – Increased middle school activity time– Increased physical activity time for

students – Introduced a snowshoe program– Introduced a walking trail – Expanded physical activity

opportunities for faculty, staff and student

• Nutrition – Altered snack and party

food policies– Changed Nutrition Policies – Restricting or removing

soda and coffee options – Changed vending machine

options – Altered menu options in

cafeteria, decreased sugar, salt and fat in food options

– Introduced a fruit and/or salad bar for cafeteria

– Reduced ice cream sale days

– Water bottle distribution program

Barriers to Institutionalization

• Lack of commitment on part of “all faculty & staff”– Limited Resources & Pressures to Prioritize Other Issues

• Inability of some elementary schools to “allow” an investment

• Lack of health coordinator – Administrators w/too many “other” priorities– Shifting or movement of administrators common (staff

turnovers)– Lack of necessary training on how to support CSHP & health

education

• Feedback to parents and greater community was limited thus limiting their role in advancing the CSHP

Recommendations

• Conduct assessments & SHI work during the school day (2 ½ days versus 4 meetings)

• Increase educational support by offering additional samples of strategies and ideas from “other” schools

• Continue with prep semester to establish need & infrastructure

• Select school coordinator carefully

Recommendations

• Provide additional means to involve parents, community members & students in process

• Assist in developing avenues for dissemination of results to greater community

• Establish on-going partnerships • that go beyond the assessment

semester

Where do we go from here?

• Process evaluation monitoring system to assist in holding schools accountable and maintaining the supportive relationship

• Second SHI assessments• HECAT assessments in schools in

need of work in the area of health curriculum

HECAT analysis results can help schools to:

• select appropriate & effective curricula

• develop appropriate & effective curricula

• improve the delivery of health educationhttp://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/HECAT/index.htm

Donna.videto@cortland.edu

Bonni.hodges@cortland.edu