The Taylor County School Health Program

How did the Taylor County School Health Program get started?  In 1994, the legislators appropriated funding for counties to apply for expanded school health services.   The Taylor County Health Department and the Taylor County School District wrote an extensive grant application and was notified in early January of 1995 that the proposal was selected.  Some additional funding was appropriated in 1998 to add direct service to increase services to students in Taylor County Schools.  Currently the staff of the School Health Program consists of four Registered Nurses, a counselor, seven health support aides and one part-time health support aide.

The Taylor County Health Department coordinates the Taylor County School Health Program in collaboration with the Taylor County School District and Board providing health services to students in Taylor County The services provided are a set of local strategies that are part of an organized system which plans, provides, reports and assesses school health services.

The Mission of the Taylor County School Health Program is to appraise, protect and promote the Health and Wellness of Students and Families.  Taylor County Health Department nurses work hard to make sure that schools are safe and have healthy environments in which students can learn.  Healthy students are better able to learn.  Our goal is therefore to improve the health of Taylor County students and improve student success in school.  The Taylor County School Health Program supplements parental responsibility to student health.  The Program is designed to encourage parental awareness of students' health status; detect and prevent health problems; and encourage utilization of physicians, dentists, eye specialists and community health agency services.

The strength of the Taylor County School Health Program is found in its innovative, giving, competent and compassionate staff that is making an impact on the health of students of Taylor County.  The Taylor County School Health Program serves children and students in grades Kindergarten through twelfth grade.

Our Comprehensive School Health Program services include:

• Health appraisals, counseling and referrals as needed

• Classroom presentations on health related issues

• Open Airway Asthma Program

• Nursing assessments

• Nutrition assessments

• Referral and follow-up of suspected or confirmed health problems

• Health record and immunization reviews

• Home visits

• Acute School Health room care

• Health screenings including vision, hearing, growth and development, scoliosis and blood pressure

• Routine head lice checks

• Medication administration

• School Staff training regarding OSHA requirements and medication administration

• Health consults to faculty

• School Health Staff and School Staff training for health procedures

• Develop health policies and guidelines

• Monitoring and evaluation of School Health services program

• Control of communicable diseases

• Pregnancy Prevention and Abstinence Program

Our Comprehensive School Health Program will be focusing on the issue of Childhood Obesity during the 2009-2010 school year based on the results of the 2007-2008 school year BMI screenings results.  These were the results of our children in Taylor County for the past 4 years:

ALL SCHOOL RESULTS OF ALL KINDERGARTEN, 3rd, 6th, 9th Grades AND ALL OF STEINHATCHEE SCHOOL K-8

• 22% of our all grades above are overweight and 17% are at risk for being overweight in the 2005-2006 School Year

• 28% of our all grades above are overweight and 16% are at risk for being overweight in the 2006-2007 School Year

• 26% of our all grades above are overweight and 19% are at risk for being overweight in the 2007-2008 School Year

• 22% of our all grades above are overweight and 17% are at risk for being overweight in the 2008-2009 School Year

Childhood obesity is increasing in the United States at alarming rates.  Here are some interesting statistical trends to consider:  

• For the first time in the United States, a child born this year will have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.

• Approximately 20% of children play sports everyday compared to 80% in 1969.

• The average child spends 2 - 4 hours a day watching TV or on the computer everyday.

• 25% of children born this year in the U.S. are projected to have diabetes in their lifetime.

• 25% of the vegetables eaten in the United States are French fries.

• On a daily basis, the average teenager is getting 15-20 teaspoons of added sugar in sugared drinks and this consumption has doubled over the last decade

• Today a typical fast food hamburger contains about 618 calories compared to 210 calories in 1957

• Death related to obesity (and the associated chronic diseases) will soon pass tobacco as the leading cause of death in the United States

• Among children and teens ages 6-19 over 9 million are overweight in the United States according to the 1999-2002 data, or triple what the proportion was in 1980

• Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight or obese adults. (Ferraro KF, Thorpe RJ Jr, Wilkinson JA.  The life course of severe obesity: Does childhood overweight matter?  Journal of Gerontology 2003;58B:S110-S119)

• Less than two-thirds of High School children get more than 2 hours of exercise per week

If this trend in Childhood Obesity continues to grow uncontrollably, we may be raising the first generation of children in the United States who will have a shorter life expectancy than that of their parents.  Parents are a key resource in identifying and understanding changes in their children's weight.  As a parent you can help by being active and making healthy food choices everyday.

Health and Wellness for Students and Families

Developing healthy habits at a young age is very important since changes become more difficult with age.  Healthy habits involving nutrition and physical activity are the foundation to preventing obesity in children and adolescents.  A balance of a healthy meal and activity is the key to a healthy body.

Tips for  creating a healthy meal environment

Changing the way we eat

• Encourage your family to eat meals together at the dinner table at regular times

• Encourage your child to eat a healthy breakfast each day.  Breakfast provides energy for him/her to perform well at school.

• Avoid rushing through meals.  Eating a meal quickly does not allow the body to digest the food properly and sense that the stomach is full.

• Plan times with you family to prepare a meal together.

• Avoid having other activities during the meals such as watching TV.

• Follow a healthy meal plan for your entire family, not just a select individual.

• Avoid forcing you child to eat if he/she is not hungry.  If your child constantly refuses to eat, consult a health care professional.

• Avoid using food as a reward or the lack of food as a punishment.

Choosing the right foods

• Avoid pre-packaged or prepared foods that are high in preservatives, sugars and fats.

• Avoid serving portions that are too large for a child.

• Limit drinks and foods that are high in sugar such as soda and candy.

• Limit the amount of junk foods that are kept in your home.

• Limit the frequency of fast food eating to no more than once a week.

• Have snack foods available that are nutritious and low in calories such as fruits, vegetables and yogurt.

• Eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

• Eat or drink 3 servings of low-fat milk or dairy products each day.

• Eat foods that are low fat.

• Choose foods that are high and rich in fiber.

• Eat meats that are lean.

• Drink plenty of water each day.

Tips for creating and Active Environment

• One of the best things that you as a parent can do is to limit the amount of TV time/computer time  for your child.

• Encourage your entire family to participate in an activity that everyone enjoys doing such as walking, bicycling, or roller skating.

• Encourage your child to participate in school and community sports programs.

• Start a neighborhood program where families join and play basketball, baseball, tag or hide and seek.

• Involve your children in household activities that are considered a form of exercise such as vacuuming, washing the car or mowing the lawn.

• Physical activity should be initiated slowly, and the intensity should be increased gradually.

• To maintain your weight your intake of calories must equal your energy output

• To loose weight you must use more energy than you actually take in.

• One small chocolate chip cookie (50 calories) is equal to walking briskly for 10 minutes.

• One hour of walking at a moderate pace uses about the same amount of energy that is in one jelly filled doughnut which contains about 300 calories.

• A fast food meal (1500 calories) such as a double meat cheeseburger, an extra large fries and a 24 ounce soft drink is equal to running 21/2 hours at a 10 min/mile pace.

• For more interesting data about the energy balance visit

      http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/fact_whatcanyoudo.htm

• Section 1003.22 of the 2004 Florida Statutes, requires that the district school board shall establish and enforce as policy that, prior to admittance to or attendance in a public school grades kindergarten through 12, or any other initial entrance into a Florida public school each child present or have on file with the school a certification of immunization for the prevention of those communicable diseases for which immunization is required by the Department of Health.

• The District School Board shall refuse admittance to any child otherwise entitled to admittance to kindergarten, or any other initial entrance into a Florida public or private school, who is not in compliance with the above provisions of the Florida Statutes 1003.22.

• The District School Board shall temporarily exclude from attendance any student who is not in compliance with the provisions of the Florida Statutes 1003.22.

To get your shots please contact your Pediatrician or Taylor County Health Department at 584-5087.

•  All students entering, attending or transferring to grades Kindergarten to 12 are required to have completed the Hepatitis B vaccination (HBV) series and a second measles vaccination (preferably MMR).

• All students are required to meet the immunization requirements for their grade level.

• Please refer to Florida Certificate of Immunization (form 680)

• Four or five doses of Diphtheria - Tetanus - Pertussis Series (DTaP)

• Three or four doses of Polio Series

• Two doses of Measles  Mumps  Rubella vaccine (MMR)

• Three does of Hepatitis B Series required for all grades K-12

• First dose of Varicella required grades K-8th for the 2009-2010 School year and then each year an additional grade or proof of history of chicken pox

• Second dose of Varicella vaccine grade K and 1st for the 2009-2010 School year and then each year an additional grade.

• All students entering, attending or transferring into 7th Grade are required to provide documentation for the Tdap Vaccine effective the 2009-2010 school year.

• This requirement is in addition to the previous grade appropriate immunization requirements.

• Florida Statutes require that each student who is entitled to admittance to a Florida public school must present certification of a school entry physical examination performed within the twelve months before enrollment in school.

• The School Board may establish a policy that permits a student up to 30 days to present a certification of a school-entry health examination.

• If your child requires prescription medication during the school day, please provide the school with a medication authorization form.

• Your school clinic will provide you with the medication authorization form.

• Medications must be delivered to the school by the parent.

• Please inform the school of any special health care needs that your child may need at School.

• The school nurse is available on-site to assist you in planning your child's care during the school day.

• Please make sure that the school has current emergency contact numbers for your child.

• It is very important to review with your child the importance of good hand washing  (this video from an outside source) skills before meals and after using the toilet.

• Please instruct your child to avoid sharing combs, hairbrushes, hats or anything that comes in direct contact with hair to prevent the spread of lice.