Diabetes Prevention and Controll Branch
Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section
Division for Prevention and Preparedness
Four major projects make up the School Health Program. To visit a project site, click on any of the categories listed above or at the top of the left hand vertical column. Additional school health-related topics of interest are in alphabetical order listed after the four major project headings.
The staff of the School Health Program is committed to providing resources to communities. Check out our Staff Web page for help in locating specific school health programs.
Click on any of the three categories below for category specific topics:
Of Special Interest within this Site:
NEW! Guidelines for the Care of Students with Food Allergies at Risk for Anaphylaxis
In response to the increase in students with diagnosed food allergies at-risk for anaphylaxis, Senate Bill 27 (2011, 82nd Legislative Session) amends Chapter 38 of the Texas Education Code by adding Section 38.0151. This section requires the Board of Trustees of each school district and the governing body or appropriate officers of open-enrollment charter schools to adopt and administer a policy for the care of students with diagnosed food allergy at risk for anaphylaxis.
This document is intended to serve as a reference and illustrative guide for local school boards or charter school leadership to utilize in creating and implementing school district policies and administrative regulations. Any portion of this document may be reproduced for educational purposes or policy development.
NEW! Bullying Prevention Toolkit
In response to national and state concern about the impact of bullying on students, recent Texas legislation has addressed the need for districts to develop anti-bullying policies and interventions. Further, the Texas legislature directed the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, to provide and annually update a list of best practice-based early mental health intervention and suicide prevention programs for implementation in general education settings.
The Bullying Prevention Toolkit was compiled and approved by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee at their May 14, 2012 committee meeting to support schools in their efforts to find effective anti-bullying resources to develop anti-bullying policies and interventions.
ANNOUNCING: 2012 Awards for Excellence in Texas School Health – Applications Now Available
The AFE program awards approximately $13,500.00 in CASH prizes to schools or districts that implement effective school health programs that promote lifelong student health. Sponsored by the Texas Department of State Health Services and funded by the Texas Health Institute and the Texas Pediatric Society Foundation, this initiative, now in its 23rd year, recognizes programs just getting started with seed money and honors and rewards existing, successful programs and those that have made improvements or expansions to programs awarded in the past. To learn more or to access an application and instructions, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/awards.shtm or contact Ellen Smith at ellen.smith@dshs.state.tx.us or 512-776-2140.
This document reflects the 82nd legislative session, 2011 legislation and is meant as a resource tool in assisting school nurses or other school health personnel in locating selected laws that relate to school health. It is not a full list, but a snapshot of the most frequently requested citations.
NEW! Friday Beat Promotional Flyer
The Friday Beat is an excellent vehicle for delivering the latest news and information regarding school health issues and topics. Many of you that read the Friday Beat forward it to interested parties who may “need to know” or want to add value to their efforts in school health education or services. Once a new stakeholder sees benefit in the Friday Beat, it is easy for them to be a subscriber, too.
In order to assist you in “getting the word out” to interested parties about the Friday Beat, a flyer has been developed outlining benefits of and access to the publication. Feel free to download the flyer and distribute to colleagues and groups or simply forward it to those you feel would benefit from knowing.
FY2011 Texas School Health Advisory Committee Annual Report
The 2011 Annual Report of the Texas School Health Advisory Committee is now available.
SAMPLE: FY2012 Competive RFP for School-Based Health Centers
The FY 2012 Competitive RFP is available as a reference document ONLY. Applications are no longer being accepted for the FY 2012 RFP.
NEW! Research and Recommendation for Physical Education
Quality physical activity and education is an essential part of creating a successful, comprehensive coordinated school health system within schools. This document created by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee at their November 2011 meeting provides research and information to help support school administrators and SHACs as they make decisions about physical education in their school.
NEW! Recommendation and Research on Benefits to Students in School Districts that Prohibit Physical Activity as Punishment
Motivating students to pursue and continue active lifestyles is an obtainable goal and serves as an effective strategy to reduce the public health burden of chronic diseases associated with inactivity. A singular barrier that can be both physically and emotionally harmful to children and youth is the practice of using physical activity as punishment and/or behavior management.Developed by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee and approved at their September, 2011 committee meeting, this document was developed to assist local School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs) to revise or update Wellness Policies or other district policies/regulations to prohibit the use of physical activity as punishment.
NUTRIGRAM
NutriGram, specifically designed for elementary-age students, assesses children’s knowledge, behaviors and attitudes toward healthy eating through an online question-and-answer format and features a 3D nutrition education, exploration game, The Quest to Lava Mountain, complete with avatar creation and virtual worlds, making learning about healthy eating fun. The Cooper Institute developed NutriGram, a powerful data driven nutritional awareness service, based on the need for a companion to the highly popular, widely used and successful FITNESSGRAM® which is currently administered within 86,000 schools nationwide and evaluates the fitness of more than 14.7 million students annually. By coupling the NutriGram and FitnessGram school-based assessments; students, parents, and schools will have a multifaceted snapshot of the health of their children. The newly launched NutriGram is a joint effort by the Texas Department of Agriculture and The Cooper Institute to educate and engage children to live healthy lifestyles. To access NutriGram, go to https://nutrigram.org.
REVISED! TSHAC School District Support Documents
Recommendations and research and resource documents were developed by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee of the Department of State Health Services to assist school districts in their efforts to comply with current legislative requirements related to the eight components of coordinated school health; and, offer support to school decision makers as they navigate prevailing school health issues. The following recommendations and resource documents have been revised as of May 9, 2011: Recommendation and Research on School Bus and Automobile Idling; Recommendation and Research on Recess and Physical Activity: Impact on Student Health and Academic, Social and Emotional Development; and, Resources for Students and Families Dealing with the Economic Crisis. Access recommendations documents on bus idling and physical activity at www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviserecommendations.shtm and the economic crisis resources document at www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviseresources.shtm.
REVISED! Module 7: Treatments and Care Plans
Module 7 has now been updated in the Texas Guide to School Health Program. Treatments and Care Plans covers: special education: children with special health care needs; children with diabilities; children requiring special health care procedures; and, children with chronic illnesses. Access the new module at www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/schnursnursingpractice.shtm
NEW! Coordinated School Health Resource Data Sets
The Coordinated School Health Resource Data Sets was developed by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee to provide easy access to school health related data to assist you with identifying areas that can be addressed in your Campus Improvement Plans/ District Improvement Plans, for grant-writing purposes, and to provide data for mandatory reports. To access this chart, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviseresources.shtm.
UPDATED! Recommended School Health Services Staff Roles
With more children entering school with complex medical issues, schools are challenged to match the available resources and the needs of students in the development of school health services. The Texas Education Code (TEC) §38.012 outlines requirements for school boards to follow to implement or expand school health services. Although there are different models implemented throughout the state, Recommended School Health Services Staff Roles guidelines outline a local model that is reflective of state laws, professional licensing and best practices. To access this document, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviseresources.shtm.
What School Administrators Can Do to Enhance Student Learning by Supporting a Coordinated Approach to Health
To access this publication, go to… www.ashaweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1/files/public/Miscellaneous/Administrators_Coordinated_Approach_Support.pdf
What School Boards Can Do to Enhance Student Learning by Supporting a Coordinated Approach to Health
To access this publication, go to…. www.ashaweb.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1/files/public/Miscellaneous/NSBA_School_Board_Support.pdf
Recommendation and Research on Health Education for all Texas Students, Kindergarten through 12th Grade and Sample Resolution
Developed by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee at their September, 2010 meeting, this document was prepared to support local school districts when recommending a half credit of health education as a graduation requirement for all high school students. The school district resolution is provided for SHACs to use if making this recommendation to local school boards. Go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviserecommendations.shtm to access the recommendation and research document and supporting resolution.
School Health Advisory Council Self-Assessment
Developed by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee at their September, 2010 meeting, this document was prepared to help district SHACs measure their efforts to fulfill their goals and objectives, meet state mandates and school board and community commitments. Go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviserecommendations.shtm to access the self-assessment.
Annual School Health Advisory Committee Progress Report to Local School Board
The purpose of the progress report is to provide district SHACs with a template for the required annual progress report to the district school board with a detailed account of SHAC activities and recommendations. The template is in the form of a power point and can be customized to fit your district as explained in the accompanying instructions for its use. To download the progress report and instructions, go to the Texas School Health Advisory Committee's website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviseresources.shtm.
School Health Initiative Screening Tool
The purpose of the screening tool and the accompanying instructions for its use, is to provide district SHACs a way to evaluate programs and projects submitted to the district that provide information and services to students, staff and the community. To download the screening tool and instructions, go to the Texas School Health Advisory Committee's website at www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviseresources.shtm.
REVISED! The Texas Guide to School Health Programs – Introduction/Contents; and Modules 1, 2 and 3 are NOW available.
The guide provides guidance and resources for school administrators, school nurses, teachers and other school staff. To access the new modules, go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/pgtoc.shtm.
Recommendations for Offering Physical Activity Outside of the School Day
Developed by the Texas Education Agency, in consultation with the Texas School Health Advisory Committee, this document details options and recommendations for providing moderate or vigorous daily physical activity for students for at least 30 minutes outside the seven-hour instructional day as required by the Texas Education Code. Go to www.dshs.state.tx.us/schoolhealth/shadviseresourcesreports.shtm to access this document.