1. Promoting Healthy Weight for Children (and Staff) in DCPS
DC State Education Office Policy Forum: Cutting the Fat --
Local & National Efforts to Provide Healthy School Environments for Students
Julia Graham Lear, PhD, Research Professor, Department of Prevention & Community Health and Director, The Center for Health & Health Care in Schools,School of Public Health and Health Services
George Washington University Medical Center
June 14, 2007
The Center for
Health and Health Care in Schools

2. Summary What the data show Lessons from research
School-community collaboration
Seize the low-hanging fruit

3. What the data shows & your eyes see…
Confirming what you already know -- the calorie/energy equation is out of balance

4. Lessons from research
Prevention is more important and effective than treatment.
Single-shot projects on their own don’t work. Multi-faceted interventions and collaboration are key.
3. To partner effectively, communities & schools need to understand each

5. Always Check Your Map: A Guide to School Health Services & Prevention Programs
Policy
Program
Planning & management
Mayor & School Board
Community
Parents
Voters
based
providers
Chancellor
Associate
Superintendent
Facilities
Associate
Superintendent
Pupil Support
Associate
Superintendent
Special
Education
Associate
Superintendent
Academic
Affairs
Principals
Services & prevention
School mental
Health program
- Individ. & group
counseling
- Family
- Teacher
consultations
School-Based
Health Center
- Physical
health
- Mental
- Nutrition
School
Nurses
Health
Aides
Guidance
Counselors
Mental health
professionals
Testing for
Special Ed.
placement
School
psychologists
Related Services
- Mental health
- OT/PT
- Health Services
- Health
education
- Physical
-Recess
Policy
Program
Planning and Management
Community-based sponsor:
- Health system
- Community health center
- Health department
- Hospitals
Community-based sponsor:
- Community mh center
- City/county mh dept.
- Other human services
organizations
The Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
2121 K Street, NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC
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6. What Do Schools Want to Know?
How to keep kids in school
How to perform well on statewide tests
How to engage families in school-connected activities
How to do non-academic tasks quicker and easier
What do some school staff (nurses, counselors, school-based health center staff) want to know? What to DO when a child is seriously overweight? What NOT to do? How to help parents?

7. Places to Start… Increase exercise opportunities
Involve students in planning
Go for low-hanging fruit
Add BMI to school health records
Build on 2008 Olympics -- look for funding for a DC Olympics project
Work with teachers to create a Healthy DC cookbook

8. Assessing the Climate for Prevention Programs at School
What is the level of pressure to improve student achievement?
Is the administrative staff supportive of implementing prevention programs?
Are a majority of teachers supportive of implementing prevention programs?
Is there student free time to allow prevention programs to be conducted during school hours?
Is the physical environment of the school conducive to health promotion activities?
Source: Eisen M, Palletto C, Bradner C. Prevention Readiness Checklist in Problem Behavior Prevention and School-Based Health Centers: Programs and Prospects, The Urban Institute, December 1999.

9. They need to know that you care before they care what you know
They need to know that you care before they care what you know. Bernie Siegel, MD, National Assembly on School-Based Health Care June 2005

10. Contact information
Julia Graham Lear
Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
2121 K Street, NW Suite 250
Washington, DC 20037