Health Enhancement Division

The Health Enhancement Division includes most of OPI's "health-related" programs. Units within the Division include School Nutrition Programs, Traffic Education, and Coordinated School Health.

This Division encourages school programs designed to prevent major health problems and health-risk behaviors among youth and to facilitate students achieving their maximum potential.

Montana Standards for Health Enhancement

Montana Office of Public Instruction Information on...

Infection Control |
School Closure |
School Meals

Information on Norovirus 2011 NEW

CDC has provided information about the 2011-2012 influenza season, including information about the season's vaccines, vaccination recommendations and disease activity. This year's recommendations are issued in a shortened format because there are relatively few changes from the 2010-2011 recommendations:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/

How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu . This guide gives K–12 schools tips on how to clean to help slow the spread of seasonal flu. A Spanish version is also available.

This message was forwarded by the Division of Adolescent and School Health, NCCDPHP, CDC. Visit the DASH Web site

School Closure Reporting

Influenza School Closure or Dismissal Reporting

School Meal Service Policies and Forms

Physical Fitness...

Mental Health...

School Safety, Awareness and Prevention...

Serving Students with Health Care Needs

Health Forms for School Use

Tobacco Use Prevention and Education

The Montana Office of Public Instruction School Tobacco Use Prevention and Education program provides technical assistance and resources to Montana school districts through coordination with the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

The purpose of the program is to:

Expand and strengthen the capacity of local education agencies to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use in coordination with the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program.
Provide technical assistance to public schools by promoting compliance of the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act and in the development of comprehensive tobacco free school policies.

Dana Geary, Tobacco Prevention Education Specialist, 406.444.0785

Health Enhancement Organization Chart

Montana Tobacco Free School of Excellence Initiative

Montana Tobacco Free School Districts of Excellence (MAP)

Montana School System-Districts with Comprehensive Tobacco Free School Policy (list by District)
This edition of MTSBA Policy Notes provides an explanation of the changes to mandatory, recommended, and optional policies contained in the MTSBA Master Policy Manual.

Board of Public Education – Position Statement on Tobacco-Free School Policy (May 13, 2005)

Media Literacy Initiative

Introduction to Media Literacy

Prezi created by Rob Reynolds, Technology & Learning Coordinator, Eureka Public Schools

medialiteracytoolbox.com Download Media Literacy Kits from their toolbox

Admongo.com Free resources from the Federal Trade Commission

The Center for Media Literacy provides you with a wide selection of teaching tools, carefully evaluated for their quality and importance to the field.

Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP)

Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP)

Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program
www.reactmt.com
Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program Tobacco Surveillance Report: Smokeless Tobacco Use in Montana (3/2010)
Tobacco Free Schools in Montana Fact Sheet
Master Settlement Agreement – Putting Tobacco Money Toward Public Health
Montana Master Settlement Agreement

Tobaco Use Prevention and Education

Montana Office of Public Instruction Data and Other Resources

Montana School Health Profiles (SHP)

Montana Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)

National Resources and Other Links

National Centers for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (CDC)

CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health
Includes: Guidelines for School Health Program to Prevent Tobacco Use and Addiction, data/statistics, science-based strategies, program information, and publications.
CDC Youth Tobacco Prevention
Includes youth prevention materials for download.
CDC Disparities and Inequalities Report 2011

National School Boards Association

State Resources Available to Others:

The Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California (TECC) provides materials free of charge to agencies and schools funded by the state's tobacco control program.
The Massachusetts Tobacco Education Clearinghouse , through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, provides materials and other services to support tobacco education efforts across that state.
Oregon Tobacco Education Clearinghouse has a catalog of posters, videos, pamphlets and booklets available online (some for free download) or by calling 1-800-874-7917.

U.S. Department of Education
Safe and Drug Free Schools Program

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

American Legacy Foundation

American Lung Association
Smoking prevention and cessation programs for teens and on asthma education and indoor air quality through their Not On Tobacco program

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) lists tobacco-related materials

Department of Defense's Quit Tobacco – Make Everyone Proud Campaign (Preventive Medicine's Tobacco Cessation Program was implemented to help soldiers quit their addition to tobacco)

Healthy Youth!

Kick Butts Day

My Last Dip offers programs to help chewing tobacco users quit, including one specially designed for chewers age 14-25.

National African American Tobacco Education Network provides resources on tobacco-use prevention specific to African American communities and populations, including materials for physicians and dentists.

National Association of Local Boards of Health

National Association for Media Literacy Education

National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information offers a range of tobacco-specific materials, including pamphlets, posters, booklets, etc.

National Spit Tobacco Education Network (NSTEP), Oral Health America's National Spit Tobacco Education Program, has both print and video materials available on the dangers of spit tobacco.

Tar Wars
Supported by the American Academy of Family Physicians, targets fourth- and fifth-graders with an award-winning education program and poster contest. Classroom presentations and program guides are available for teachers and presenters, as well as posters and merchandise.

The Badvertising Institute

Through With Chew

Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California

Tobacco Free U, from the BACCHUS Network, provides resources and information for college students working on tobacco prevention and policies.

Tobacco News and Information

World Health Organization

School Health Profiles

The School Health Profiles helps state and district education and health agencies monitor the current status of school health education; school health policies related to HIV infection/AIDS, tobacco use prevention, unintentional injuries and violence, physical activity, and food service; physical education; asthma management activities; and family and community involvement in school health programs. State and local education and health agencies conduct the survey biennially at the middle/junior high school and senior high school levels in their states or districts, respectively.

2010 Profiles

2008 Profiles

2006 Profiles

2004 Profiles

2002 Profiles

CDC Profiles

Centers for Disease Control Profiles

Montana Student Fact Sheets

Coordinated School Health

The intent is for the state health and education agencies to collaboratively focus efforts on developing the infrastructure within each agency that can effectively promote coordinated school health education programs.

The priorities of the program are to:

provide support for Montana schools and to improve the capability of schools to provide effective, appropriate and culturally relevant school health education programs to students, and
implement an organizational structure with the state education agency and the state health agency that will provide leadership and coordination for school health education programs that are designed to prevent health risk behaviors and health problems.

Resources for Military Families

Operation Millitary Kids Montana
Military OneSource Service Provider
Military OneSource Newsletter - October is Health Relationships Month

New Army School Behavioral (Mental) Health Manual
This new manual was developed for three primary purposes:
1) To assist installations in more rapidly building school behavioral health programs and services,
2) To increase the likelihood that these services are effective in achieving valued outcomes, including improving student school success, military family adjustment, and soldier readiness, and
3) To promote standardization in implementation and evaluation across sites to help increase the capacity and impact of the initiative.
If you are interested in learning more about School Behavioral Health and/or wish to download a copy of the School Behavioral Health Operation Guide, please visit:
http://brainhealth.army.mil/SBH or contact Ms. Mona Johnson at mona.m.johnson1@us.army.mil .

Parents' Military Deployment May Harm Kids' Mental Health--Longer Service Duration Raises Risk that Children will Develop Stress, Behavioral Problems, Anxiety

Children with a parent on long-term military deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan are at increased risk for mental health problems, new research suggests. In the study, published in the July 4 online edition of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, researchers examined the medical records of 307,520 U.S. children, aged 5 to 17, who had at least one parent on active duty in the U.S. Army and received outpatient care between 2003 and 2006.

During that time period, nearly 17 percent of the children were diagnosed with a mental health disorder. The most common conditions were depression, behavioral problems, anxiety, stress and sleep disorders, the investigators found.

More than 62 percent of the children's parents were deployed at least once during the study period, with deployments averaging 11 months. Mental health problems were more likely to be diagnosed among children who had a parent who was deployed at least once to Iraq or Afghanistan. The risk of a mental health problem among the children rose with increased length of parents' deployment.

"We observed a clear dose-response pattern such that children of parents who spent more time deployed between 2003 and 2006 fared worse than children whose parents were deployed for a shorter duration," wrote Alyssa J. Mansfield, then of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, now of the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in Honolulu, and colleagues. "Similar to findings among military spouses, prolonged deployment appears to be taking a mental health toll on children."

In an accompanying commentary, Dr. Stephen J. Cozza, from the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine in Bethesda, Md., noted that as of 2009, 44 percent of active duty military members have children (an estimated total of 1.2 million children), in addition to 43 percent of Reserve and National Guard members. Since 2001, about 2 million U.S. military personnel have deployed at least once.

The study provides "an important contribution to our understanding of a child's health and its relationship to parental combat deployment," Cozza said in a journal news release.

"Brief screening for anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, academic difficulties, peer relational problems, or high-risk behaviors (such as substance misuse or unsafe sexual practices) is warranted and will help identify treatment needs," Cozza concluded.

For more information, The U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine offers tips for supporting children of a military parent who is deploying. Please visit: http://www.hooah4health.com/deployment/familymatters/tentips.htm .

SOURCE: July 2011 Safe Schools, Healthy Students Newsletter, National Center for Mental Health Promotion and Youth Violence Prevention

U.S. DOD ANNOUNCES THE JANUARY/FEBRUARY EDITION OF THE MILITARY COMMUNITY AND POLICY (MC&FP) eMAGAZINE

The U.S. Department of Defense presents the January/February edition of the Military Community and Family Policy (MC&FP) eMagazine! From preparing a healthy meal using simple ingredients purchased at a local commissary to improving financial fitness through taking the Military Saves challenge, this issue of the eMagazine focuses on the programs and services available to assist our military community in maintaining their own personal health and well-being.

Features:

Children and Youth -- Find Out How To Get Fit
Commissary News -- Healthy Eating and Shopping
EFMP -- Nothing Can Stop Healthy Living
Joint Service Training -- Inclusive Recreation for Wounded Warriors
Looking Ahead -- Making Wise Financial Decisions
MWR -- Healthy New You in 2011
Relocation -- Staying Active During a Move
USA4MilitaryFamilies -- 10 Key Quality of Life Issues

Please visit http://apps.mhf.dod.mil/mcfp/emag to read about the latest MC&FP program updates and information.

Be the first to know what's happening at Military OneSource by following us on Facebook and Twitter.

Teen Dating Violence

Teen Dating Violence as a Public Health Issue
February has been declared Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The Children's Safety Network office of the Education Development Center, Department of Health and Human Services, has developed an excellent fact sheet on "Teen Dating Violence as a Public Health Issue." Teen dating violence is a pattern of controlling behavior exhibited towards one teenager by another in a dating relationship. The fact sheet outlines types of teen dating violence, data graphs, risk factors, approaches to preventing teen dating violence, examples of state efforts in teen dating violence prevention, many other educational resources, and much more.

Justice Department Research Shows That School-Level Interventions Reduce Dating Violence
by up to 50 Percent

The study was conducted among over 2500 middle school students in 30 New York City public schools. School-level interventions include using temporary school-based restraining orders, higher levels of faculty and security presence in areas identified as "hot spots," and posters to increase awareness and encourage reporting of incidents to school officials. Classroom-level interventions, when delivered alone, had no effect. The combination of the classroom and the school-level intervention alone led to a 32-47 percent lower sexual violence victimization and perpetration six months after the intervention. Students receiving the school-level intervention were more likely to say they would intervene as a bystander six months after the intervention. The full report and more information is available at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/236175.pdf, but be aware that this report is 333 pages and 18MB in size.

New Teen Dating Violence DVD Debuts
OutreachArts is proud to announce the DVD release of its latest MAPLE AVE offering, the dating violence-themed, 'Loves Me Not' (currently available through Intermedia, Inc.). The 8th installment in the Award-Winning MAPLE AVE Series, 'Loves Me Not' focuses on dating/domestic violence from the POV of a 17 year old deceased victim named Cari. Cari was relentlessly beaten by her boyfriend, Marcos and so viciously bullied by his friends after leaving him that she, ultimately, took her own life. Now Cari finds herself helplessly watching the same thing happen all over again to another girl, Sharon (Marcos' new girlfriend).

As with all our MAPLE AVE films, a Leader's Guide is included with the 'Loves Me Not' DVD, featuring dating violence statistics, classroom discussion questions and creative follow-up activities to help students deepen their connection to the issue. For a limited time, you may preview the 'Loves Me Not' film (see above link) at our MAPLE AVE Series site. To purchase the DVD for your school or organization, please visit our friends at Intermedia today!

HHS’ SAMHSA NATIONAL SURVEY INDICATES ONE IN FOUR GIRLS AGED 12-17 WERE INVOLVED IN SERIOUS FIGHTS OR ATTACKS IN THE PAST YEAR

Prevalence of violent acts differs by family income, school attendance, and levels of substance use

A report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that, in the past year, one quarter (26.7 percent) of adolescent girls participated in a serious fight at school or work, group-against-group fight, or an attack on others with the intent to inflict serious harm.

“These findings are alarming,” said SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. “We need to do a better job reaching girls at risk and teaching them how to resolve problems without resorting to violence.”

When combined, 2006 to 2008 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) shows that 18.6 percent of adolescent females got into a serious fight at school or work in the past year, 14.1 percent participated in a group-against-group fight, and 5.7 percent attacked others with the intent to seriously hurt them; one quarter (26.7 percent) of adolescent females engaged in at least one of these violent behaviors in the past year. Other key findings from the NSDUH survey include:

The prevalence of these violent acts in the past year decreased as annual family income increased. The violent behaviors were reported by 36.5 percent of adolescent females who lived in families with annual incomes of less than $20,000, 30.5 percent of those in families with annual incomes of $20,000-$49,999, 22.8 percent with annual incomes of $50,000 to $74,999, and 20.7 percent with annual incomes of $75,000 or more.
In the past year, adolescent females who engaged in any of these violent behaviors were more likely than those who did not to have indicated past month binge alcohol use (15.1 vs. 6.9 percent), marijuana use (11.4 vs. 4.1 percent), and use of illicit drugs other than marijuana (9.2 vs. 3.2 percent).
Adolescent females who were not currently enrolled or attending school were more likely than those who were in school to have engaged in one of these violent behaviors in the past year (34.3 vs. 26.7 percent). Among those who attended school in the past year, rates of violent behaviors increased as academic grades decreased.

Despite media attention on high-profile accounts of females’ acts of violence, rates of these violent behaviors among adolescent females remained stable according to the NSDUH report when comparing combined data from 2002-2004 and 2006-2008.

Violent Behaviors among Adolescent Females is based on the responses of 33,091 female youths aged 12 to 17 participating in the 2006, 2007, and 2008 SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

The full report is available online at: http://oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/171/171FemaleViolence.cfm . It may also be obtained by calling the SAMHSA Health Information Ne

Newly Released! CDC Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently announced the release of School Health Profiles: Characteristics of Health Programs Among Secondary Schools (Profiles 2008).

This report provides state, local, and territorial school-level data from the 2008 School Health Profiles on school health education; physical education; school health policies related to HIV/AIDS prevention, tobacco-use prevention, and competitive foods; asthma management activities; and family and community involvement in school health programs.

A great tool to examine trends and issues in school health, and how well your community or state is faring in these important issues! Fact sheets are also available that combine School Health Profiles along with the Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Wellness Resources: Guidance for Schools

With the passing of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, school districts that participate in federally subsidized child nutrition programs (National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and AfterSchool Snack Program) were required to adopt a local school wellness policy. Most schools had this policy in place by the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year. The resources found on this website will help school districts in implementing, evaluating and updating these policies so that the school environment supports healthy nutrition and opportunity for physical activity for all.

Overview

Montana School Wellness Resources

National School Wellness Resources

School Wellness Resources by Category

Creating and Maintaining an Effective School Wellness Team

Evaluating School Wellness Activities

Healthy Habits Challenge

Healthy Habits Challenge

Nutrition Education in School

Physical Activity at School

Vision Statement for the Health Enhancement Divison

To encourage the development of coordinated school health education programs that are designed to prevent major health problems and health-risk behaviors among youth and promote healthy lifestyles, families and communities.

State and national studies show that many Montana school-aged youth engage in behaviors that put them at risk for injuries, HIV/sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, drug and alcohol abuse, and suicide. Additionally, health risk behaviors – such as tobacco use, improper diets, and physical inactivity – developed during childhood place young people at risk for chronic disease later in life.

The Health Enhancement and Safety Division plays a key role in fostering and maintaining the physical, emotional, social and mental health of students and their environment while promoting healthy lifestyles as personal and societal responsibilities. The three units within the Division – Coordinated School Health Unit, School Nutrition Unit, and Traffic Education Unit – include the following programs and areas of responsibility: Health Enhancement (Health and Physical Education), HIV/STD Education, Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, School Nutrition Programs (School Lunch, School Breakfast, Milk, After School Snack, Summer Food, Cooperative Food Purchasing, Food Distribution, and Nutrition Education and Training), Driver Education and Advanced Driver Education.

The Coordinated School Health work is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities and 21st Century Community Learning Centers programs are funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Education. The School Nutrition and nutrition education and training programs are funded through grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Tobacco Prevention program is funded through a cooperative agreement with Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, and the Driver Education and Advanced Driver Education programs are funded with state special revenue/proprietary funds.

Division Goals

The major goals of the Health Enhancement and Safety Division include:

Provide technical assistance to schools and communities in all program areas, including implementing guidance of federal program guidelines and requirements. Responsibilities include training, program planning, development, implementation, assessment, and reporting.
Provide curricular and instructional materials to schools for use by teachers in the program areas identified. These materials include curricular scope and sequence, curricula guidelines, and classroom-based activities, as well as guidelines for program and student assessment.
Develop and maintain a cadre of regional Health Enhancement/HIV Trainers who are trained and equipped to provide health-related training to professional, administrative and support staff at the school site.
Develop and maintain a cadre of Driver Education Instructors who are trained and equipped to provide traffic-related instruction to students and advanced training to adults.
Promote a coordinated school health approach in Montana schools and increase the number of schools that provide planned, sequential and age-appropriate health and physical education at each grade level.
Monitor the availability, utilization and quality of school food services in Montana schools.
Monitor the health-related behavior of Montana youth in six categories: intentional and unintentional injury, tobacco use, drug and alcohol use, dietary imbalances, sexual behavior, and physical inactivity. The monitoring of health-related behaviors will include the general student population in grades 7 - 12, youth in alternative high school settings, American Indian youth in reservation and in urban schools, and youth with special needs.
Maintain cooperative working relationships with:

other state agencies, professional associations, state non-profit and for-profit organizations, and community-based organizations to effectively provide a continuum of services for youth to promote positive health behaviors through the most cost-effective means possible;
Montana’s school administrators through frequent communication and presentations at regional and state association meetings in order to secure administrative support for program activities;
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Department of Education, the highway traffic safety community and the Montana Legislature to maintain existing sources of funding, provide all necessary applications and reports, and provide information and input regarding future program goals and objectives; and
other programs within the Office of Public Instruction, including communication both up and down the chain of command, in order to coordinate the effective delivery of educational services.

Conduct evaluation activities to provide information necessary to assess progress and to assist in improving division work plan activities.

At your service...