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Texas Action for Healthy Kids 2012 TAHK Summit: Pictures and Presentations *Videos and photos can be found in the right hand column of this page.
Welcome to the Texas Team!
Alice Kirk, MPH - Chair ab-kirk@tamu.edu Sandy Bristow - Vice Chair sjbristow@oliverfoundation.org Michelle Smith - State Coordinator msmith@actionforhealthykids.org Scott Bodnar - Secretary scott@activelifehq.org Sandy Tesch - Treasurer sandy.tesch@dshs.state.tx.us
Overview Texas Action for Healthy Kids (TAHK) had an exciting few years with success in a number of areas including parent engagement and increased team membership. Through mini grants to middle schools and day care centers, TAHK was able to reach a variety of parents, engage them in nutrition and physical activity projects, and train them to advocate for campus level policy that supports healthy activities at the school building level. In addition, through the parent engagement efforts, work with the Texas State PTA, and collaboration with the Texas Education Agency on a series of statewide webinars TAHK’s membership almost tripled this year. Coordinated School Health Fall 2012
About Us and Our Activities
Parent Engagement TAHK has been working with 10 middle schools and 11 child care centers throughout Central Texas on a series of parent engagement initiatives and trainings. Launched in the fall of 2009, middle school parents have helped plan and coordinate family fitness fun nights, reviewed and recommended policy changes and received training on the importance of good nutrition and physical activity for student success. TAHK also recognized several additional middle schools for implementing effective parent engagement programs. TAHK recognized the need to reach children prior to their entry into the school system at the age of five or six as habits have already started to form. To address this, TAHK provided $500 mini-grants to 11 child care centers to support parent engagement activities in an effort to improve nutrition and physical activity among preschool age children.
Membership Membership in TAHK almost tripled, increasing from 581 during the 2008-2009 school year to 1592 members in 2009-2010, now TAHK has over 2,000 members! In addition to its parent engagement efforts, TAHK’s increased credibility from its relationship with the TX State PTA produced at least 300 new members. The State PTA shared TAHK’s news and information with its local chapters who blast out information to individual school PTAs. TAHK also worked with the TX State PTA to present Parents are the Power at PTA meetings and the annual state PTA conference. TAHK also hosted an exhibit booth to share tips for parents during the conference. A collaboration with the Texas Education Agency that focused on the production and implementation of webinars on coordinated school health including nutrition and physical activity in schools, generated a significant number of new team members. These webinars were delivered to all of the 21 Texas regional service centers throughout the state as well as through the Action for Heatlhy Kids webinar service. (Webinars are achived below) The reach of TAHK was substantial. The team reached 16,000 students, 10,000 parents, and 500 school districts in the 2009-2010 school year.
What’s Next? For the 2011-2012 school year, TAHK will continue its parent engagement efforts, its focus on pre-school age children and their parents, and its collaboration with the Texas Education Agency and Texas PTA.
Get Involved There are many opportunities to get involved with Action for Healthy Kids in Texas--from becoming a team member, to attending Action for Healthy Kids’ events, to making a financial contribution--you can help create a safer environment for our kids! If you feel compelled to lend your voice to one of most important issues of our time, and would like to take that first step towards creating a healthier environment for our kids, join the Action for Healthy Kids community by taking the Every Kid Healthy Pledge on the left-hand side of the page. Volunteer Opportunities Find ways you can make a difference in the lives of Texas youth by viewing the Volunteer Opportunities in the 'Join Us- Upcoming Team Events' section by clicking here.
Webinars
April 4, 2012 Webinar This final webinar for 2012 school year will focus on resources provided by Dept of Health, Texas Education Agency and the Dept. of Agriculture. You will also find a checklist and presentation on Coordinated School Health as part of the campus improvement plan. To dowload presentations go to Documents section on the right side of this web page. For the webinar click here February 2, 2012 Webinar Working on establishing a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)? Or need to rejuvenate one? Watch this webinar to find out the laws, identify some great resources and hear from a successful SHAC in Hays County. Also information on uploading Fitnessgram data for Texas schools. To dowload presentations go to Documents section on the right side of this web page. For the webinar click here December 7, 2011 Webinar Are you interested in learning about physical activity opportunities? Check out the Whole Child Webinar! Get recommendations on recess policy, learn about the advantages of recess before lunch, find out details on Walk Across Texas, Family Camping and Geocaching, school gardens, farm to school and Green Ribbon School programs. Also find out more about the PAPA curriculum and some great interactive tools! For the webinar:Click Here For the Recess Before Lunch Video on YouTube: Click Here
Sept. 7, 2011 Webinar This first webinar for the 2011 school year focuses on The Whole Child. The Year of the Whole Child will provide opportunities for school districts, partner agencies and associations to strengthen their focus on implementing coordinated school health programming by garneriTng the support of administration, community, governing bodies, and parent groups. Counselors, school nurses, health and physical education teachers responsible for implementing school health policies and programs will find the content of these professional development opportunities educational, motivating and refreshing as we further connect our essential functions to the academic success and lifetime achievement of our students. . To view webinar Click here May 5, 2011 Webinar This webinar focused on several aspects of coordinated school health. First was an update on legislation being considered this session that impacts school health. Then Creating a Successful Learning Evironment, the Healthy Lifestyles course being required by NE ISD for graduation, Healthy School Communities Model: Aligning Health and Education in the School Setting, data from the school health survey, TxDAg info on summer feeding program, Update on It's Time Summit coming in June and other TEA updates. This is the last webinar for this school year. To view webinar Click here
April 6, 2011 Webinar TEA and TAHK presented informaton on Coordinated School Health Components 7&8. Healthy and Safe Environment and Counseling and Mental Health Services Dr Victoria Calder, Texas School Safety Center, Jeff Wages, DSHS, Barbara Fountain, DSHS and Linda Hughes from Texas Counselors covered the spectrum of bullying and safety issues and resources. To view webinar Click here
March 6 TEA/TAHK Webinar - Coordinated School Health Part VI Staff Wellness and Health Services Presentations by DSHS RN Anita Wheeler, as well as school nurses from three schools. Also Dr Stephen Pont discussed Austin ISD health services model which is provided through a contract with Seton Hospital. Texas Dept of Agriculture reviews National Breakfast Week and updates from TEA. On the February 2, 2011 Webinar TAHK and TEA presented Coordinated School Health Part V. This webinar covered updates in Fitnessgram, assessment strategies and test protocols, how Fitnessgram can help achieve academic success, school nutrition - from Child Nutrition Services, Dept of Agriculture and spotlighting North East ISD who have successfully done away with competitive foods. Also TEA updates. Click here
On the January 14, 2011 Webinar TAHK and TEA presented Coordinated School Health Part IV. This webinar covered the four approved coordinated school health programs. Information on how PTA and SHACs can help with implementation as well as resources for schools and parents interested in bullying and teen relationships. Click here
On the November 3, 2010 Webinar TAHK and TEA presented Coordinated School Health Part III. This webinar covered information on Partnership for Healthy Texas and advocacy strategies, Health Education as part of coordinated school health. The role of SHACs, the Community Tool Box, YRBS and School Health Profiles and Parent And Paternity Awareness. Click here to view webinar. Texas Action for Healthy Kids is again working with Texas Education Agency (TEA) to bring you resources and information on implementing Coordinated School Health Programs. In early October, 2010 we hosted a webinar with TEA focusing on PE programs, Fitnessgram and PE as part of coordinated school health. Click here to view webinar. Texas Action for Health Kids partnered with the Texas Education Agency to present "Year of the SHAC-Healthy Kids are Prepared to Learn"and features innovative health course and MVPA implementation, new school nutrition programs you can use from Texas Dept. of Agriculture, Student-Focused Health Fair, Working with Data, Positive Proactive Discipline, Staff Wellness and Make the Movement! Click here to view webinar. Texas Action for Healthy Kids hosted a webinar Click here to view the 30 minute webinar explores school lunches and what determines the foods that are served, the impact of food fundraisers and food as reward on children's health, and gives parents ideas on how they can get involved and improve the nutrition and physical activity environment of their schools. It also shares information on the CATCH program and social marketing pilot that is being tested in middle schools in Central Texas. Texas Action for Healthy Kids hosted a webinar on the Healthier US School Challenge in the Spring of 2010. To view the webinar click here. Texas Action for Healthy Kids partnered with the Texas Education Agency to present Year of the SHAC - Best Practices! as a webinar on Feburary 3, 2010. To view the webinar click here. Texas Action for Healthy Kids partnered with the Texas Education Agency to present Year of the SHAC - What To Do In 2010! as a webinar onJanuary 8, 2010. To view the webinar click here. In October, 2009, Texas Action for Healthy Kids partnered with the Texas Education Agency to present Coordinated School Health 101 as a webinar. To view the webinar click here |
TAHK Booth at Summer 2012 PTA Conference
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