Healthy Schools Campaign

Chicago Mayoral Candidates to Discuss School Wellness at HSC's Educational Forum

As Chicagoans prepare to elect their next mayor, parents across the city are asking how the candidates’ policies will affect the health and education of students attending Chicago Public Schools (CPS), particularly in light of the significant role that health disparities play in student learning.

Chicago has been a national model in responding to First Lady Michelle Obama’s call for schools to play a key role in reversing the childhood obesity epidemic, recently unveiling new school lunch menus and a range of health-promoting policies.  The district has also implemented a comprehensive environmental action plan.

At this key juncture in the city’s work to prioritize student wellness, the next mayor’s policies regarding school health will have an important impact on children’s well-being and success at school.

To address these questions, HSC is convening a nonpartisan educational forum on Feb. 4 to meet the 2011 Chicago mayoral candidates and hear about their priorities for student health and wellness in Chicago Public Schools.

This mayoral election has drawn national attention; HSC's forum highlights the increasingly prominent role of school health and wellness in public policy dialogue at both the local and national levels.

Invited speakers:

•    Gery Chico *
•    Miguel del Valle *
•    Rahm Emanuel
•    Carol Moseley Braun *
•    Patricia Van Pelt-Watkins *
•    William "Dock" Walls *

* Confirmed

Remarks from each of the candidates will be available online shortly after the forum.

If you are in the Chicago area and are interested in attending the forum, please click here for details.

(Please note that pre-registration is required. We encourage you to register as soon as possible if you are interested in attending the forum!)

What Will New Nutrition Standards Mean for School Food?

by Mark Bishop, Vice President of Policy and Communications

The past few months have seen big news in the world of school food. In December, the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act passed, reauthorizing the Child Nutrition Act for the first time in more than five years. At the signing of the bill, President Obama said, “We've seen the connection between what kids eat and how well they perform in school.” And two weeks ago, the USDA took steps to implement the law by proposing new nutrition standards for the first time in nearly 15 years.

This is a good step forward and USDA’s quick movement in proposing these new standards is to be applauded.

However, we need to be realistic in recognizing that it will take months if not years before these rules are actually implemented in schools. Improving school food doesn’t happen overnight, nor does it happen with the passage of a single bill. The new standards are very important and will go a long way in moving change along -- but bringing healthy school food to schools across the country will only happen with the day-to-day creativity, hard work and dedication of school food service staff, parents and administrators in thousands of schools across the country.

As important as these new standards will be, we can’t take our eyes off the long-range goal of providing healthy food at the school level, for all children.

A few thoughts:

We need to stay engaged during the process of finalizing the new nutrition standards. While school food standards have been introduced, this is only the beginning. The new legislation requires the USDA to implement new standards for school food within 18 months. This means there will be months of meetings, public discussion, comment periods and many conversations about what school food should look like. These standards are closely based on the report issued by the Institute of Medicine in October 2009, but that doesn’t mean that the USDA will accept the IOM recommendations in their entirety. Importantly, this means we all need to stay engaged to ensure that healthful standards are set.  

And remember that six-cent increase in the school lunch reimbursement? Well, schools only receive it after the new standards are set and after they comply with those standards. In a time when most schools are already losing more than 35 cents per meal (and double that in large urban districts), this extra money will be welcomed -- but it’s not going to provide a level of resources to allow schools to suddenly provide higher quality meals.

We need to make sure schools provide an environment that supports healthy eating and wellness.  The reality is that food in the cafeteria is only one piece of the larger puzzle of a healthy school food environment. As the USDA determines new nutrition standards, we need to make sure the other pieces are also as healthful as possible. Teachers can incorporate health and wellness into classroom activities; principals need to employ strategies to incorporate wellness throughout the day; school nurses need to promote prevention and wellness in their practices; parents need to stay engaged with supporting healthy behaviors: we all have a role to play.

It’s encouraging to see examples of this kind of change bubbling up across the country. In Chicago, we’ve launched Go for the Gold, a citywide campaign to engage parents, teachers, principals, chefs, corporations and community leaders in meeting the high standards for school food, nutrition education and physical activity set by the HealthierUS School Challenge. We’re seeing how important it is to tap into the resources in our community and help schools connect with resources to succeed. Since Go for the Gold launched about six months ago, 15 schools have achieved these standards and submitted their applications, while dozens more are making changes. We’ve seen the community step forward to support schools in achieving these impressive goals: 65 chefs sharing healthy eating lessons on Chef in the Classroom day, corporations providing support through the Civic & Business Advisory Committee, and partner organizations working with schools to provide nutrition education and physical activity opportunities.

The USDA started with the easy stuff.  The USDA proposed standards for school lunch which are based on the work done by the Institute of Medicine. This work has been discussed for well over a year already. However, more work is ahead in developing and proposing new standards for other parts of the school food environment. It will likely be much more controversial when the USDA proposes the standards for all other foods sold in schools: fundraisers, pizza parties, vending machines. . . that will likely generate a more heated debate. And this is where the USDA has a real opportunity to make change.

In all the news that we’ve seen around these new standards, there has been lots of hyperbole. Coverage has ranged from “A Giant Step for Children’s Health” to “New School Food Standards Fail Civil Rights Test.”

But I think Ed Bruske got the tone right on when he wrote, “serving real food in school takes radical changes on the local level, not merely tinkering with standards originating in Washington. That means an attitude change and a commitment on the part of local school officials, parents, and elected leaders.”

My hope is that the new standards originating in Washington are going to make the necessary changes in our schools look a little less radical.

Today’s Lesson: Addition, Subtraction, and… Cereal? Learning About Breakfast in the Classroom

Today we have a guest blog by Allison Joseph, a healthy food advocate in Chicago. Allison is a graduate of the Harris School of Public Policy and has an established career in food and nutrition policy and programs.

Let’s start with a quick quiz to see what you may already know about school breakfast.

1. The School Breakfast Program is:

A. An important way to fight hunger in America
B. A federal program that has been in operation since 1966
C. An excellent way to increase attendance and attention from students
D. All of the above 

2. Universal School Breakfast is:

A. Offered to all school children, regardless of income
B. An important way to increase participation in school breakfast
C. A way to reduce the stigma associated with taking part in school meals
D. All of the above

If you answered D to both questions, you are correct!  If you were surprised by the answers, we invite you to learn more the program that may improve the health and education of our nation’s children.

Here in Chicago, we’re taking a moment to review what we know about school breakfast as Chicago Public Schools considers adopting Breakfast in the Classroom for all 295,000 students in the district’s 474 elementary schools.  While Chicago already offers a more traditional breakfast format in many schools and Breakfast in the Classroom in some schools, this change would bring Breakfast in the Classroom to everyone. 

Chicago implemented a wide-reaching school breakfast program in the 2007-2008 school year, making traditional school breakfast and Breakfast in the Classroom options available to many schools. However, Chicago still lags behind many other large cities in having as many children participate in school breakfast as participate in school lunch. (For details, see the Food Research and Action Center's recent report, School Breakfast in America's Big Cities [pdf].)  District-wide Breakfast in the Classroom may be just the change Chicago needs to encourage more kids to eat breakfast.

Breakfast in the Classroom brings breakfast to all children, in their classrooms, during the first ten to fifteen minutes of class time.  This differs from traditional school breakfast which is served in the cafeteria before class begins. Breakfast in the Classroom increases participation dramatically, takes away stigma and helps children learn that breakfast is part of a normal routine. Numerous schools across Chicago –- and across the country –- have used Breakfast in the Classroom as a successful strategy to bring the benefits of breakfast to all students.

Research shows that students greatly benefit from starting the day with breakfast.  Students display improved cognitive function, improved attention span and better behavior when they have eaten breakfast.  Students who eat breakfast show up on time more often and have higher attendance than students who skip breakfast.

Unfortunately, many students do not get breakfast at home. For instance, 89 percent of Chicago students experience poverty to the degree that they qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.  Even with the option of eating breakfast at school before classes begin, many young students choose not to in order to avoid the stigma associated with eating a subsidized meal.  Even if children would choose to eat school breakfast, they may encounter other challenges such as arriving to school sufficiently early to receive breakfast or understanding why breakfast is a priority.  Schools can help students perform better by helping them all to start their day with a nutritious meal.

Moving breakfast from a more traditional school breakfast to Breakfast in the Classroom stands to address hunger, classroom behavior, and the potential stigma associated with eating meals at school.  In this year’s State of the Union address, President Obama asked if we as a nation were willing to give every child what they need to succeed.  With a nutritious start to every day, we can certainly give each student the best chance possible. 

Today: Urge President Obama to Support Federal Investment in School Facilities

Photo of school submitted in 2009-10 Through Your Lens contest

Today, President Obama will address Congress and the nation in the State of the Union address; the weeks that follow will bring much discussion of budget and legislative priorities for the year ahead. This is a key opportunity to urge President Obama to make federal investment in school facilities a priority.The president's administration has indicated interest in highlighting this important investment; now, we urge you to contact the president and your members of Congress to express support for federal investment in school facilities that support health and learning for all students.

The Through Your Lens contest and exhibit that HSC presents with the 21st Century School Fund and Critical Exposure offers a rarely-seen window into the reality of our nation's school building conditions. It also includes a simple way to take action. We urge you to view the images submitted by students and teachers across the nation, then send a letter to President Obama in support of safe, healthy school buildings.

From the letter:

All students and teachers have the right to adequate, appropriate learning conditions that will allow them to strive for and achieve the goals being set for them. No single level of government can accomplish this alone. We must create a new federal, state, and local partnership to ensure that each and every community has sufficient resources to provide high-quality school buildings to their students. Since quality education requires quality spaces, school buildings must be part of the federal government’s education investment.

Thank you for taking action!

Student-Designed Lunch Served Today in Chicago Public High Schools: Congratulations to the Culinary Students of Richards Career Academy!

Richards Career Academy culinary students Ruby Gutierrez, Gerardo Garcia, Claudia Ramirez and Lidia Sanchez

Congratulations to the culinary students of Richards Career Academy! The lunch they created for the Cooking up Change Healthy Cooking Contest will be served today in public high schools across Chicago – to more than 20,000 students!

Janey Thornton, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, is traveling from Washington, DC to extend her congratulations and enjoy the award-winning lunch with the student chefs at Richards.

Healthy Schools Campaign extends congratulations to the Richards Career Academy culinary team for this remarkable achievement:

Students: Gerardo Garcia, Ruby Gutierrez,  Claudia Ramirez, Lidia Sanchez
Instructors: Mark Soltis, Katy Walsh
Team Mentor: Chef Paul Molina

At Cooking up Change on Nov. 4, 2010, teams of student chefs from Chicago Public Schools wowed judges and guests with their creativity in crafting healthy, tasty school meals while bringing attention to the challenges that schools face in serving healthy lunches on incredibly tight budgets.

“What inspired us was that we wanted a meal which was both healthy and delicious” said team member Lidia Sanchez. “We were all energized and inspired.”

The Richards team’s meal features:

Afro-Caribe Plancha: A toasty panini melted with turkey, black beans and cheese
Soup of Sunshine: A bright, fragrant soup of squash, apples, tomatoes and cilantro
Caribbean Crunch Salad: A fresh and zesty salad with apples, oranges and cucumbers

“Cooking up Change spotlights student creativity and talent,” said Rochelle Davis, HSC President and CEO. “It also gives students a real voice in shaping the future of school food, something that affects their health and learning so directly on a daily basis.”

Through the contest and the focus on healthy school meals, the students’ work connects with national efforts to change the future of school food, particularly in light of First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to reverse childhood obesity and  new policies set by the 2010 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act.

“At Healthy Schools Campaign, we envision a future for school food where fresh, healthy meals are the norm,” said Davis. “I am proud to say that with their creativity and commitment to healthy eating, all the students who take part in Cooking up Change – the  culinary professionals of tomorrow –  are working to make that vision a reality.”

Fun (and Delicious) Project: Make Your Own Infused Olive Oils!

by Lana Buseman, Communications Design Specialist

Olive oil has become an important modern day kitchen staple, finding its way to the U.S. from the Mediterranean countries of Spain, Italy and Greece.  In fact, different countries around the world take olive oil so seriously that organizations have sprung up, like the International Olive Oil Council based in Madrid, just to classify different standards of the oil.  While the U.S. Department of Agriculture has claimed their own olive oil standards, they pretty much follow the same guidelines of the IOOC.

The most prestigious of olive oils is extra virgin olive oil. This oil is considered the best, taste-wise, because it is made only from virgin olives and has almost zero acidity. This gives it a fruity, sweet flavor. Extra virgin olive oil is not the best for sautéing, but better used for topping salads, soups and bread.

The next level of oil is virgin olive oil. Virgin olive oil has slightly more acidity than extra virgin, but can be used in place of extra virgin olive oil.

Olive oil is said to have the least flavor, being a blend of virgin and refined oil, and is best used for sautéing and in other areas where the flavor of the oil is not extremely important.

All three of these oils, especially virgin and extra virgin, can not only add flavor to your meals, but have health benefits as well. Oils like olive oil contain the good fats, monosaturated fats, that your body needs to keep your skin and hair healthy. Monosaturated fats can also help lower your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, whereas foods like butter or saturated oils raise them.

One of the best types of olive oil that I frequently use in my own kitchen is infused olive oil. Today, you can find olive oils infused with everything from garlic to orange peels. These kinds of oils are great for adding delicious flavor to your meals but can often be pricey. If you want to enjoy flavored oil without breaking your bank, it is very simple to make one on your own.

This is the recipe for garlic-basil infused olive oil, but feel free to experiment with any herbs and ingredients you love.

Garlic-Basil Infused Olive Oil

You will need:

• 3- 4 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
• 2 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 2-3 springs fresh basil
• 1 tablespoon cracked black peppercorns

In a saucepan, combine garlic and ½ cup oil. Sautee over medium heat until the garlic is browned (you don’t want it to burn!). Remove from heat and allow to come to room temperature. With a mesh strainer or cheese cloth, strain the oil into a sterilized jar or bottle with a tight fitting lid. Add in the remaining oil, basil and peppercorns. Store the jar in a dark, cool place for a week before using.

Enjoy over pasta, salad or bread!

Poll Shows Angry Moms Support Toxic Chemicals. . . Wait a Second! Taking a Closer Look at Triclosan Data

by Mark Bishop, Vice President of Policy and Communications

Wow. Seventy-five percent of moms would be “ANGRY” if the government took antibacterial soap off the market.

That is, of course, according to polling results [pdf] from the American Cleaning Institute, a cleaning chemical trade association that doesn’t want the federal government to remove a toxic chemical, triclosan, from the market.

Now, I always take polls with a grain a salt, because polling data frequently is as much about how one asks a question as it is about the actual answer. My informal polling of my friends (who tend to be environmentally conscious), shows that 100 percent of them don’t know squat about the chemical tricolsan. Most people haven’t heard of it, much less gathered extensive knowledge about its potential risks or benefits. So a poll about anti-microbial hand soaps (which contain triclosan) would probably lead to some data that isn’t too helpful.

With a quick reading of the Cleaning Institute poll, I can completely understand how they got such a strong response -- I’ll call it lack of context (others may call it something else). So let’s play a little “what if.”

What if we took their question...

If the government took antibacterial hand soaps off the market, would you be very angry, somewhat angry, somewhat happy, or very happy?

...and added a little context ...

Triclosan is a common antibacterial chemical found in many consumer products including most anti-bacterial hand soaps. Studies have detected triclosan in the urine of 75 percent of 2,517 Americans tested and it has been shown to disrupt the thyroid and other horomone systems in animals. No assessment has ever been done on risk exposures to children. Numerous studies have shown that washing hands with this chemical is no more effective at reducing the transmission of infectious disease than just plain old soap and water. If the government took triclosan off the market, would you be very angry, somewhat angry, somewhat happy, or very happy?

Do you think the results would be a little different?

If you want to share your own answer to that question and do something about triclosan, check in with our friends at Beyond Pesticides or Healthy Child Healthy World who are helping get public comments for this effort. Visit Beyond Pesticies here or here or Healthy Child Healthy World here.

And if you want to learn about Healthy Schools Campaign’s green cleaning recommendations -- including our recommendations on hand soaps -- check out Green Clean Schools.

Through Your Lens: 'It Was Eye-Opening'

Spread the word! Through Your Lens, a national photo and essay contest showcasing often-unseen views of our nation's school buildings, opens on February 1. We're proud to present the contest for the second time in partnership with the 21st Century School Fund and Critical Exposure.

The first contest received entries from around the country, showcasing aspects of school buildings that participants were proud of and things that they'd like to see changed.The images were published in an online gallery and in a book; they were also shown at a special exhibit on Capitol Hill. Seen together, the mix of images highlights the tremendous disparity in school conditions within our country.

One participant wrote:

[Through Your Lens] showed me how this country has neglected what matters most -- the education of its children. Some of those pictures of the deteriorating buildings were absolutely unbelievable... I kept asking, 'How can this be America?'... Our schools look nothing like those in the book. It was eye-opening.

The upcoming contest presents an opportunity for students, teachers and others with a view of schools to open more eyes to the reality of our nation's school conditions. If you are interested in submitting photos or stories, now is a great time to begin taking pictures and telling others about the contest!

You can learn more and see images from the last contest at www.throughyourlens.org.

Plus: Check out coverage of Through Your Lens in Slate magazine »

 

Friday Recipe: Spiced-Pumpkin Oatmeal

by Lana Buseman, Communications Design Specialist

I was recently watching the Food Network’s Aarti Party, hosted by Aarti Sequeira, whose focus is on Indian food made easy. On this episode, she took a traditional American breakfast, oatmeal, and put an Indian twist on it. If you have ever cooked, eaten or even been in the vicinity of Indian food, you know it is not lacking in flavor and aroma. The main reason for this is the combination of rich and fragrant spices that are the building blocks of this cuisine: curry, turmeric and cinnamon, to name a few.

What I wasn’t very aware of until recently are the benefits these spices can have for your health. For example, curry powder has antioxidants that can help ease inflammation in your joints; cumin, another common spice found in Indian cooking, can be helpful in resolving digestive problems and nausea.

Another very common spice in Indian cooking is cinnamon. Most often cinnamon is found in pastries and sweets, so the idea of this spice having health benefits might get lost in the shuffle. However, this spice can help reduce blood sugar and contains polyphenols that may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. The best part is that studies link these benefits to only ½ teaspoon a day of the spice! The scent of cinnamon is even said to help increase your alertness -- a perfect reason to make this spiced-pumpkin oatmeal for breakfast!

This healthy oatmeal was created to take on a pumpkin pie flavor: what kid (or adult) wouldn’t like that? And a plus: Aarti reminds us that we are getting a serving of vegetables without even realizing it!

Ingredients

• 1 (14-ounce) can pumpkin puree (the unseasoned kind)
• 2 cups water
• 2 cups unsweetened almond milk, (feel free to substitute your favorite type of milk)
• 2 tablespoons raisins (golden or regular)
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon plus 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom plus 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves OR 3/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 2 cups quick cooking oatmeal (not the instant kind)
• 1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
• Plain Greek yogurt, brown sugar, or honey (optional for serving)

Instructions

In a large saucepan over high heat, combine the pumpkin puree, water, milk, raisins, salt, and pumpkin pie spice (or alternative spices). Bring to a boil.

Add the oatmeal. Turn the heat down and cook according to your oatmeal instructions; mine usually takes about 15 minutes. Stir often.

Meanwhile, in a small cast iron skillet over medium heat, toast the pepitas until they're golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Once the oatmeal is cooked (each grain should be tender), sprinkle pepitas on top and serve with your favorite toppings (it is delicious on its own as well!)

Enjoy!

Plus: If you are in the Chicago or Milwaukee areas, a great place to shop for fresh spices is The Spice House!

Washington Post Editorial: 'How Did Obesity Become a Partisan Fight?'

A recent Washington Post editorial by Fred Hiatt does a great job of explaining why childhood obesity is more than a partisan issue. He addresses backgound on -- and objections to -- First Lady Obama's Let's Move campaign; statistics that reinforce the urgency of the obesity epidemic; and why working for positive, healthy change is an issue that goes beyond partisan interests.

You can check out the full text of this excellent editorial here. In the meantime, here's an excerpt: 

The obesity epidemic is a genuine public health emergency, with vast implications for the nation's well-being, economy and even national security. And yet, could anyone really be against children eating healthier food and getting more exercise? ...

Well, yes, if Michelle Obama is for it, someone will be against it. Someone like Glenn Beck, for example, who was moved to rail against carrot sticks, or Sarah Palin, who warned that Obama wants to deprive us all of dessert.

And when you look a little deeper, it's not surprising that a crusade seemingly beyond questioning would become a political battle. Interests that might feel threatened by Let's Move include the fast-food industry, agribusiness, soft-drink manufacturers, real estate developers (because suburban sprawl is implicated), broadcasters and their advertisers (of sugary cereals and the like), and the oil-and-gas and automotive sectors (because people ought to walk more and drive less).

Throw in connections to the health-care debate (because preventive services will be key to controlling the epidemic), race (because of differential patterns of obesity) and red state-blue state hostilities (the reddest states tend to be the fattest), and it turns out there are few landmines that Michelle Obama didn't trip by asking us all to shed a few pounds.

Insinuations from her critics notwithstanding, Obama has not endorsed nanny-state or controversial remedies such as ending sugar subsidies, imposing soda-pop taxes or zoning McDonald's out of certain neighborhoods. Instead, she is pushing for positive, voluntary change: more recess and physical activity, more playgrounds, more vegetable gardens, fresher food in schools and grocery stores, better education on the issue for parents and children.

All of this makes total sense, and historians will marvel (much as they will at climate-change deniers) that anyone could doubt it.

Read the full editorial in the Washington Post here.

Congratulations, 2010 Green Cleaning Award Winners!

HSC congratulates the 2010 winners of the Green Cleaning Award for Schools & Universities! We're thrilled to honor the schools and districts that are making green cleaning a priority, creating a healthier learning and working environment for students, teachers and staff.

Here's a list of the winners in the K-12/School Districts category:

• Grand Award: East Meadow Union Free School District, Westbury, N.Y.
• Best New Program Award: Columbia Public Schools, Columbia, Mo.
• Honorable Mentions:
  Sonoma Country Day School, Santa Rosa, Calif.
  Green Chimneys School, Brewster, N.Y.
  Newark Public Schools, Newark, N.J.
  Salt Lake City School District, Salt Lake City, Utah

Grand Award winner East Meadow Union Free School District has worked hard to integrate the latest in green technology while enhancing communication between custodial staff and vendors; implementing preventative maintenance plans; increasing energy efficiency and involving feedback from parents and teachers to find creative new solutions. And they're not done yet!

American School & University Magazine writes: "Although the district has made great strides in providing a safe and healthy environment for its students and teachers, Pizzo is not satisfied with the status quo. Through the collaborative efforts of administration, custodial staff, vendors, teachers, students and parents, he hopes to continue exploring new options for simultaneously maintaining a healthy, clean environment for all, while minimizing the impact on the environment."

(Here's HSC's recent Q&A with Patrick Pizzo for our "Expert Voices" series.)

This annual award is presented in collaboration with American School & University magazine and the Green Cleaning Network to recognize schools and their partners that embrace green principles and practices in their maintenance operations. The judging criteria are based on the Five Simple Steps to Green Cleaning outlined in our Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools.

To learn more about green cleaning or beginning a program at your school, check out HSC's free resources at www.greencleanschools.org!

Recognizing the Role of Schools in the National Prevention Strategy: Share Your Comments by Jan. 13

By Alex Schaible, HSC Writer & Policy Analyst

The federal government is changing its approach to health and, for the first time, our country’s decision makers are taking a serious look at how to protect the health of Americans through prevention –- that is, helping people stay well and preventing illness. 

Last month, the National Prevention Council, a group of 17  federal departments and agencies charged with planning and coordinating prevention efforts around the country, released a draft of recommendations for the National Prevention Strategy. The goal of these recommendations is to develop a strategy for “working together to improve the health and quality of life for individuals, families and communities by moving the nation from a focus on sickness and disease to one based on wellness and prevention.” 

The council is accepting comments on this draft through this Thurs., Jan. 13. This is a wonderful opportunity to make sure that the important role that schools play in health and wellness is recognized. 

Schools provide an ideal setting for prevention and health promotion.  For example, providing students with good indoor air quality, access to healthy food and opportunities to be physically active at school can have a major impact on two significant and preventable epidemics: childhood asthma and obesity.  A National Prevention Strategy that supports healthy school environments will help protect the health of the millions of children and staff who spend their day in school. 

While the current draft of the National Prevention Strategy does a good job promoting healthy food, physical activity, and healthy environments, we believe the recommendations need to have a stronger focus on the role schools play in protecting and promoting health. 

We’re letting the National Prevention Council know what we think about the drafted recommendations by submitting our  comments on their website; we encourage you to share your comments as well.  Should the recommendations have a stronger focus on schools? Should they include more details about the importance of healthy food? Should they better address the impact of the environment on our health?

You can read the draft recommendations and let the National Prevention Council know what you think online at www.hhs.gov/news/reports/nphps.html.

Submit your comments by this Thurs., January 13 to make sure your voice is heard.  This is a welcome opportunity to shape the direction of our nation’s health strategy.

Show the World What You See at School: Through Your Lens Photo & Essay Contest Opens Feb. 1, 2011

When you go to school, what do you see? The 21st Century School Fund, Critical Exposure and Healthy Schools Campaign are pleased to announce Through Your Lens, a national photo and essay contest designed to showcase the mostly unseen reality of our nation’s school building conditions.

The contest opens Feb. 1, 2011: now is a great time to begin thinking about your ideas or even taking photos for the competition.

It’s also a great time to think about others who may be interested in sharing their views: do you know photography or journalism teachers who could share the contest with their classes? Student advocates who would be interested in sharing their perspectives?

Students, teachers, parents and community members are invited to share photos and stories of their schools – the parts they are proud of and the parts they want to change – from Feb. 1 through Feb. 22, 2011.

Contest submissions will be shared with elected leaders as part of the dialogue on the role of safe, healthy school buildings in supporting learning and student achievement. Selected photos and stories will be displayed at a special exhibition in Washington, DC and many more entries will be published in a Through Your Lens book and online gallery.

Save the date for Through Your Lens 2011!

You can learn more and see images from the 2009-2010 contest at www.throughyourlens.org.

Plus: Check out coverage of Through Your Lens in Slate magazine »

Healthy Recipes For a Winter's Day

photo from One Hungry Mama

When the wind's blowing and the snow's flying, it's always nice to have some go-to recipes for healthy, kid-pleasing favorites. Here are some of HSC's favorite recipes to warm up a cold winter's day.

• Blueberry Almond Morning Polenta

• ABC Pancakes

• Chicken Vegetable Jambalaya:

• Stuffed Peppers

• Apple Crisp

• Rainy Day Stew

Stay warm; stay healthy!

Bed Bugs in Schools: Don't Panic! Education is Key to a Pest-Free School

Today we're featuring a special guest blog from our friends at the non-profit organization Safer Pest Control Project about how  to handle bed bugs in schools without harsh pesticides. 

----

By Holly Thompson, Safer Pest Control Project

What do you do if you get a letter from the principal saying that bed bugs have been found in your school?  Well, first of all, don’t panic, because bed bugs in schools do not mean there is an infestation, only that some bugs have been found.

Overreaction to bed bug sightings in schools can cause panic and lead to bad decisions that can put your child at risk for unnecessary pesticide exposure. For instance, a school in Brooklyn, NY made headlines for making a decision to spray everything in the school with a liquid pesticide without notifying parents or staff. (See the full story here.) Not only was this dangerous, but spraying for bed bugs in schools is not typically considered an effective treatment.

What to do instead? Make sure your principal and school staff know how to properly respond to bed bugs in the school.  We’ve created a school and childcare specific fact sheet [pdf] that can help you and your school make good decisions on proper bed bug management.

One might expect a “bed” bug to remain largely confined to bed areas, but in fact they're excellent hitchhikers and pop up just about everywhere, including office buildings, movie theaters, department stores and, yes, schools and childcare facilities. Bed bugs do not live on people as lice do, but they sure like to travel! One bed bug can easily latch onto a backpack or jacket and fall off in any number of places between home and school.

To minimize frustration, headaches and paranoia, your school or childcare facility can address this potential problem now, before it happens. Education is the key to bed bug prevention and control. We have great resources on our website that you can use for free to help you get the ball rolling. Educating faculty is a priority because they should know what to look for in school in order to identify a potential infestation at home (bites on student, lots of itching) as well as educating parents to know how to identify a problem at home (droppings or stains, eggs, bugs, bites).   

If you think a student is bringing bed bugs to school or has a problem at home, don't panic.  Notify the parents immediately to discuss your concerns.  If confirmed, the parents, students and faculty should take precautions to ensure no bug unwittingly comes to school.  

For more information and materials to educate staff and parents, check out Safer Pest Control Project’s website:  www.spcpweb.org.

----

Thanks to Safer Pest Control for contributing this blog!

 

HSC Congratulates School Nurse Sue Voss on Winning National Advocacy Award!

By Donna Fishman, HSC Director of Training

HSC congratulates Sue Voss on her receipt of the National Association of School Nurses' (NASN) Advocacy Education Award for 2011!

Sue, a school nurse in DeKalb School District 428, is the Government Relations Chair for the Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) and serves on HSC's School Nurse Advisory Committee.  She won this award because of her advocacy efforts with IASN on legislation related to student health in Illinois.

"Sue Voss has worked tirelessly for the last two years in Illinois to ensure safe care for students with chronic health conditions," says Linda Gibbons, Illinois Director to the board of NASN, member of HSC's School Nurse Advisory Committee and director of the School Nurse Certification program at National-Louis University. "Sue is very deserving of this award and will further her advocacy training by attending the Nurse in Washington Internship to continue to develop her advocacy skills."

Sue says she's humbled by the award, an important step in the story of her ongoing advocacy efforts. She says: "It is my mission to improve my ability to collaborate with advocacy groups and individuals who compose legislation regarding chronic health care in Illinois schools.  My goal is to initiate legislation and work with sponsoring legislators to write a bill and watch it become law. Ultimately, as a recipient of the NASN Advocacy Award my goal is safe school health care legislation for our schoolchildren, our educators and school nurses so that our schoolchildren receive the best education possible without concerns regarding their health care."

The award itself celebrates a milestone for school nurse advocacy. NASN Advocacy Education Award was originally named in honor of Sally Williams, NASN's first president (1970-71).  Past President Williams worked tirelessly for many years to convince the National Education Association (NEA) to address the unique needs and contributions of school nurses.  On July 4,1968 her efforts resulted in the establishment of the Department of Nursing within the NEA.  Her vision was to bring school nurses together with a common voice and goal in speaking out on legislative issues that had an impact on school health.

HSC wishes Sue all the best and thanks her for her advocacy to improve student health in Illinois!

Learn more about school nurse advocacy and resources here.

This Year, Five Resolutions for a Greener, Healthier 2011

Welcome to 2011! Need some resolutions to start the year off right? We've got some suggestions for ways to make your year greener, healthier and better than ever.

1) Help your school go green. Check out our Quick & Easy Guide to Green Cleaning in Schools for simple steps to implement a green cleaning program in schools. Green cleaning supports a healthy school environment with good indoor air quality and less exposure to potentially harmful chemicals that can lead to health problems for children and adults.

2) Learn about lunch. For many children, school provides the most substantial meals of the day. But there is much we can do to make sure school food gives kids the healthy fuel they need to learn. Congress passed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act just before the close of 2010, bringing important policy changes to school food. 2011 is a great time to learn more about ways that lunch can look different. You can follow along as students create their own version of a healthy, delicious lunch through Cooking up Change. Or check out the documentary Lunch Line -- maybe even organize a screening in your community. How about starting a healthy cooking club to share great lunch recipes amongst parents?

3) Thank the people who make schools healthier places! Across the country, schools are full of people making change for health and wellness: creative and hard-working teachers, food service professionals, school nurses, facility staff and many others! Take a moment to recognize those who are making a difference -- the school nurses who advocate for health-promoting policies, custodians who keep the school air healthy with green cleaning, food service professionals who encourage kids to try more veggies. Say thanks to the recess monitors who keep our playgrounds safe and the principals who support wellness teams of parents and teachers.

4) Support school building improvement. America's schools are often in need of repairs, and many schools have deferred maintenance as they lack funding for facilities. But students can't learn as well in environments that need basic repairs and upgrades. Check out photographs submitted for Through Your Lens, a contest that encourages students to document their school buildings. Then be sure to submit your own photos when the 2011 contest opens on Feb. 1.

5) Stay in touch. Follow HSC on Twitter and Facebook. Sign up for our newsletter. Stay connected as part of a community that believes health and wellness are crucial components of a high-quality education.

What are your resolutions for a green, healthy 2011?