Children who Learn to Live Healthy, Live Longer

Health education is one of eight components of a coordinated school health plan. A strong, comprehensive health education program in grades K-12 helps students achieve their highest potential as they grow into healthy, confident and competent individuals. The AISD School Health Advisory Council Health Education Committee (SHAC) works with the district to help students, families and communities learn the skills and knowledge needed to lead healthy lives.

What does a Comprehensive Health Education Program include?

• Planned, sequential, K-12 curriculum that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and social dimensions of health.
• Curriculum designed to motivate and assist students to maintain and improve their health, prevent disease, and reduce health-related risk behaviors.
• Opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate increasingly sophisticated health-related knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices.
• Qualified, trained teachers to provide health education.

What is required by law for health education?

• By September 2007 elementary schools must be trained in and implement a coordinated school health curriculum (EHAB legal)
• AISD chose CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Children's Health)
• Secondary school students must have one half credit of TEKS (Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) based health education to graduate

How AISD is complying with school health law:

• AISD Coordinated School Health Campus Checklist

How can I help?

Each elementary school will have a designated CATCH Team consisting of a classroom teacher, PE teacher and food service representative who will be trained in the CATCH Program during school year 2006-2007. And all AISD schools will be implementing a new Wellness Policy (FFA Local & FFA Exhibit). Stay informed and get involved. Join PTA. Form a Campus Wellness Committee to help schools get parents involved in supporting health education and healthy school environments. There are many free tools and resources to help you.

Child Health Organizations

American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org
The mission of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is to attain optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults. The AAP and its member pediatricians dedicate their efforts and resources to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities
http://www.kidsource.com/NICHCY/
The National Center for Youth with Disabilities (NCYD) is a project of the University of Minnesota's Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health and is affiliated with the Society for Adolescent Medicine. NCYD was established as an information and resource center focusing on adolescents with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

The National Network for Immunization Information
http://www.immunizationinfo.org/
The National Network for Immunization Information provides up-to-date, science-based information to health care professionals, the media, policy makers, and the public - everyone who needs to know the facts about immunization.

School Health at the American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.schoolhealth.org
The information on this site is intended for pediatricians and other health professionals working in or with schools.

Kids Count
http://www.aecf.org/kidscount
KIDS COUNT, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, is a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the U.S. By providing policymakers and citizens with benchmarks of child well-being, KIDS COUNT seeks to enrich local, state, and national discussions concerning ways to secure better futures for all children.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/index.htm
The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP) consists of the Division of Adolescent and School Health, the Division of Adult and Community Health, the Division of Diabetes Translation, the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, the Division of Reproductive Health, and the Office on Smoking and Health.

Center for the Prevention of School Violence
http://www.ncdjjdp.org/cpsv/
Established in 1993 as an affiliate of the Governor's Crime Commission in the Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, the Center is a primary point of contact for information, programs, and research about preventing school violence.