Exploring the Health-Learning Nexus

Urban Strategies Council

www.urbanstrategies.org

Alameda County

Urban Strategies Council

A social impact organization working to eliminate persistent poverty

The Health and Learning Nexus

How are we defining health?

Health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not

merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Healthier Places to Live, Play, and Learn

Healthier Child and

Youth Development

Higher Educational

Achievement and

Attainment

OUSD Student Eligibility to Receive Free or Reduced-Price School Meals, by Eligibility Status: 2011

OUSD Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity: 2010-11

African Amer-ican33%

Asian/Pacific Is-lander17%

Latino/Hispanic

35%

Multiracial2% White

12%

How do health issues affect learning?

Hinder developmentSocial

EmotionalPhysical

Cognitive

Restrict opportunities to learn

Sample Learning-Related Health Issues

Children below Poverty Level (2005-2009)

U.S. Census

2005-2007 2006-2008 2007-20090%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

Oakland

Alameda County

California

Children in Fair/Poor Health (2009)

East Oakland Alameda County California0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

18%

20%

13%

5%

7%

California Health Interview Survey

Children Feeling Safe in Neighborhood (2009)

East Oakland Alameda County California0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

53%

86% 87%

California Health Interview Survey

OUSD Students Diagnosed With Asthma, by Race/Ethnicity and Gender (2010-11)

OUSD O

vera

ll

African

Am

erican

Asian

Filip

ino

Latin

o

Mul

tiple

Eth

nicity

Native

Amer

ican

Pacifi

c Is

land

er

Whi

te0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

10%

16%

6%

9%8%

10%

12%

8%

5%

13%

19%

9%

17%

10%

13%

18%

10%

7%FemaleMale

Oakland Unified School District 2010-11

Mothers with Psychological Distress in Past Year (2009)

Bay Area California0%

2%

4%

6%

8%

10%

12%

14%

16%

8%

14%

3%

6%Single with kidsMarried with kids

California Health Interview Survey

Sample Learning-Related Health Interventions

February 11, 2011

Breaking the Link between Asthma and Absences

Mitigating triggers in school environment

Equipping school staff to handle asthma

Linking to asthma services

Addressing Widespread TraumaReducing exposure to trauma

Educating community/school about trauma

Intervening with affected children and families

Applying Two-Generation Approaches

Maternal mental health and young children

Early childhood education and post-secondary education & training

What health issues and interventions do you see

affecting children’s literacy?

February 11, 2011

Thinking about a health priority:

Small groups

February 11, 2011

Questions to Discuss: Which health issues would we like to learn more

about?

Which health issues do we see having the biggest impact on children’s literacy development? Are we already addressing any? How?

Which of the health issues we are considering as priorities lend themselves to low-cost or no-cost strategies, or to efforts already underway?

Which issues are most ripe for action?