In the cafeteria of John G. Riley Elementary School in Tallahassee third, fourth, and fifth graders feverishly flipped through the pages of their comic books as they tried to catch up with their guest narrators. Mon-day, January 13, was the kickoff event for 2014 Cele-brate Literacy Week, Flori-da! which ran from January 13-17. The children lis-tened intently as the narra-tors told the story of Iron Man and Habit Heroes. Narrators for the day were Karwynn Paul, Principal of John G. Riley Elementary School; Dr. John Arm-strong, Florida Surgeon General; Pat Geraghty, Chief Executive Officer of Florida Blue; and other Florida Blue professionals.

The children’s excitement continued to build as Iron Man made an appearance. The superhero led the third, fourth, and fifth grades in their pledge to become Habit Heroes and build their healthy habit powers through hydration, physical activity, and nutri-tion. An overview of the kickoff event can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sj7syXjaK2I

Iron Man and Habit He-roes, the comic book used for 2014 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!, was creat-

ed by Florida Blue through a partnership with Marvel Custom Solutions. In this comic adventure, villains unite to take control of New York City. They are steal-ing the citizens’ energy in order to open a portal and bring their evil master to Earth. The Habit Heroes –Agent Dynamo, Agent Fuel, and Agent Quench—respond to the emergency by uniting with the world-famous armored Avenger, Iron Man. The comic book conveys the importance of proper hydration, physical activity, and nutrition in a fun and empowering way.

The Departments of Edu-cation, Health, Agriculture and Consumer Services, Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership, and Florida Blue aligned to make this year’s Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! the

Volume 2, Issue 21

Spring 2014

FLORIDA ’S COORD INATE D SCHOO L HE ALT H P ARTNE RSH IP

20 14 Celebrate L iteracy Week , Florida !

Features Iron Man and Habit Heroes

Florida Healthy

Schools

Spotlight on Escambia Spotlight on Escambia Spotlight on Escambia Spotlight on Escambia County SchoolsCounty SchoolsCounty SchoolsCounty Schools

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Sun Safety Sun Safety Sun Safety Sun Safety 3333

Asthma Funding Asthma Funding Asthma Funding Asthma Funding OpportunityOpportunityOpportunityOpportunity Hamilton County Hamilton County Hamilton County Hamilton County School District a Model School District a Model School District a Model School District a Model of Partnershipof Partnershipof Partnershipof Partnership

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biggest success to date. Over 450 volunteers from throughout the state read the comic book to at least one classroom. Four thou-sand seven hundred kits were distributed and reached an estimated 94,000 students in 57 Flori-da school districts. Each kit contained 25 comic books;

hydration, physical activity, and nutrition wristbands;

and take-home activities.

Teachers from districts across the state participated in a survey to assess the Iron Man and Habit Heroes activities and their impact on students. According to Nicollette Allen of Ivey Lane Elementary School in Or-ange County, “The students chose apples and oranges for lunch rather than buying their normal chips and pop-corn. One of my students even decided to start a peti-

tion to request that only healthy food be served in the cafeteria and had eve-ryone sign it!” Lillianne Hester of Greensboro Ele-mentary School in Gads-den County said, “The stu-dents discussed the need for water, coke, or a juice. After reading the comic book, they decided it would be better to power up with water.” Reviews like Ms. Allen’s and Ms. Hester’s were prevalent, demon-strating that this year’s campaign effectively in-spired the love of reading and the development of healthy habits among ele-mentary school students in Florida. Based on their feedback, Ms. Allen and Ms. Hester will receive a school-wide visit from Iron Man, which will occur later this year.

Stay tuned for information regarding 2015 Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida!

P A G E 2 Spotlight on escambia County School Di strict

Escambia County School District (ECSD) and UnitedHealthcare Activate 4 Kids, a childhood obesity program, have partnered since September 2011 to improve the health of the 42,000 students enrolled in ECSD. Student data includes several challenges: 28% of students live in poverty; 64% qualify for free/reduced school lunch; 19% are obese and 16%

at risk for overweight.

Most national initiatives claim a victory if rates of childhood obesity stabilize rather than increase. In 2013, the county health department and ECSD announced a decrease in obese students and increase in normal-weight students. The ECSD superintendent heralded the work of former Escambia County school nurse Susan Kennedy who is now Student Wellness Coordinator funded by United Healthcare. Through her leadership, they have secured $140,000 in grant funding ($73,000 from FUTP 60 in 14 schools) and $40,000 of in-kind services. Funds are used for targeted nutrition (e.g., classroom mobile cooking carts) and physical activity (e.g., walking clubs). Another grant helped 1,000 students/families learn about gardening, nutrition and cooking healthy meals. ECSD embraces Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60), an in-school health and wellness initiative. A Fuel Up Cups Fundraiser in one school netted $10,000, demonstrating that schools can raise funds without unhealthy food sales.

In partnership with their county PTA, ECSD and Activate 4 Kids will be implementing Cooking Matters for Adults through a Share Our Strength grant. The class will teach at least 40 low income parents how to shop and cook healthy meals on a budget. Sue also helps host community health fairs and the annual We Believe in Children 5K Run.

In 2012, ECSD and Activate 4 Kids partnered with Pensacola Neighborhood Services on the first Worldwide Day of Play. This annual event now tops 1,200 attendees and 50 vendors.

In addition to education and prevention, Sue facilitates a Diabetes Prevention Program called JOIN for ME which focuses on weight management for children age 8-18 with BMI >85%. The CDC categorizes BMI in children as a percentile (unlike adults where BMI> 30 is considered obese). The percentile indicates the relative position of the child's BMI number among children of the same sex and age. The JOIN for ME program was recently highlighted in the Pensacola News Journal http://www.pnj.com/article/20131230/NEWS01/312300005 and WHRB TV http://www.whbr.org/coast-up-close.html Jan 24 show where a 17-year-old student lost 40 pounds, went from a BMI of 97.7% to 83% and “feels great.”. He suffered from asthma, gastroesophageal reflux, and pseudo tumor cerebri (related to obesity) which have all resolved.

Ms. Kennedy notes, “None of this could be possible without the support of the ECSD and the wellness champions who truly create a culture of wellness in the schools. Through running clubs and school wide walking and running initiatives like Stridetrack which uses a bar code scanner to track miles. Recently Stridetrack reported that Escambia County elementary schools have logged nearly 21,000 miles since September. At their current pace they soon will have run around the world (24,901 miles is the earth’s circumference)! Leading the pack is Blue Angels with 6,328 miles followed by Cordova Park with 5,516 miles. Other remarkable schools are Sherwood (2,850 miles), Lipscomb (2,682 miles), Holm (2,444 miles) and Molino Park (1,197 miles). Pleasant Grove and Hellen Caro will soon be starting up their program.”

Employee health and wellness is also a priority. The ECSD Center for Health & Wellness opened on June 5, 2013, and provides ECSD employees with free or low-cost accessible healthcare services for District employees and their dependents. Employees who are covered under one of the District’s HRA or PPO plans may use the Health Center free of charge. Employees who are covered under the district’s HSA plan or those employees who are eligible but not covered under one of our plans may use the center for a small co-pay for services. Some of the benefits of using the center include little or no wait time for appointments, fast access to high-quality care, and caregivers that have more time to spend with patients during their visit.

The District has contracted with Marathon Health to operate and staff the Health Center. Marathon hired a staff of employees that were all from our local area and are familiar with the challenges our area is facing. The care provided at the center is similar to the care provided by a family physician. Services include care for common illnesses and injuries, lab draws, routine physical exams, immunizations and health coaching. The health coaching services address lifestyle health risks such as smoking, stress, diet and inactivity, as well as disease management for chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart problems or asthma.

P A G E 3 Sun Safety in the sunshine state

May is National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so it is a great time to engage your school in sun safety education. This article offers basic state and national skin cancer facts, tips for prevention, and resources for your school to promote sun safety.

NATIONAL SKIN CANCER RATES ARE RISING

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, with more than 3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. every year. Melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, will account for more than 76,000 cases of skin cancer in 20141. The annual cost of skin cancer treatment tops 4 billion dollars2. One out of every five people in the United States will develop skin cancer during their lifetime3.

The three most common types of skin cancer include squamous and basal cell carcinomas and melanoma. Squamous and basal cell carcinomas are the most common forms of skin cancer and are rarely fatal1. However, melanoma can be lethal when not found in its very early stages. Melanoma rates have been increasing by approximately 3% each year in the last decade1.

SKIN CANCER PREVENTION

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun or from indoor tanning machines is directly linked with the development of skin cancer1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend skin protection tips4:

Seek shade during the peak sun hours of 10AM – 4PM

Wear sunscreen with at least SPF15 with both UVA & UVB protection. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming

Cover up with sunglasses, a wide brimmed hat, and clothing to protect exposed skin

Avoid indoor tanning

SUN SAFETY AT YOUR SCHOOL

There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to sun safety education. There is an abundance of free, easy-to-use toolkits and resources available:

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as “Don’t Fry Day” to promote sun safety and remind students to protect themselves during the holiday weekend. For free resources visit: http://www.skincancerprevention.org/node/282?q=programs/dont-fry-day/resources

The Environmental Protection Agency’s SunWise program is the most widely used sun safety program taught in more than 32,000 schools across the nation. Research has shown that just 1-2 hours of instruction per year can increase sun safety attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors5. The curriculum is available in English and Spanish for children ages 5 – 15 and is completely free for schools to use. Visit http://www2.epa.gov/sunwise/free-sun-safety-resources to download a free toolkit.

The American Academy of Dermatology’s Shade Structure Grant program awards up to $8,000 to public schools to build shade structures in sunny outdoor areas. Visit http://www.aad.org/members/volunteer-and-mentor-opportunities/shade-structure-program to apply.

For more information on skin cancer prevention and sun safety education, contact:

References: 1. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures. Atlanta, GA: 2012 2. National Cancer Institute. Cancer Trends Progress Report—2009/2010 3. Robinson, J.K. Sun Exposure, Sun Protection, and Vitamin D. Journal of the American Medical Association, 2005; 294, 1541-1543. 4. National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Skin Cancer and State Cancer Profiles. 5. Kyle et al (2008). Economic Evaluation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SunWise Program: Sun Protection Education for Young Children. Pediatrics, 2008, 121(5), e1074-e1084.

Julie Williams Merten University of North Florida Department of Public Health (904) 620-2840 or jmerten@unf.edu

Sue Higgins Florida Department of Health Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (850) 245-4444 ext. 3809 or

P A G E 4

This newsletter is provided by the Florida Coordinated School Health Partnership (CSHP). CSHP is a grassroots public-private partnership whose members include not-for-profit organizations, businesses, insurance companies, professional associations, child health advocates, and health and education representatives.

Vision: Health literate and health practicing students and staff in all Florida schools.

Purpose: Facilitating the creation of policies and environments that provide students and staff the opportunity to reach their personal potential by means of positive health related decision-making skills and access to health care.

Focus: Our goals focus on reducing/eliminating the barriers to learning and supporting academic achievement. Contact us at CSHPmailbox2@gmail.com.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

Across America, rural counties face unique challenges in education and health. The population is generally less affluent and resources more scarce. This happens in rural counties in Florida, but the people who work together to face these challenges have the passion and commitment to make a difference.

In this issue, we would like to highlight one of our own small groups of thoughtful, committed citizens that is making a difference. Hamilton County is a rural county located in north central Florida with a population of a little less than 15,000 (2012). The population is one of the poorest in Florida, with many health challenges and limited resources. However, the school district, local Department of Health, and community partners meet regularly and work hand-in-hand to help assure that students are healthy and able to learn.

Hamilton County School Di strict a model of partnership

If you’re fortunate enough to attend the Hamilton County Health Strategic Planning Committee, which serves as the district School Health Advisory Committee, you will see their resourcefulness and dedication as they work together to solve current issues and plan overall strategies. Members include a Hamilton County School Board member, the Department of Health Administrator, Director of Nurses, and School Health Services Coordinator; with an equal number of representatives from the school district who provide social services, health education and other instruction; and several community members. The committee is chaired by Ida Daniels, the Food Service Director.

Food insecurity is a reality for many of the students. A major employer in the county recently closed, and many workers were laid off. Ms. Daniels works tirelessly to make sure that every student is provided healthy food every day. As a result of her efforts, each child receives free breakfast in the classroom and free lunch. Food Service staff members deliver breakfast across the county early each morning so that it’s ready when the students arrive.

Ms. Daniels is also instrumental in promoting student and staff health and wellness. She is currently partnering

with the Florida Dairy Council to secure Fuel Up to Play60 grants for each school to fund their wellness efforts.

Martha Fultz, School Health Services Coordinator and her team of school nurses from the Department of Health are leading employee wellness efforts in each of the schools, in addition to their primary duties of providing health services and health education for students.

In 2013, Hamilton County School District was recognized as a Florida Healthy School District by the Coordinated School Health Partnership (CSHP), Florida Action for Healthy Kids, and the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. The CSHP is pleased to recognize the work of these champions in rural health and education.

Do your students have asthma? Chances are some of them do. Asthma, a chronic lung disease, is one of the main reasons that students miss school due to illness – Approximately 461,200 instructional hours were lost due to asthma in Florida during school year 2012-2013. When students have their asthma in con-trol, they perform better academically and miss less school. Schools with asthma management programs are the key to suc-cess—and the Florida Asthma Coalition and the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation are rewarding schools that make asthma a priority.

The Florida Asthma Coalition is currently accepting The Florida Asthma Coalition is currently accepting The Florida Asthma Coalition is currently accepting The Florida Asthma Coalition is currently accepting applications for the applications for the applications for the applications for the

AsthmaAsthmaAsthmaAsthma----Friendly School Recognition Friendly School Recognition Friendly School Recognition Friendly School Recognition (Deadline: April 25, 2014).(Deadline: April 25, 2014).(Deadline: April 25, 2014).(Deadline: April 25, 2014).

Along with media exposure and community recognition, awarded schools can receive up to $1,500 in cash through a partnership with the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation. To learn more and apply, please visit: www.floridaasthmacoalition.com/schools