Into the BlenderInto the BlenderWhat is a What is a

Health Promoting Health Promoting School?School?

The Time is NOW!The Time is NOW!

Taking Action on School HealthTaking Action on School Health

March 19, 2008March 19, 2008

WHAT

is a blender?

“…an electric kitchen appliance with rotating blades used for puréeing, liquefying, or finely chopping.”(Oxford Canadian Dictionary, 1998)

What is

the PURPOSE

of a blender?

“…combine compatible ingredients to produce something that tastes good!”(Doug’s Dictionary of Mixology, 2007)

WHAT is a school?

“An institution for educating or giving instruction, especially one for students under 19 years.”(Oxford Canadian Dictionary, 1998)

What is the PURPOSE of a school?

“…ensure that students attain the knowledge and skills required for lifelong learning, work and citizenship.”(Alberta Education Business Plan: 2006-2009)

BLENDER DEMO #1

Lessons from the Lessons from the Blender #1Blender #1

#1. You need the #1. You need the RIGHT MIXRIGHT MIX of of

ingredients!ingredients!

#2. Ingredients need to #2. Ingredients need to

ALIGN WITH THE PURPOSEALIGN WITH THE PURPOSE

of the blender!of the blender!

Health Promoting SchoolsHealth Promoting Schools

A whole school approach where health A whole school approach where health promotion is addressed by all stakeholders promotion is addressed by all stakeholders over a long period of time through intense over a long period of time through intense integration, coordination, and integration, coordination, and enhancements to enhancements to

►Curriculum and teaching methodsCurriculum and teaching methods►Social & physical environmentsSocial & physical environments►Family, school, and community Family, school, and community partnerships and services partnerships and services

Health Promoting Schools Health Promoting Schools

Instruction

Environment

Services/supports

home

school

community

Successful Comprehensive Successful Comprehensive School Health involves:School Health involves:

► Champions of HPS (in and out of schools)Champions of HPS (in and out of schools)

► Facilitation of planning processesFacilitation of planning processes

► Evidence-based, promising practiceEvidence-based, promising practice

► EvaluationEvaluation

► Multi-level support (sandwich effect)Multi-level support (sandwich effect)

Sarah Stewart-Brown’s meta-analysis (2006) found Sarah Stewart-Brown’s meta-analysis (2006) found that the most effective Health Promoting School that the most effective Health Promoting School initiatives focused on:initiatives focused on:

► Physical Activity (Active Living)Physical Activity (Active Living)► Nutrition (Healthy Eating)Nutrition (Healthy Eating)► Mental Health Promotion (Wellbeing)Mental Health Promotion (Wellbeing)

And were:And were:► Long termLong term► High intensityHigh intensity► Multi-factorialMulti-factorial► Involved changes to the school Involved changes to the school

environmentenvironment

Research - W.H.O.

Alberta DataAlberta DataACHSC Survey - PrioritiesACHSC Survey - Priorities

1.1. Nutrition & Bullying/violence prevention Nutrition & Bullying/violence prevention (tied for first place)(tied for first place)

2.2. Mental health/well-beingMental health/well-being

3.3. Physical activityPhysical activity

(Alberta Coalition for Healthy School Communities, 2006)(Alberta Coalition for Healthy School Communities, 2006)

FURTHER FINDINGSFURTHER FINDINGS ACHSC SurveyACHSC Survey

► 89% of respondents agreed or strongly 89% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that they have personal agreed that they have personal passionpassion, , commitmentcommitment and and energyenergy for HPS for HPS

► 72% disagreed or strongly disagreed that 72% disagreed or strongly disagreed that there are adequate there are adequate financial resourcesfinancial resources for for HPS.HPS.

(Alberta Coalition for Healthy School Communities, 2006)(Alberta Coalition for Healthy School Communities, 2006)

Ever Active Schools Ever Active Schools EvaluationEvaluation

100% of member schools found the program 100% of member schools found the program valuablevaluable

Percentage of participants reporting Percentage of participants reporting inadequate inadequate staff resourcesstaff resources as a barrier: as a barrier:

► Member Schools (48)Member Schools (48) 89.6%89.6%► Non-member Schools (36)Non-member Schools (36) 100%100%

(Ever Active Schools, 2005)(Ever Active Schools, 2005)

Ever Active Schools Ever Active Schools EvaluationEvaluation

Percentage of member schools making significant progress Percentage of member schools making significant progress towards creating a Healthy Active School Community - towards creating a Healthy Active School Community - 81.3%81.3%

Percentage of member schools selecting EAS as the primary Percentage of member schools selecting EAS as the primary contributor - contributor - 89.6%89.6%

Percentage of non-members who would appreciate support Percentage of non-members who would appreciate support in creating a Healthy Active School Community - in creating a Healthy Active School Community - 94.4%94.4%

(Ever Active Schools, 2005)(Ever Active Schools, 2005)

Promising Alberta ResearchPromising Alberta ResearchBattle River Project (EAS)Battle River Project (EAS) ► 22 schools (+ a district office!), 1 coordinator 22 schools (+ a district office!), 1 coordinator

and release timeand release time► BRSD, EAS, ECHBRSD, EAS, ECH► Physical activity, healthy eating, mental Physical activity, healthy eating, mental

wellbeingwellbeingAPPLE (SPH – UofA)APPLE (SPH – UofA)► 10 schools, 10 facilitators10 schools, 10 facilitators► Healthy eating and active livingHealthy eating and active livingREAL Kids Alberta (SPH – UofA)REAL Kids Alberta (SPH – UofA)► Provincial measurement (200+ schools Provincial measurement (200+ schools

including the above)including the above)► Principal, parent and student surveys, height Principal, parent and student surveys, height

and weight measuresand weight measures

BLENDER DEMO #2

Lessons from the Lessons from the Blender #2Blender #2

When we achieve the When we achieve the RIGHT RIGHT MIXMIX

of ingredients and are of ingredients and are ALIGNED ALIGNED WITH THE PURPOSEWITH THE PURPOSE of the of the blender…blender…

Final ThoughtFinal ThoughtLet us rethink Let us rethink school healthschool health away from away from kits and projects to solve problems and use kits and projects to solve problems and use the school as an the school as an ongoing settingongoing setting where where health is createdhealth is created, , supportive supportive environmentsenvironments are built, are built, partnerships partnerships mademade and many and many skills are learnedskills are learned. Then . Then we might be able to say this is what school we might be able to say this is what school communities can realistically do to build communities can realistically do to build the the healthhealth and and well beingwell being of their of their students now and into the future.students now and into the future.

St. Leger, 2004, p. 408St. Leger, 2004, p. 408

THANK YOU!

doug@everactive.org

www.everactive.org