The Role of Extension in Assisting School Districts to Implement and Monitor Their Local Wellness Policies

This article explores the role of Extension in assisting school districts to implement and monitor Local Wellness Policies. The authors include an outline of the basic requirements of the law and a description, based on their experience, of how school districts can implement and support their wellness policies. Information on various research-based resources available to schools and teachers are provided

U.S. Dietary and Physical Activity Guideline Knowledge and Corresponding Behaviors Among 4th and 5th Grade Students: A Multi-Site Pilot Study

Knowledge of U.S. dietary and physical activity recommendations and corresponding behaviors were surveyed among 4th and 5th graders in five Arizona counties to determine the need for related education in SNAP-Ed eligible schools.

From Program to Policy: Expanding the Role of Community Coalitions

Background Diabetes mortality at the United States–Mexico border is twice the national average. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is increasingly diagnosed among children and adolescents. Fragmented services and scarce resources further restrict access to health care. Increased awareness of the incidence of disease and poor health outcomes became a catalyst for creating community-based coalitions and partnerships with the University of Arizona that focused on diabetes. Context Five partnerships between the communities and the University of Arizona were formed to address these health issues. They began with health promotion as their goal and were challenged to add policy and environmental change to their objectives. Understanding the meaning of policy in the community context is the first step in the transition from program to policy. Policy participation brings different groups together, strengthening ties and building trust among community members and community organizations. Methods Data on progress and outcomes were collected from multiple sources. We used the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) 2010 Community Change Model as the capacity-building and analytic framework for supporting and documenting the transition of coalitions from program to policy. Consequences Over 5 years, the coalitions made the transition, in varying degrees, from a programmatic focus to a policy planning and advocacy focus. The coalitions raised community awareness, built community capacity, encouraged a process of “change in change agents,” and advocated for community environmental and policy shifts to improve health behaviors. Interpretation The five coalitions made environmental and policy impacts by engaging in policy advocacy. These outcomes indicate the successful, if not consistently sustained, transition from program to policy. Whether and how these “changes in change agents” are transferable to the larger community over the long term remains to be seen

Tooth Decay in Young Children: You Can Prevent It!

3 pp

Identity Theft: Simple Guide to Protecting Yourself

Revised; Originally Published: 20073 pp

How to Select a Pediatric Dentist

2 pp

Water and Hydration for Your Child

Getting enough water (fluid) is important to keeping your child healthy: helps to keep body temperature at the normal level, helps provide enough fluid to sweat to keep you cool, helps to keep bowels moving, prevents constipation

El Agua y la Hidratación para Su Niño

Beber suficiente liquido es importante para que su hijo se mantenga saludable: mantiene normal la temperatura del cuerpo, ayuda a generar sudor para refrescar la piel, previene el estrenimiento

Assessment of Doneness in Cooked Ground Beef

Consumer advice is provided for cooking ground beef to the correct temperature to prevent food-borne illness

Keeping Foods Cold for Picnics, Grilling, and Camping

1p.Keeping food safe to eat is as simple as keeping hot foods hot, cold foods cold, and all foods clean. This article outlines particular options for keeping coolers cold