Summarizes research on relationship between physical activity, good nutrition, and academic performance. Offers several recommendations for how schools can take action to improve the nutrition and fitness of students. (PKP)

An innovative approach to delivering health care is being developed in several Ontario (Canada) communities. This report describes the initial framework for quality and evaluation for a comprehensive health organization (CHO). As CHOs become operational, there is great opportunity to develop a comprehensive approach to quality and evaluation. (SLD)

Studied health screening methods of schools in mid-Missouri. Found significant differences between rural and urban schools in terms of number of school nurses employed and percentage of schools screening in all areas studied: physical assessment, vision, hearing, scoliosis, and dental. Recommends improved health screenings in rural schools. (KS)

Eight papers on multisite evaluation are presented. Topics include organizational and methodological issues, program theory, coordination of staffing, and the program review team approach. Programs and policies evaluated include those focusing on adult day health care, spousal assault, mental health, job-training for single mothers, criminal…

Reports on efforts at several universities to encourage more male students to use student health services, including establishment of male-only health clinics. Programs at the University of Colorado (Boulder), San Francisco State University (California), University of Rochester (New York), and Tulane University (Louisiana) are noted. (DB)

Examines the policies and procedures that home health care agencies have developed to handle incapacitated patients and life-sustaining treatment decisions. Although most directors, staff, and patients agree that patients know their legal rights, only 67% of agencies reported having existing policies on advance directives, and only 41.5% had…

Examines how student health care in a K-8 Title I district functioned overall and how school administrators interacted with on-campus health care providers. Minorities received inadequate care. Administrators did not routinely associate students' health with their school performance and were not adept at assisting providers. (Contains 65…

Many people probably remember the oral hygiene presentation in school when an oversized toothbrush and "Mr. Tooth"demonstrated proper brushing techniques. Red disclosing tablets were chewed after brushing, and then friends were amazed with our poor dental habits! The point is that presentation was remembered. Middle school students today need a…

Many higher education institutions today are struggling with the costs of their retiree health plans. The answer to controlling these costs may come in the form of a defined contribution retiree health plan for both current and future retirees. This article examines how such a plan can maximize availability of Medicare Part D prescription…

Community participation in program decision-making and implementation is an ideal that community and academic stakeholders aspire to in participatory research. This ideal, however, can be difficult to achieve. We describe lessons learned about community participation from a quasi-experimental trial aimed at reducing the uptake of smoking among…

Background: There has been much educational verbosity over the past decade related to building capacity for effective schools. However, there seems to be a scarcity of clarification about what is meant by school capacity building or how to accomplish and sustain this process. This article describes the preexisting conditions and ongoing processes…

The authors present the argument that evaluation as currently practiced is failing the needs of the social sector, if the goal is to help organizations achieve their mission. Three case studies are presented in which evaluation played a key role in the development of a learning culture within the organization. Each case highlights the positive…

Objectives: This teaching idea is designed to increase students' understanding about the principles of a Coordinated School Health Program and apply these principles as they plan a community health program. As students work through the planning process, they will address many of the AAHPERD/AAHE Standards for Health Education Programs. Target…

The authors used social marketing to design and test advertisement components aimed at increasing students' interest in attending an alcohol program focused on reaching students who drink heavily, although the authors offered no such program. Participants were undergraduate students in introductory psychology courses (N = 551). Questionnaires…

Current public health and medical evidence rely heavily on efficacy information to make decisions regarding intervention impact. This evidence base could be enhanced by research studies that evaluate and report multiple indicators of internal and external validity such as Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) as…