School lunches must be nutritious, filling, and appealing. The school cafeteria has become an increasingly important place to serve healthful meals and teach good eating habits. The article describes schools that have organized better meals and discusses how parent-teacher organizations can help bring better nutrition to school lunches. (SM)

Playground safety is a critical issue in the United States. About 60-70% of all playground injury lawsuits carry a claim relating to inadequate maintenance. The article discusses U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines and American Society for Testing and Materials safety standards for playgrounds. (SM)

Discusses the validity and reliability of using food records and recalls when measuring dietary intake and eating behaviors of children, noting the advantages of collecting dietary data in a school environment. The article explains the appropriate use of food records and describes how to improve the method. (SM)

Examines the results of a household survey of measles vaccination coverage among Hispanic American children aged 12 to 59 months. Between 81 percent and 91 percent of the children have been vaccinated, a percentage insufficient to stop the high rate of measles transmission within this population. Recommends that public health efforts be focused on…

Skin cancer is the fastest increasing cancer, and children receive 80% of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18. Campers should apply sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 daily, 20 minutes before going outdoors and again every 2 hours. Seven strategies for preventing sunburn and reducing the risk of developing skin cancer are…

Nebraska's plan for comprehensively evaluating school health programs used the Targeting Outcomes of Program framework to measure impact indicators of such programs. Following focus group meetings with stakeholders in one rural school district, the plan was developed and implemented as a statewide evaluation of comprehensive school health…

Examined adolescents' perceptions of weight relative to actual weight, investigating their prevalence of weight losing and gaining. Data from the 1994-96 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health indicated that most adolescents worked to manage their weight, struggled with weight perception, engaged in appropriate weight change efforts, and…

Addresses the need to educate children about the dangers of exchanges with strangers on the Internet. Discusses child pornography and exploitative "support groups"; chat room risks; the need for parents to protect their children; and cyberfilters. Suggests protective measures for parents. (AEF)

Describes the practices of homeopathy and how they affect the scope of practice of school nurses. Includes a definition of homeopathy, a discussion of remedies and the specific symptoms for which they are effective, and an examination of conditions treatable by homeopathic physicians. Nine guidelines for managing homeopathic products in the school…

Describes the development and features of Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Service's Child Health System (CHS), a computerized health record application designed to capture information on the health status and medical needs of over 60,000 children. Includes a brief overview of the 2,688 cases entered into the system during the…

Reports that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been tracking the levels of lead, which is linked to increased behavioral disorders, retardation, and anemia in children, in the United States since the 1970s. Provides statistics on the current state of chronic diseases in the U.S. and asserts that there is a need for a nationwide heath…

Describes the current status of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), examining roles that school enrollment-based health insurance (SEBHI) programs play in three states and summarizing lessons SEBHI programs can offer SCHIP as states work toward full implementation. SEBHI programs are an important model leading to more…

Because many obese children become obese adults, the recent rapid increase in juvenile obesity poses a major public health challenge. Enhanced physical activity is a cornerstone in a multidisciplinary approach to preventing and treating juvenile obesity. Giving exercise recommendations focused for obese youth is critical. Cutting down on sedentary…

Describes the importance of parents teaching their children about the dangers of alcohol, explaining how parents can help their children and youth learn to just say no. Sidebars discuss: teen issues parents need to know; how to set guidelines for parties and other social events; and the PTA's position on alcohol and other drug abuse. (SM)

Presents guidelines for evaluating school-based health clinic services coordinated and/or staffed by nurse practitioners from a holistic approach. The Shuler Nurse Practitioner Practice Model is used as a theoretical framework for the guidelines because it presents a holistic approach to patient assessment, problem identification/diagnosis…