This document, the first joint annual report issued by the Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (ES-USDA), and the Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), summarizes the decisions made by the two organizations in November, 1989, and includes descriptive highlights of the process implemented by the cooperative extension…

Through an effective wellness program, one can improve his/her lifestyle to achieve a healthy, long life. The concept of wellness is defined in the beginning of this booklet. Next, the benefits of a wellness program are noted. A section is devoted to a "healthstyle" self-test developed by the U.S. Public Health Service. Once the…

There are a number of challenges and debates surrounding the implementation of mental health interventions in schools. These include recognising the complexity of influencing factors and the interdependency of key components; the critical importance of monitoring school-based implementation in particular contexts; employing multimethod evaluation…

Policy statements and position papers adopted by the American Association of Dental Schools, intended as recommendations and guidelines for member institutions, are presented. They cover education, research, delivery of care, health concerns, peer review, national health programs, interdisciplinary education, use of radiation, and due process.…

The goal of ensuring that all children are "ready for school" has become a national priority. As a result, programs that support children's school readiness are becoming more and more important to policy-makers, funders, and parents. It is becoming very clear that efforts to improve school success cannot begin at kindergarten, nor focus…

It is the position of the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) that all elementary school children should be provided with at least one daily period of recess of at least 20 minutes in length. Various cited organizations support school recess as an integral component of a child's physical, social, and academic development,…

This report presents highlights of a 1998 forum that examined why teen pregnancy is an education priority, the impact of teen pregnancy on student success in school, promising school approaches to teen pregnancy prevention, and what help schools need to become more effective partners in preventing teen pregnancy. Recommendations by forum…

Louisiana's initiative to assist local communities in developing and operating school-based health centers (SBHCs), in place since 1991, is a nationally recognized model. Starting with the basic premise that students must be healthy to learn and be educated in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, this annual report describes the important role…

Each year, Early Head Start (EHS) and migrant and seasonal Head Start grantees are invited to share their experiences in providing high-quality services for expectant parents and families with infants and toddlers. This report highlights how 10 Early Head Start and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start grantees respond to mental health needs of infants,…

This document describes instruction for the acquisition of healthy lifestyle behaviors. The Healthful Living Education program reflects the needs of all students, including those with disabilities, combining health education and physical education. When appropriately reinforced in a comprehensive scope and sequence, it can provide such benefits…

The Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence (CSPV) at the University of Colorado at Boulder identified 11 prevention and intervention programs that met a strict scientific standard of program effectiveness. This bulletin describes the CSPV's selection criteria in choosing model programs (e.g., evidence of deterrent effect when using a…

Story-telling, an oral tradition of the indigenous peoples of Australia, was recorded on video as a vehicle for conveying health promotion messages in several urban Aboriginal (Koori) communities in Sydney, Australia. The video was made by a group of Koori women Elders and two female Aboriginal academics. The Elders integrated their personal…

History shows that humankind has always had an appetite for psychoactive substances. Since young people are especially vulnerable to drug abuse, the etiology, epidemiology, and prevention literature on substance use by school-aged children are examined in this booklet. It gives information on, and examples of, preventive approaches and programs in…

This issue contains eight articles on health education by student members of Eta Sigma Gamma, the National Professional Health Education Honorary. The papers are: (1) "Community Involvement: The Key to Successful Implementation of Comprehensive School Health Education" (Crystal L. Bieterman); (2) "HIV Infection and the Hispanic…

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and threatens to impact the health and wellbeing of numerous children and adolescents. The number of overweight youth has more than doubled since the early 1970s. Today, approximately 13 percent of children and adolescents, nearly 5.3 million youth, are seriously overweight. Since most…