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HSC UPDATES

Greetings from Alaska

Members of the Partnership to Reduce Disparities in Asthma and Obesity in Latino Schools recently traveled to Alaska to take part in the annual Grantee Meeting held in September in Talkeetna Alaska. The meeting, which was organized by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), brought together groups from across the United States to meet one another, share strategies and experiences and visit some of the NIEHS-funded projects in Alaska. The conference began with site visits to the Alaska Community Action on Toxics and Aleutian Pribilof Island Associations. Participants visited local sites that have been contaminated by environmental wastes, and heard about the long-term effects of that contamination on people and the environment.

The Chicago project was represented in Alaska by Guillermo Gomez, Project Director; Idida Perez, Executive Director of West Town Leadership United; and Jovita Flores, of the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization.

Another important focus of the meeting was a discussion about the future of community based research and environmental justice. David A. Schwartz, M.D. was recently appointed Director of the NIEHS. He is soliciting input as he develops a strategic plan to identify program priorities. Because continued funding is at risk, groups were asked to write letters voicing their support for the important initiatives in community based participatory research and environmental justice that have been underway at the NIEHS for the past decade.

Help support this important community based research by sending letters to:

David A. Schwartz, M.D.
Director
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
National Toxicology Program
P.O. Box 12233
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-2233

For more information contact Guillermo Gomez at (312) 419-1810 or via email at ggomez@healthyschoolscampaign.org

New CPS Green Clean Policy

On Wednesday September 28, the Chicago Public Schools passed a district-wide policy which encourages the adoption of green cleaning. This action represents an important milestone in our efforts to promote green cleaning at Chicago Public Schools. HSC has been working with CPS for over two years to promote green cleaning. Our activities to date include a 10-school pilot project, a building engineer training and helping to secure the inclusion of Green Seal Certified Products in CPS' centralized purchasing program. We will continue to work with the CPS Department of Operations to successfully implement this policy. Our plans include the release and distribution of a guide to green cleaning in schools (tentatively scheduled for January, 2006) and a building engineer recognition program.

Student Body Challenge: Making Better Health and Fitness a School Policy

This fall, HSC is launching the Student Body Challenge, an initiative designed to get the word out about the federal mandate requiring school districts develop wellness policies by the beginning of the 2006/2007 school year. The Student Body Challenge will help schools meet this federal deadline with a multi-faceted public education campaign about the need for the school setting to support healthy eating and active lifestyles. This effort will include educational materials, resources for schools, community meetings and other activities. For more information or to download a sample wellness policy that meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guidelines, visit our Web Site or call (312) 419-1810.

King Lab Presentation

On Thursday, September 29th, Rochelle Davis & Camille Reid from HSC gave a presentation to King Lab PTA members in Evanston on the federally-required local wellness policies. They shared sample policy recommendations and steps for the policy development process. If you would like HSC staff to present on school wellness policies and/or school environmental health at your meeting, please contact us at 312-419-1810.

To view sample policy recommendations for your school wellness policy, please visit our Web site to view a Model Wellness Policy: www.healthyschoolscampaign.org

School Health Mini-Grants Available

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Foundation and Division of Adolescent and School Health are seeking applications for mini-grants to improve physical activity and nutrition programs for children.

Examples of funded projects include building walking trails, increasing time for physical education classes, increasing access to healthy snacks, incorporating curriculum around the new food pyramid, or offering salad bars.

Grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000, and no award will exceed $10,000. Applicants must complete the CDC’s School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide prior to applying. The deadline for a letter of intent is November 14, 2005.

For complete program information and application guidelines, please visit www.ashaweb.org/mini_grants.html

Community Health Survey

The Sinai Institute has released part two of its Community Health Survey. This survey gathered data from the Chicago neighborhoods of Roseland, South Lawndale, North Lawndale, Humboldt Park, West Town, and Norwood Park. A few of the report findings include the following:

• In most of the communities, less than 10% of children (6-12 years) are participating in daily physical education in schools while a large percent are watching at least two hours of TV a day. In Roseland, children are watching over four hours of TV a day. Children in this community area also have some of the highest proportions of pediatric obesity (55%).

• Close to one-third of people in Humboldt Park, South Lawndale, North Lawndale, and Roseland are eating fast food more than 4 times a week. These proportions are about the same as the proportion of obese adults in these communities.

• Close to half of all families in Humboldt Park, Roseland and North Lawndale have to travel over 15 minutes to the grocery stores compared to only 12% of families in Norwood Park, a predominately White community

Click here for the complete report: http://www.sinai.org/urban/community_survey.asp

Children's Health Month

Each October, the EPA celebrates Children's Health Month by holding events and activities that highlight the importance of protecting children from environmental risks.

The theme for 2005 is "Promoting Healthy School Environments." Visit the EPA's Healthy School Environment Resources Web page for information and links to school-related environmental health issues and to learn more about the EPA's soon-to-be-released Healthy School Environments Assessment Tool (HealthySEAT).

Other Updates

New Tool for IAQ in Schools

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) completed a project to determine whether a school Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) management plan, when implemented in schools, resulted in measurable improvements.

The findings indicate that school officials in Minnesota can implement IAQ asthma management plans that include a variety of practices, policies, and corrective actions, which result in measurable improvements. The MSEAMP is a voluntary tool to monitor and improve air quality in schools, and focuses on existing and potential contaminants that may impact asthma.

For more information visit: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/indoorair/schools/plan/asthmaplan.htm

Public Comment Sought on Draft Action Plan for Lindane

The North American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has released for public comment a draft action plan to reduce or eliminate the use of lindane in North America. The public comment period closes November 2, 2005. The draft action plan addresses exposure risks through a variety of regulatory and risk management actions, outreach and education efforts, science and research, capacity building, and collaborative cross-border activities.

Lindane is a toxic chemical used as a pharmaceutical for the treatment of lice. It is a wide-ranging, persistent organic pollutant that accumulates in the environment, animals and fish, before being passed on to humans where it concentrates in milk and body fat. Lindane has been widely used for decades, and it has long been associated with
skin irritation and nausea but can even cause convulsions and death if ingested at high levels.

The full text of the document is available at:
http://www.cec.org/programs_projects/pollutants_health/index.cfm?varlan=english

Super Size Me Has been Educationally Enhanced

Hart Sharp Video, along with Morgan Spurlock and Comchoice®, have developed a new version of the Documentary Super Size Me, that focuses on teaching children about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and the life-threatening consequences of poor diet, inadequate nutrition, and lack of exercise. The Super Size Me Educationally Enhanced ® edition incorporates unique educational content into the original documentary film, and will be released on DVD on February 28, 2005. The new edition can be purchased by visiting the Super Size Me store at www.supersizemestore.com.

School Bus Toolkit

Alternative Fuel Vehicle Fleets and Niche Markets for School Buses - This kit contains materials to help introduce alternative fuel vehicles to the school bus market. It contains customizable presentations, contact and product lists, market and quality reports and case studies that can be reproduced to meet specific needs. It also provides a list of case studies and success stories from schools and school districts from around the country as well as publications.

IN THE NEWS

Parents Unaware of School Wellness Policies
October 4, 2005
Most parents don't know that their schools are required by federal law to have comprehensive wellness policies in place by the beginning of the 2006 school year, and they over-estimate how much schools already do.

Schools Right and Wrong On Obesity
September 18, 2005
Julie Deardorff, Chicago Tribune
Body mass index (BMI) measurements need to go along with physical education and healthier eating options at schools.

California Bans Soda in Schools
September 15, 2005
Governor signs bills to bar sodas and increase spending for fruits & veggies in school meals.

Pa. Schools Mandate Body-Mass Calculations
September 9, 2005
Martha Raffaele, AP
As they wait for their children's first report card to come home this year, elementary-school parents across Pennsylvania also can expect to receive a separate report on a key indicator of their children's health.

SEPA Bill Makes Return to Congress
September 7, 2005
Senator Lautenberg introduces bill to protect schoolchildren from pesticide exposures.