Coordinated School Health

Coordinated school health is about keeping students healthy over time, reinforcing positive health behaviors throughout the school day, and making it clear that good health and learning go hand in hand. The Health Department’s coordinated school health program staff is trained to provide technical assistance with a variety of health education curricula and programming. In addition, the Health Department can provide technical assistance with the implementation of Kentucky instruction documents, including Core Content for Assessment and Program of Studies. 

Quick links:
Incentive Fund Process
Cardiovascular Health
Dental Sealant Program
Fluoride Varnish Program
Resources for Education to Achieve Coordinated Health Team (REACH)
Tobacco Prevention
Active Communities

Incentive Fund Process

• The Health Department awards incentive funds to local schools in Boone, Campbell, Grant and Kenton counties to make school health policy and environmental changes improve the health of Northern Kentucky students and staff. 

• Please call 859.341.4264 for more information.

Cardiovascular Health

• Healthy Challenge: A program offered to elementary schools promoting the importance of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. Students participate in a fun, one-week challenge where they keep track on a chart every time they eat a serving of produce. Prizes are awarded to those students who complete the challenge, as well as to the top classroom in each school. For more information, please contact Monica Smith, R.D., at 859.363.2114.

• Take 10 curriculum A research-based classroom physical activity program for elementary schools (incorporating 10 minutes of physical activity into the classroom).  Health Department staff can provide training for classroom teachers. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

• Fit Classrooms Web site: This Web site provides a resource to the community (with the main audience being schools) to learn how area schools are working to build healthier students and school environments. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

• Just for Kids: An 8-10 week nutrition education and obesity prevention program for elementary students, primarily fourth and fifth grade students. Just for Kids targets lifestyle habits that contribute to weight gain and uses hands-on approaches to teach children the difference between high-fat and low-fat foods. The classes are taught by registered dietitians and focus on nutrition and exercise, body image, self esteem and assertiveness skills. The program is offered once a week in the classroom during regular class hours and consists of about 45 minutes of instruction and activities. The students each receive a workbook that contains weekly stories and homework assignments to help apply the lessons being taught each session.  The program also meets the core content requirements for Practical Living. For more information, please contact Monica Smith, R.D., at 859.363.2114.

• Stepping Into Action: Stepping into Action is a pedometer-based walking program and is available to school faculty and staff. This eight to 10- week program gives foundational tools to jumpstart a lifestyle walking program. Participants use a pedometer to record walking statistics in a daily log. In addition, staff may receive prizes for active participation. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

Dental Sealant Program
Schools with 40 percent of their students on free or reduced lunch qualify for this program. A volunteer dentist examines student’s teeth and then a dental hygienist and a dental assistant from the Health Department place protective dental sealants on the molars of children in the second and sixth grades. If tooth decay is found, students are referred to a dentist and the school nurse or family resource center must follow up. For more information on the sealant program, please read our fact sheet or call 859.341.4264, Ext. 2035.

Fluoride Varnish Program
Fluoride treatments have been used for years to strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. The Health Department began the fluoride varnish program in 2003 by training all nurses to apply the varnish in the health centers. In the spring of 2009, Public Health Dental Hygienists will begin applying the varnish in local schools as well. Fluoride varnish can be applied two to four times a year or more frequently if the child is at higher risk of tooth decay. For more information on the fluoride varnish program, please read our fact sheet or call 859.341.4264, Ext. 2035.

Resources for Education to Achieve Coordinated School Health Team (REACH) 
REACH is a coalition of school representatives and professional organizations that link people with resources to achieve and maintain a healthier community through coordinated school health. By focusing on training, exchanging ideas and information, increasing access to services and advocating, members promote coordinated school health. For more information, call 859.341.4264.

Tobacco Prevention

• Life Skills Training Program:  A science-based program for students in grades 3-8, Life Skills targets the primary causes of substance use and is proven to reduce tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. The comprehensive approach includes drug resistance skills and information, self-management skills and general social skills. The Health Department provides a train the trainers course for those interested in becoming facilitators. For more information, please call 859.341.4264

• Alternative to Suspension Tobacco Programs for Students: This is a positive alternative to suspension for those caught using tobacco on school property or at school events. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

• NOT (Not on Tobacco): NOT is a nine-session program which explores gender issues that are part of smoking cessation. The sessions are delivered to males and females separately. It explores withdrawal, quit tips and relapse prevention. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

• Tobacco Cessation for Students – Tobacco Awareness Program (TAP): This is an eight-session program that provides information, opportunities for self assessment and challenging weekly assignments to help students stop using tobacco. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

• Tobacco education curricula: The Health Department can provide technical assistance to educators implementing the following tobacco education or substance abuse curricula: All Stars Program, Growing Healthy, Know Your Body, LifeSkills, Project Alert, Teenage Health Teaching Modules and Project Towards NO Tobacco Use. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.

• Bike racks: The Health Department is working with TANK Transit Authority to place bike racks on all TANK buses in an effort to promote being physically active. Once the funding is approved, an education and marketing campaign will accompany the new racks. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.
• Safe Routes to School program: Safe Routes to School is a national program to encourage more children to walk and bike to school. Studies have shown that walking or biking to school gives children a sense of freedom and responsibility, and students who walk or bike to school are more alert when they arrive at school. Allowing students to walk or bike to school can also assist in decreasing youth obesity by helping children get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Several local school districts are implementing Safe Routes to School programs. For more information, please call 859.341.4264.