Hawkins County Schools

CSH Program Successes

Grants, Funding, and In-Kind Support Facilitated by Hawkins County CSH

Total State Cost to fund CSH in Hawkins County Schools since 2007: $420,000.00

Total Dollars and In-Kind Funding facilitated by Hawkins County Schools CSH since 2007: $1,053,579.00

2007-2008
Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation grant ($13,538), provided by the Tennessee Department of Health. Middle School Tobacco Use Prevention Week took place April 28-May 2, 2008 and was fully funded by this grant.

Federal Carol M. White Physical Education Program grant ($418,553) was provided by the US Department of Education. With a very competitive grant application process, only 98 of 750 applicants nationwide received this funding; just 3 sites in the state of Tennessee were awarded this funding. Our 3 year grant funded the following:
- Walking trails for our 12 elementary schools
-New playground equipment and ground cover was added to improve playground safety at each school.
-‘Active gaming’ technology for the Physical Education programs at all 18 of our schools provided each school with cutting edge PE equipment such as Dance, Dance Revolution, Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, Computerized stationary bikes, and the Xavix gaming system.
-Take 10! Classroom physical activity kits were provided for all elementary teachers.
-High quality professional development opportunities for our PE teachers were provided.
-Schools with part time PE teachers received additional assistance from the ETSU Fit Kids program. This program supplements schools with additional PE instruction time by providing the services of ETSU Graduate PE students.

GOTRYBE grant ($25,000) provided funding to utilize a web based physical activity program designed for high school classroom use. This grant was provided by the Tennessee State Department of Health and the Governor’s Project Diabetes Program. Teachers used this program in their classrooms five minutes per class period in an effort to meet the 90 minute physical activity law.

2008-2009
Fruits and Vegetables grant ($25,000) offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. This grant provided fresh fruits and vegetables on a weekly basis and coincided with nutritional lessons for the students at Joseph Rogers Primary School.

Drink It then Sink It Recycling Program ($7,633) was started through a partnership with the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association and Goodwill Industries. Through this program, all 18 schools in Hawkins County started recycling plastic milk and water bottles, aluminum cans, office paper, newspaper, and cardboard in January 2009. Given that there is currently no curbside recycling pick-up in Hawkins County, this program provided indoor and outdoor recycling bins in addition to once weekly pick-up at all 18 schools. This program is completely free of charge to Hawkins County Schools.

2009-2010
Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grant: Offered by the United States Department of Agriculture. Received $10,000 USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grant for Mooresburg Elementary.

In-Kind Support for which CSH either secured or served as the school system liaison:

$302,644: cost of construction for School Based Health Clinics at our two high schools plus one mobile unit that travels to the remaining schools. Also includes the cost of supplies, equipment, and the staffing of a Nurse Practitioner, a Registered Nurse, and a receptionist for the school clinics. School Based Health Clinics were made possible through a partnership with the Rural Health Services Consortium.

$1,000: Shred Away Paper Recycling Pilot Project: Shred Away Recycling approached CSH about piloting a paper recycling (including pick-up) at 4 of our schools. Large industrial sized bins and once monthly pick-ups were provided.

$2,000: Goodwill Industries has continued to provide once weekly pick-ups of cardboard milk recycling containers and aluminum from school cafeterias. This project is a continuation of the SUDIA Drink It Then Sink It recycling program that was started in 2008-2009.

$25,000: The GOTRYBE online physical activity program was extended to all grades in Hawkins County. This grant was provided by the Tennessee State Department of Health and the Governor’s Project Diabetes Program. Teachers used this program in their classrooms five minutes per class period in an effort to meet the 90 minute physical activity law.

2010-2011
In-Kind Support for which CSH has either secured or served as school system liaison:

$4,500: covered the cost of fitness classes to be led by YMCA instructors before school at 4 elementary and middle schools. Wellmont Health systems sponsored this program through a grant received through Governor’s Project Diabetes.

$82,711: covers operating costs for the Rural Health Services Consortium’s two School Based Health Clinics at our high schools plus one mobile unit that travels to the remaining schools. Includes the cost of supplies, equipment, and the staffing of a Nurse Practitioner, a Registered Nurse, and a receptionist for each clinic.

$80,000: covered the cost of an additional Governor’s Project Diabetes grant that has been implemented in our school system by the Rural Health Services Consortium. A Registered Dietitian and Licensed Professional Counselor currently provide nutrition education and health goal setting sessions free of charge to any interested student in the school system. The Registered Dietitian also speaks with parents at Parent Engagement meetings and open houses.

$4,000: Shred Away Paper Recycling Pilot Project: Shred Away Recycling expanded its pilot recycling project to 16 schools this fall. Large industrial sized bins and once monthly pick-ups are provided.

$25,000: The GOTRYBE online physical activity program is now available in all schools and grades. This grant was provided by the Tennessee State Department of Health and the Governor’s Project Diabetes Program. Teachers use this program in their classrooms five minutes per class period in an effort to meet the 90 minute physical activity law.

Hawkins County Schools Coordinated School Health Highlights

Health Education:

All health educators in Hawkins County have been trained and are implementing the state recommended Michigan Model Comprehensive Health Education Curriculum. Each participating health educator received $2,000 worth of health education supplies from the State Office of Coordinated School Health.
CSH annually provides funding to purchase additional health education supplies and materials for health and lifetime wellness teachers.
CSH serves as the school system liaison for the Rural Health Services Consortium’s Governor’s Project Diabetes Program. CSH works to promote and schedule appointments for students to meet one on one with a Registered Dietitian for free nutrition education counseling.

Physical Education:

In 2008, Hawkins County Schools CSH applied for and received the Federal Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant. $418,553 was received to increase physical activity programs throughout Hawkins County Schools. Walking trails, new playground equipment, fitness technology, PE teacher professional development, and classroom physical activity kits were all purchased with this funding.
CSH regularly fulfills requests fielded from PE teachers for updated PE equipment purchases.
CSH partnered with Wellmont Diabetes center to offer morning fitness classes at 4 schools this spring.

Health Services:

In January 2010, Hawkins County Schools partnered with Rural Health Services Consortium to open two School Based Health Clinics at our high schools. A mobile unit circulates the county to visit the remaining 16 schools. Each clinic is staffed by a Nurse Practitioner, a Registered Nurse, and a Receptionist. Sick visits, sport physicals, and Tenncare Well Child Exams all take place in the school based clinics.
Annually, CSH screens Grades, K,2,4,6,8, and High School PE for height, weight, blood pressure, hearing, and vision. Over 200,000 referrals were made state-wide based on these screenings in 2009-2010.

Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services:

In 2009, CSH assembled a mental health team comprised of school counselors, social workers, school psychologists, special education staff, and alternative school staff. The purpose of the team was to develop an action plan to establish LEA protocol/guidelines, provide training to school staff on mental health identification tips and local protocol, and identify needed community mental health resources. Memorandums of Understanding have been created with local mental health care providers, the Department of Children’s Services, as well as Hawkins County Juvenile Court.
All school counselors were trained in using the state endorsed Michigan Model Health Education Curriculum which covers 80% of school counseling state standards. Counselors also received free materials and supplies.

Family and Community Engagement:

CSH partners with the Title I family and community engagement coordinator to provide health education information at numerous parent and family events throughout the school year.
CSH provides financial support for the Food Backpack program which supplies food for under-privileged students to take home on the weekends. 233 students K-12 benefit from this program.
CSH partners with 18 community organizations within Hawkins County to promote healthier lifestyles to students and families.

Child Nutrition:

CSH partners with the child nutrition department to promote the school breakfast program and healthy school snacks.
CSH funds have purchased numerous items such as salad bars and bottled milk refrigerators in an effort to improve school nutrition.
CSH and Child Nutrition have partnered to write and receive two USDA Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Grants.

Healthy School Environment:

CSH has started paper, plastic, cardboard, and aluminum recycling programs by securing bins and weekly pick-ups which are free of charge to the school system.
CSH works with schools to promote the School Wide Positive Behavior Support Program which works to improve overall school climate and student behavior.

Staff Wellness:

The school based health clinics have provided valuable assistance with staff physicals in 2011 that are required through the state health insurance plan. Over 200 staff members have participated.
9 schools are currently competing in an 8 week staff wellness challenge that focuses on meeting a 5% weight loss goal, exercising, and improving nutrition.
CSH partnered with Wellmont Diabetes Center to offer after-school Zumba classes for all faculty and staff.

Tennessee Coordinated School Health State Progress

Coordinated School Health (CSH) is an evidence-based model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) designed to promote healthy school environments so children arrive at school ready to learn. In 2006, Tennessee became the only state in the nation with a legislative mandate and $15,000,000 in state funding per year to implement CSH in all school districts. CSH funding provides each school district with a full time Coordinator, an assistant and basic materials and resources necessary to develop policies, partnerships, and initiatives that advance student health which include: health education, physical education/physical activity, health services, mental health/social services, nutrition services, healthy and safe environment, staff wellness, and community partnerships.
Statewide CSH Highlights:

High School graduation and drop-out rates in CSH pilot sites have consistently outperformed state averages since 2002.
Tennessee student body mass index (BMI) rates for overweight and obese are declining which is contrary to national trends. BMI rates declined from 41.2% in 2007-2008 to 39.5% in 2008-2009. Tennessee has the 3rd highest childhood obesity rate in the US.
Parent and student partnerships are emphasized in all aspects of CSH. CSH Coordinators have created an average of 21 community partnerships per school district. During the past three years, CSH Coordinators have secured an additional $30 million in grants and in-kind gifts for Tennessee schools.
The percentage of school nurses (RN and LPN) increased by 10% from 2005-2006 to 2009-2010. During the 2008-2009 school year there were 2,700,234 student visits to school nurses and 61.3% (1,654,609) of these students returned to the classroom to receive instructional time.
School health policies have been strengthened and/or created to promote a healthy school environment. Eighty-nine percent (89%) of all school districts have developed new school health policies.
Ninety-five percent (95%) of all school districts reported that they have incorporated health-related goals into their School Improvement Planning (SIP) and/or their Tennessee Comprehensive System-wide Planning Process (TCSPP) district planning agendas.

(over)

Student school health screenings were standardized by CSH. Last year over 1.5 million students were screened. Of those screened, 192,000 students were referred to a health care provider for additional medical attention. This represents at 257% increase over the number of referrals in 2006-2007.
CSH Coordinators have worked with community partners to establish school based health clinics. The number of schools with school based health clinics increased from 54 in 2008-2009 to 65 in 2009-2010. The number of students served in the school clinics increased by 354% between 2008-2009 and2009-2010. (69,305 students compared to 314,829 students).
During the 2009-2010 school year, 35,409 well-child (EPSDT) exams were provided to Tennessee students either by a school clinic practitioner or a private provider in the schools.
Because CSH infrastructure is present in all school districts, school staff have been able to respond quickly and decisively to unexpected events such as the H1N1 outbreak, new school entry immunization requirements or the unexpected economic downturn. More than half of all school districts have established a Food Backpack program so that students have food to eat on the weekends. As of February 2011, 412 schools provide Food Backpack programs.
Health Education training and materials have been provided to over 6,000 Tennessee teachers. The curriculum is evidence-based and supports Tennessee curriculum standards.
Physical activity training and curriculum has been provided to over 10,000 Tennessee teachers. Teachers work on academic goals while at the same time providing opportunities for physical activity in the classroom. Teachers report improved student concentration and behavior as a result.
Currently 253 (FTE) local school staff are employed using CSH ARRA funds. CSH Coordinators receive technical assistance and professional development support from the Office of Coordinated School Health staff.
CSH Coordinators monitor types of food and drinks sold in vending machines and a la carte items to ensure compliance with state school nutrition laws. The percent of Tennessee schools that did not sell soda or fruit juice increased from 26.7% in 2006 to 74% in 2008. Tennessee now ranks 2nd in the country in this category. Also 64.7% of Tennessee secondary schools did not sell junk food in vending machines, school stores, canteens, or snack bars. Tennessee now ranks 6th in the nation in this category.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of all school systems have developed and implemented staff wellness programs.
US Department of Education Schools and Mental Health Systems grant to the Office of Coordinated School Health enabled Tennessee School Districts to develop behavioral health policies/guidelines, establish linkages with community mental health partners and provide school staff training on how to appropriately identify and refer students to school counselors.

For an investment of only $16 per Tennessee student, CSH improves the health and well being of Tennessee students, staff, families, and communities.