Communities in Action


Book Description

In the United States, some populations suffer from far greater disparities in health than others. Those disparities are caused not only by fundamental differences in health status across segments of the population, but also because of inequities in factors that impact health status, so-called determinants of health. Only part of an individual's health status depends on his or her behavior and choice; community-wide problems like poverty, unemployment, poor education, inadequate housing, poor public transportation, interpersonal violence, and decaying neighborhoods also contribute to health inequities, as well as the historic and ongoing interplay of structures, policies, and norms that shape lives. When these factors are not optimal in a community, it does not mean they are intractable: such inequities can be mitigated by social policies that can shape health in powerful ways. Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity seeks to delineate the causes of and the solutions to health inequities in the United States. This report focuses on what communities can do to promote health equity, what actions are needed by the many and varied stakeholders that are part of communities or support them, as well as the root causes and structural barriers that need to be overcome.




Building Healthy Places Toolkit


Book Description

"This project was made possible through the generous financial support of the Colorado Health Foundation. Additional support for the ULI Building Healthy Places Initiative has been provided by the estate of Melvin Simon."




The Wellbeing Toolkit


Book Description

The Wellbeing Toolkit is an invaluable resource for promoting wellbeing and resilience among all school staff, thereby improving staff attendance and retention, and helping all teachers fall back in love with teaching. In this thought-provoking book, Andrew Cowley, co-founder of Healthy Toolkit (@HealthyToolkit), draws on his own experiences as a school leader to unpick the myths around wellbeing and set out a practical, authentic and values-driven model that will enable leaders to foster a positive atmosphere for the benefit of the whole-school community. With a focus on developing a culture of positivity and self-care, effectively enabling all staff members to take ownership of the wellbeing strategy and supporting and promoting healthy lifestyles, this practical guide also considers scenarios arising from potentially more stressful incidents such as a bereavement. Staff wellbeing needs to be a strategic consideration for all primary and secondary school leaders, not something delivered on an ad hoc basis. Emphasis must be placed on really knowing staff, what motivates them and what may affect their confidence. The Wellbeing Toolkit offers effective strategies for addressing staff wellbeing from a whole-school perspective with particular reference to reducing workload, managing stress and supporting teachers in challenging circumstances.




Schools and Health


Book Description

Schools and Health is a readable and well-organized book on comprehensive school health programs (CSHPs) for children in grades K-12. The book explores the needs of today's students and how those needs can be met through CSHP design and development. The committee provides broad recommendations for CSHPs, with suggestions and guidelines for national, state, and local actions. The volume examines how communities can become involved, explores models for CSHPs, and identifies elements of successful programs. Topics include: The history of and precedents for health programs in schools. The state of the art in physical education, health education, health services, mental health and pupil services, and nutrition and food services. Policies, finances, and other elements of CSHP infrastructure. Research and evaluation challenges. Schools and Health will be important to policymakers in health and education, school administrators, school physicians and nurses, health educators, social scientists, child advocates, teachers, and parents.




Investing in the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults


Book Description

Young adulthood - ages approximately 18 to 26 - is a critical period of development with long-lasting implications for a person's economic security, health and well-being. Young adults are key contributors to the nation's workforce and military services and, since many are parents, to the healthy development of the next generation. Although 'millennials' have received attention in the popular media in recent years, young adults are too rarely treated as a distinct population in policy, programs, and research. Instead, they are often grouped with adolescents or, more often, with all adults. Currently, the nation is experiencing economic restructuring, widening inequality, a rapidly rising ratio of older adults, and an increasingly diverse population. The possible transformative effects of these features make focus on young adults especially important. A systematic approach to understanding and responding to the unique circumstances and needs of today's young adults can help to pave the way to a more productive and equitable tomorrow for young adults in particular and our society at large. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults describes what is meant by the term young adulthood, who young adults are, what they are doing, and what they need. This study recommends actions that nonprofit programs and federal, state, and local agencies can take to help young adults make a successful transition from adolescence to adulthood. According to this report, young adults should be considered as a separate group from adolescents and older adults. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults makes the case that increased efforts to improve high school and college graduate rates and education and workforce development systems that are more closely tied to high-demand economic sectors will help this age group achieve greater opportunity and success. The report also discusses the health status of young adults and makes recommendations to develop evidence-based practices for young adults for medical and behavioral health, including preventions. What happens during the young adult years has profound implications for the rest of the life course, and the stability and progress of society at large depends on how any cohort of young adults fares as a whole. Investing in The Health and Well-Being of Young Adults will provide a roadmap to improving outcomes for this age group as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.




How to Influence the Development of Quality Physical Education Policy


Book Description

This toolkit offers general principles for successful policy advocacy that can be adapted based on what best suits your national context and specific policy development processes. You will find sections presenting the value of youth engagement in policy development, tried and tested techniques to inspire impact-oriented advocacy strategies and practical checklists to navigate physical education (PE) policy development processes.




Physical Activity and Public Health Practice


Book Description

Physical activity remains a critical area of research as we consider cost-effective measures for lowering the chronic disease epidemic worldwide. In our increasingly automated society, many adults and children are not active at health-enhancing levels. In Physical Activity and Public Health Practice, a panel of respected researchers summarizes essential topics in physical activity and community health and guides public health practitioners and researchers in understanding the positive impact that physical activity has on a host of disease states. Focusing on the benefits of physical activity across the human lifespan with emphasis on primary and secondary prevention of chronic diseases and conditions, the book examines: Historical insights into physical activity and health Public health philosophy and approaches to understanding health concerns Application of public health strategies to increase physical activity in youth, adults, and older adults Known and effective policy and environmental approaches applied to various settings, including schools, worksites, and the community The role of physical activity on growth and development and in relation to obesity Methods for measuring physical fitness and applying U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines for exercise prescriptions How to promote physical activity among hard-to-reach populations A goal of all physical activity health promotion advocates is to increase the opportunity for citizens to live active, healthy lives. Understanding the immense role physical activity plays in human health is critical to shaping programs and policies that will benefit the population. This volume catalogs the latest research and provides a window into future possibilities for creating healthier communities.




Health is Academic


Book Description

There is a lot of concern these days about absenteeism, dropout rates, and discipline problems in our schools. But, did you know that a lot of problems are health related? A coordinated approach to school health is about more than keeping kids healthy. It’s about improving schools by supporting students’ capacity to learn. With expert contributions from over 70 leading professional associations, Health Is Academic covers the “eight components” designed to give students the knowledge and skills they need to deal with the problems they face in and out of school. The text authoritatively discusses: Health Education; Physical Education; Health Services; Nutrition Services; Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services; Healthy School Environment; Health Promotion for Staff; and Parent/Community Involvement.




Happy Healthy You


Book Description

The successful life coach and author of Superior Self offers concrete, easy-to-follow strategies for bringing more health and happiness into your life. With our hectic modern lives, it’s easy to feel drained and worn down. But when we stop to consider what’s tapping our energy most, we discover that old habits, unconscious patterns, and past experiences are dragging us down and blocking our self-growth. In Happy Healthy You, life coach KJ Landis helps identify how, why, and where we get ourselves stuck, and how we can utilize the drama and trauma of the past as a springboard to becoming our most authentic, vibrant selves. We all face a lot of stress in our day to day lives. Over time, those stressors can build into a major obstacle, causing us to retreat into survival mode. And when you’re only surviving, you’re not thriving. KJ Landis knows the story all too well—because she lived it herself. Now, she provides the playbook for tackling the blockages in our lives and moving beyond them to a life of happiness and health. In this book you will learn: • The root of what keeps us “stuck” in our lives • How to use the Negative Thought Pot to rid ourselves of self-deprecating beliefs • How hormones and epigenetics affect mental and physical wellness • The role of nutrition in our day-to-day health • Therapeutic movement as a mode of healing • The power of self-care through restorative practices • And much, much more!