Public Health DPA Support

PARC Conference

Feb 6, 2006

Louisa Barei Snowie, BScN

York Region Health Services

Content• Mandatory Core – Physical

Activity• Child and Youth Health• Health Benefits • Impact on Learning• What Motivates Youth to be

Physically Active• Best Practice – ‘Healthy

Schools’ • Professional Support – PAP

Network• DPA Support Models –

Hastings & Prince Edward Counties, York Region, others

• Summary and questions/discussion

Mandatory Core Guidelines - Public Health - Physical Activity

Under the Chronic Disease Prevention Standard:The following behavioural and policy objectives are aimed at achieving the above-stated

disease objectives:

l. to increase to 60 per cent the proportion of youth who include at least 30 mins of accumulated, moderate physical activity on most if not all days of the week by the year 2010m. to increase the proportion of children who are active

Requirements and Standards#7. The board of health shall work with municipal recreation departments and other

community partners to promote and increase access to regular physical activity for people of all ages. This should include a minimum:

• provide, on an ongoing basis, information to the public through the use of television, radio, pamphlets, posters, presentations on the health benefits of regular physical activity

• promote, on an ongoing basis, the availability of opportunities for physical activity• assist community partners to increase the availability of safe and accessible

recreation opportunities such as walking trails and cycling routes• promote and assist in the development of policies that increase access to regular

physical activity in the community

#9. The board of health shall work with all schools and school boards to implement health promotion programming. Topics that must be included are: tobacco-free living, healthy eating, healthy weights and regular physical activity. This shall include as a minimum:a) provide assistance and consultation to school boards, school advisory councils and principals/teachers to review and implement health-related curricula on all the above topics as requestedb) promote and provide teachers from all schools an opportunity to attend 2 hours of continuing education annually on one or more of the above-mentioned topicsc) provide ongoing consultation and development and review of learning materials for school boards, students advisory councils and school staff throughout the year on all of the above-mentioned topicsd) support the implementation of a variety of activities in schools on an ongoing basis. This will include: student-led school wide initiatives, peer education, peer support groups and annual awareness events on any of the above topics.

#10. The board of health shall with school boards, school advisory councils, prinicipals/teachers and parents to develop and implement guidelines that support healthy eating and regular physical activity. This shall include as a minimum: promote the need for guidelines for healthy eating and daily physical activity with

all school boards and all schools on an annual basis provide information, consultation and support to establish guidelines which

encourage daily physical activity for all students through balanced instructional programs, intramural activities and interschool athletics and skill development for lifelong active living.

Child and Youth HealthSome Barriers to Physical Activity for children and youth

• Lack of daily H & PE in schools

• Exploded Screen use - obsession

• Inactive transportation

• Safety concerns outside home and school

• Reduced Accessibility to low cost activities

• Dual income families – balancing home and work

• Single parent families

• …..

Results:

“Prevalence of childhood obesity in Canada has increased between 300-500 percent… increase in TV watching, video games and Internet use also suggests that Canada may be a world leader in the childhood obesity epidemic (Dr Mark Tremblay)

Health Benefits of PA

• Improves aerobic capacity, muscular strength, body agility and coordination, metabolic functioning,

• Improves bone density, lipid profiles, insulin levels and immune function

• Reduces diabetes, obesity (CDC, 1996)

• Children who are physically active are more likely to stay physically active for the rest of their lives (Health Canada, 2002)

• PA is vital to the growth and development of children and youth (CAPHERD, 1996)

• PA is consistently related to improved

self-esteem and body image (Tremblay

and Wilms, 2000)• …

‘DPA in Action’ RelayIncorporating Active Content

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Benefits of PA• • • • •

What Motivates Youth to be

Active• • • • •

PH Role - Supporting DPA/PA in Schools

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Resources/

Partners• • • • •

Physical Activity Impact on Learning

• Studies demonstrate the positive effects of daily physical activity has on performance and academic achievement in terms of memory, observation, problem-solving and decision-making as well as significant improvements in attitudes, discipline, behaviour and creativity (Keays and Allison, 1995, The Effects of Regular Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity on Student Outcomes:A review. Canadian Journal of Public Health. Vol 86, No 1)

• Physical activity stimulates the production of dopamine, creates stronger nerve connection and releases endorphins into the system. Aerobic exercise increases blood supply to the brain. All of the these factors set the stage for learners to maximize academic achievement (Jenson, 2000)

• Physical activity improves self-esteem, enhances psychological well-being, overcomes boredom and provides positive leisure pursuits (Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute, 1997)

• Physical well-being of has a direct impact on their ability to achieve academically (California study, 2002,www.cde.ca.gov/news/releases2002)

What Motivates Youth to be Physically Active

1. Enjoyment

2. Development of competency in physical skills – gain confidence

3. Social acceptance – make new friends and gain acceptance from their

peers (Research Digest, 2000)

Steps for Success

• Youth need to be part of the solution – active participants in process of changing their behaviour. Build awareness of their activity level – record PA for a set time

• Set goals for themselves – short and long term

• Supported with specific feedback and encouragement from parents, teachers, role models, coaches

• Frequent Commitment checks

• Recognition and celebration of successes

(Adapted from Health Canada, PA Guide to Healthy Active Living: Teachers Guide to PA for Children 6-9 years of age, 2002)

Best Practice Model for Public Health

Comprehensive School Health or Healthy Schools• ‘Healthy Schools’ provide children with an opportunity to experience

positive role models, healthy food choices, physical activity and positive student-teacher bonds.

• Includes a broad spectrum of activities and services that take place in school and surrounding communities enabling children and youth to enhance their health, develop to their fullest potential and establish productive and satisfying relationships in their present and future lives (Canadian Association for School Health)

• Utilizes 4 strategies: – Instruction about Health– Support Services from the community– Social Support– Healthy Physical Environment

“Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids!”

Public Health School–based Physical Activity Promoter Interest Group

• Summer/Fall 2005 - Started distribution list to share resources and ideas of PA promotion in schools – great interest and some sharing began

• Attended CEPAP meeting – many common interests – planned to meet Dec 9th to discuss PA promotion and DPA support

• Invited all Ontario PH PA Promoters to participate – terrific response 19 Health units participated (in person and teleconference)

• Agenda included updates from: OPHEA/PARC on DPA, CHNET-works, CAPHERD, Ontario PA Promoters Network and main topic PH DPA support discussion(Minutes available if interested)

• Lots of support and interest for DPA – major barrier – public health units structured differently through out the province

Main themes – supporting DPA

1. Communication – accurate and timely DPA information sharing (OPHEA, PARC, Activitalk, Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition, CAPHERD…)

2. PAP Network – join with provincial group to strengthen voice for PA in Ontario

3. Advocacy – working with school boards, school leaders and community to enhance DPA awareness and sustainability

4. Research – knowledgeable and advocate for PA research

5. Supporting Parents and community in DPA

implementation

These are guiding principles that could be incorporated into the school service models of the various health units:

1. Assessment - Take a "customer service" approach to provision of services. I.e. consult with schools, boards etc; assess needs first.

2. Offer a "menu" of choices, ie DPA workshops. These options would reflect the health unit's services, programs etc, but could also include other consultants etc, and may not be limited to physical activity.

3. Promote a Health Promoting Schools, or Comprehensive School Health Process approach.  (This is a recommended practice) Intensity can vary, but it advocates for collective planning and problem solving among key stakeholders (at school level, and/or at board level) Teachers involvement is critical to success!

4. Promote the value of school physical activity to parents and the broader community

5. Buy in - Frame Daily Physical Activity in terms of what is important for schools (e.g. attendance, behaviour, attention to task).

(Adapted from Anne Ostrom, PHN,Thunder Bay District Health Unit)

Successful DPA Partnership Models

• Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Health Unit – Jennifer Ronan, PHN

• York Region Health Services, Louisa Barei Snowie, PHN (framework and Fitness Ambassadors)

• Others…

Healthy Schools – Physical Activity To improve the health of students and enhance learning, York Region Health Services

strongly recommends that each school forms a ‘Healthy Schools’ Committee. Support is offered in the following four areas related to Health Schools.

Instruction/Curriculum

Quality Health & Physical Education Support

Daily K-12 H & PE curriculum (OPHEA) - consultation

DVPA consultation - Resource Guides (YRDSB)

Teacher workshops

Teacher Newsletters – School Health Connection

Instructional Intelligence – Health Resources

Tribes activities

Curriculum-matched resources

Support Services

PHN provides link to YRHS to implement:

PA presentation and resources to school councils (Creating a Healthy Active School)

Recess consultation/workshop

IWALK/Walking clubs program

“Turn Off the Screens” Week

Physical Activity Parent workshop & resources – PA school newsletter inserts

Fitness Ambassadors Program

Peer training – intramurals, DVPA, recess

Partnerships with community:

Parks & Recreation School –based Programs

School Boards - Community Coordinators

‘ACT Now’

OPHEA - “Living School” or “GO GIRLS”

School Councils – Parent Involvement

CIRA - Creative Playgrounds workshops

Hearty Party

Other community agencies: Canadian Diabetes, Heart & Stroke,

Supportive Social Environment

PHN active member of Healthy Schools Committee

PHN facilitates development of policy/guidelines related to supporting PA in the school ie, role-modeling

Peer Leadership

Recess Programs

Walking clubs

Character Education – anti-bullying

Intramurals

Healthy Physical Environment

PHN facilitates development of policy/guidelines related to a safe and healthy school environment

Safe School Committees support

Safe Playgrounds support

Shade project support