Page 85 - MMP-N-NJ CCN 21st Century School Nurse Leadership Book

IDEA #1: COMPONENT SAMPLE IDEA: OUTREACH
COMMUNITY CAFÉ – CONVERSATIONS THAT MATTER: HEALTHY LIVING
AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES

Idea:

Use Community Cafés to understand more about healthy living and healthy lifestyles in
the local school community

The Story:

School nurse Pao is concerned about the childhood obesity epidemic. While this is a global
concern, locally Pao has noticed more students with BMIs that are in the overweight/
obesity range, and blood pressures that are elevated above pediatric norms. Worldwide
obesity has more than doubled since 1980. 42 million children under the age of 5 were
overweight or obese in 2013. Obesity is preventable (World Health Organization, 2017).

However, obesity is just one “symptom” of the health of a community. To develop
initiatives, Pao knows that one must start with a community health
assessment (gathering data from the community).

What is happening locally, and how can Pao be sure that interventions will be evidence-
based to promote health and healthy behaviors in students and the school community?

Objectives:

• Begin understanding community needs and potential interventions as it relates to healthy
living and healthy lifestyles in the local community.
• Develop school and community partners that focus on a culture of health initiatives.

• Develop initiatives that address major findings for next school year.

• Plan a pilot study that can be expanded to other schools, grade levels and/or
community partners.

• Establish baseline of students with BMIs that are overweight/obese. Examine trends from
prior years if data is available. Benchmark results for next school year.

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