Priority Need: Overweight/Obesity

NPM 8.2: Percent of children ages 6-11 and adolescents ages 12-17 who are physically active at least 60 minutes per day.

The most recent federally available data (2019-2020) on the percent of children ages 6 through 11 and adolescents ages 12 through 17 who are physically active at least 60 minutes per day revealed the following:

• 29.7% of children ages 6 through 11 were physically active at least 60 minutes/day (Data source: National Survey for Children’s Health, 2019-2020 combined data)
• 18.3% of adolescents ages 12 through17 were physically active at least 60 minutes/day (Data source: National Survey for Children’s Health, 2019-2020 combined data)

Objective

• By December 31, 2025, increase the percent of adolescents, ages 12 through 17, who are physically active at least 60 minutes per day to 22%.

The School Health Services Programs at ADH and the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) continued efforts to create healthier environments for children through the implementation of coordinated school health and Act 1220 activities.

• School Health Services staff is an integral part of Healthy Active Arkansas. One of the main goals within HAA is physical education and activity in schools. Within the goal, an objective for physical activity is to integrate physical activity strategies into the Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks. Plans are in development on the best way to implement this objective. SHS staff will begin professional development on Active Learning, which will provide school personnel hands-on learning techniques to incorporate physical activity into daily schedules in addition to recess. In Arkansas, 73% of school survey respondents reported that their schools have provided new equipment, materials, or curriculum for physical education teachers. Additionally, 20% of schools developed and implemented a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) with activities for students, staff, parents, and community members before, during, and after the school day, and 43% of schools offer physical fitness programs to school staff.
• Through usage of available funds provided by the CSH program and the CARES Act fund, additional playground stencils were purchased for the 15 educational cooperatives. To date, nine school districts and over 20 schools have utilized the stencils which help provide additional ways for the students to have physical activity while social distancing.
• School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) in Arkansas complete well child checks on students enrolled in their facility. SBHC coordinators also provide nutrition and physical activity education to students districtwide. For the school year 2021-2022, over 1,200 students were provided health education which ranged from health risks from drug use to physical activity benefits. Over 250 classroom presentations were conducted for all schools containing a school-based health center with an additional 20 school presentations.

ESM 8.1.2:  Percent of school personnel who participated in Coordinated School                                           Health training with increased knowledge of evidence-based physical                                           activity practices and curriculum and physical activity services provided by                             School Health Services

A coordinated approach to school health improves students’ health and their capacity to learn through the support of families, schools, and communities working together. Coordinated School Health implements all ten components of the Whole School Whole Community, Whole Child Model recognized by the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Directors and the CDC. Physical activity practices are taught through various ways with the Coordinated School Health (CSH) approach. During the quarterly meeting on wellness, physical activity training and resources are provided. Seventy percent of school personnel reported increased knowledge of physical activity and/or physical education. More physical education teachers are participating in their school wellness committees than before which will increase opportunities for students with physical education and physical activity.

Priority Need: Injury Hospitalization

NPM 9: Percent of adolescents ages 12-17 who are bullied or who bully others.

The most recent federally available data (2019) on the percent of adolescents ages 12 through 17 who are bullied or who bully others indicates the following:

• 35.2% of adolescents ages 12-17 were bullied
• 13.7% of adolescents ages 12-17 bullied others

Objectives

• By December 31, 2025, decrease percent of adolescents, ages 12 through 17, who are bullied to 28%.

The ADH partners with multiple entities to ensure thorough educational trainings are provided throughout the state with schools and communities. One collaboration involves the ADH Hometown Health Initiative, in which CHPS educate communities and schools on various health topics such as nutrition, physical activity, and mental health. COVID-19 safety precautions have led to many school campuses limiting opportunities to provide educational presentations to school staff and students. The CHPS conduct resiliency presentations, which include bullying and suicide prevention information.

ESM 9.1:  Number of school personnel, partners, and community members                                            participating in Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training.

AWARE: Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education, a project funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This grant supports school districts in efforts to provide mental health care awareness and trauma-informed practices. Arkansas AWARE has three main goals:

1. To increase coordinated referrals, mental help services and programs, and follow-up for children
2. Increase outreach and engagement among youth, families, schools, and communities to increase awareness and implementation of mental health identification services, and programs
3. Develop the infrastructure that will sustain mental health among youth and maintain mental and behavioral health services when federal funding ends

The ADH partners with AWARE to assist in increasing outreach and engagement. Program activities continue to focus on developing comprehensive school mental health best practice programs in pilot schools (Texarkana and Marvell-Elaine school districts and the Ozark Unlimited Resource Educational Service Cooperative), developing a statewide infrastructure of support and training for school personnel in the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA), Trauma-Informed Schools, and Adverse Childhood Experiences programs and initiatives, and promoting a safe, supportive, and positive school environment for students, staff, educators, and the community.

During the third year of the AWARE grant, almost 1,500 direct services were provided to students within the Arkansas AWARE schools from January 2021 through October 2021 with an average of 86 unduplicated students served each month. This is in direct alignment with the objective to increase access to culturally competent and developmentally appropriate school and community-based mental health services. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey, 37% of students at public and private high schools reported that their mental health was not good most or all the time during the pandemic. The AWARE staff trained over 800 individuals In Youth Mental Health First Aid.

Even with COVID-19 restrictions in place, steps were taken to continue engagement and outreach to increase awareness.  The AWARE behavior specialists engaged youth in groups where topics such as setting goals, demonstrating respect, anti-bullying, friendship, combatting stress, and others related to the Why Try curriculum were the focus. This is an addition to the continuance of the AWARE podcasts that are offered to students, staff, and families.  

In 2021, Mental Health First Aid was legislated for Arkansas School Counselors and School Resource Officers which resulted in approximately an additional 700 school personnel and just over 100 community members being trained as “First Aiders” in year 3 of the AWARE grant. With this legislation in place, the plan is to continue to increase the number of trainers in Arkansas.

Mental Health First Aid assists in taking the fear and hesitation out of starting conversations about mental health and substance use problems by improving understanding and providing an action plan that teaches people to safely and responsibly identify and address a potential mental illness or substance use disorder. MHFA indirectly helps school personnel and the community face a student or child who is considering death by suicide.

Priority Need: Transition to Adulthood

NPM 12: Percent of adolescents with and without special health care needs,

 ages 12 through 17, who received services to prepare for the transition

 to adult health care.

The most recent federally available data (2019) on the percent of adolescents ages 12 through 17, who received services necessary to make transitions to adult health care:

• 22.5% of adolescents ages 12-17, received services necessary to make transitions to adult health care

Objective

• By December 31, 2025, increase the number of public-school personnel who participated in the Title V Health Care Transition training with increased knowledge of Health Care Transition for adolescents to 850.

Evidence-Based or Informed Strategy Measures

ESM 12.4.2: Number of School-Based Health Center Coordinators that complete a                                           Title V Health Care Transition Readiness Assessment Survey with                                                         questions regarding the school district’s health center.

Title V in Arkansas will begin to partner with School-Based Health Center Coordinators to include children without special health care needs into the structure and planned health care transition process that studies with CSHCN have proven to result in improvements in health, the youth’s experience related to the health care received, and the use and health outcomes for youth. SBHC coordinators have been informed on health care transition readiness and, in collaboration with the Title V CSHCN program, presentations to SBHC coordinators will be conducted in the upcoming year.

Priority Need: Access to Care

SPM 2:             Percent of youth, grades 9 through 12, who report using nicotine products.

The most recent federally available data (2019) on the percent of youth, grades 9 through 12, who report using nicotine products:

• 29.2% of youth in grades 9 through 12 report using nicotine products.

Objective

• By December 31, 2025, decrease the percent of youth who use nicotine products to 23%.

For 2021, there were a total of 17 Student Wellness Advocacy Groups in Arkansas in three schools. Multiple webinars are provided via secured Google Docs for all schools to access. All SWAGs must attend seven webinars and, in partnership with Project Prevent Youth Coalition (PPYC), attend three webinars hosted by PPYC. In 2021, over 15% of the student participants reported increased knowledge regarding tobacco and nicotine use. At this time, the Youth Risk Behavioral Survey has not been updated for the 2021 year, so it is undetermined if nicotine usage has decreased.