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BC Cancer Agency Implements Healthy Living School Program across BC
In each school district, our Cancer Prevention Coordinators offer customized support, materials, tips, tools and ideas for educators at all levels. We are actively seeking to increase participation in Healthy Living Schools both through our individual CPCs and through a province-wide mailout in spring 2008. Here are some of the ways our CPCs have brought messages of healthy living and cancer prevention to schools in their districts:

• Presenting workshops in sports and activities including soccer, tennis, and skiing
• Obtaining mini-grants and matching funds for health and wellness programs
• Organizing health fairs
• Creating contests and offering prizes for health-related activities
• Introducing walking programs
• Facilitating peer mentorships for young people
• Bringing in speakers, such as Nutritionists and Tobacco Cessation Counsellors
• Holding Honour Your Health Challenges
• Offering sun safety lessons and advice
• Providing up-to-date, evidence-based information on health-related issues for educators

Click to see a copy of our most recent Healthy Living Schools newsletter (pdf).


Canadian and international reports on Poverty (From the Wellesley Institute)
A bad economy means poor health, according to a new survey of Canadians released today by the Canadian Medical Association. The national report card on health care surveyed slightly more than 1,000 Canadians - and madefront page news in The Globe and Mail. The survey confirms research by the Wellesley Institute, including Poverty Is Making Us Sick (the most comprehensive, current review of health and income data)and Sick And Tired of Being Sick and TiredThe links between income and health have been set out in numerous reports at the international level (including Closing the Gap in a Generation - from the World Health Organization), nationally (including thelatest annual report from Canada's Chief Public Health Officer), and in Toronto (includingToronto Public Health'sThe Unequal City). The CMA survey indicates that the Canadian public understands that we urgently need a comprehensive national strategy to reduce health inequalities (higher rates of disease and premature deathbetween richer and poorer people, and other differences in health among our population).

CCL Report on Sexual Health Education July 22, 2009 Learning about sexual and reproductive health is critical to making responsible decisions about sexual behaviour—whether this means deciding to delay or abstain from sexual activity or taking precautions to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Access to effective, broadly based sexual health education represents an important source of information for Canadian youth and has been shown to decrease young people’s tendencies to engage in risky sexual behaviour.

CCL Systematic Review on Health, Educational and Other Outcomes for Disadvantaged Children
The purpose of this review is to summarize, analyze and evaluate the Canadian quantitative literature examining the social consequences of economic inequality for children. Education, health, social justice and employment outcomes are examined. Full Report

Knowledge Network News

• The National School Health Conference for 2009-10 will be held in Halifax in mid-April. Watch for more details here.
  
• Communities of Practice related to a variety of health and social issues, including Nutrition, Substance Abuse, Mental Health, Aboriginal Students and more are underway. To find out more see: http://www.safehealthyschools.org/communitiesofpracticeintro.htm or contact candrew@cash-aces.ca.
• The Spring (2009) issues of the CTF-CASH Health and Learning Magazine has been distributed to school boards and schools across Canada. An online version is also available at: http://www.ctf-fce.ca/e/publications/health_learning/index.asp
• All of the presentations from the successful Settings for All Conference held in Gatineau, Quebec in May 2009 have been posted on the CCL Health & Learning Knowledge Centre web pages
• The 2009-10 series of SH webinars is underway. Find out more at: http://www.safehealthyschools.org/webinars/introduction.htm.
• CASH has working with the National Collaborating Centre on Aboriginal Health, the CCL Aboriginal Learning Centre and the Centre of Excellence on Special Needs to prepare a culturally relevant approach to SH for aboriginal students, schools and communities. A literature review and inventory has been completed. A statement of principles has been developed and can be found at: http://aboriginalschoolhealth.wetpaint.com/ CASH is pleased to announce that it will be working with the Centre on Addictions & Mental Health at the University of Western Ontario on a handbook/webinar project that will provide advice and tools to implement the principles established in the paper.
• Members of the Community of Practice on Substance Abuse Prevention and all Knowledge Network members are invited to comment on the national School Standards being prepared by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse. Go to our wiki-based work space to add your comments and edits at: http://draftshpapers.wetpaint.com/
• Members of the Mental Health Community of Practice and all other members of the Knowledge Network are invited to describe their knowledge needs for school-based mental health programs through our mini-polls onhot topics in School Mental Health and on preferred methods in knowledge exchange.
• The CSH Knowledge Network list of SH contacts has grown to over 2500 people and over 250 agencies/individuals have either paid a membership fee or contributed their time/expertise to receive additional services. The next step is to move the contacts list and other communications into a professional networking web site. Agencies, organizations and individuals wil be able to post theor own profiles, interact with others and visit/receive RSS feeds from the daily blog of SH news. Go here for more details: http://canadianschoolhealthprofiles.wetpaint.com/

Reports, Research and Resources on Influenza and SchoolsUsing a Twitter account to collect information from the web very quickly, CASH is pleased to provide this report prepared by the International School Health Network as part of its blog, the School Health Insider.

News Stories	Reports, Planning, Education Resources and Other Tools	Research
Sep 10-09 Anxious parents clamour for flu advice in Dubai http://yjw32.tk Sept 11-09 H1N1 could peak early, study suggests http://eydyn.tk Sept 11-09 Swine flu prompts France to keep its lips sealed http://7eyeh.tk Sept 11-09 56 per cent of Canadian adults 18 to 34 years say they don’t intend to get the H1N1 vaccine http://62p85.tk Sept 8-09 Swine flu confirmed at Vancouver school http://biv9h.tk Sept 8-09 Public-health and education officials encourage parents and teachers to send students with flu home. http://4bsx9.tk Sept 8-09 CDC said that 25 school systems and about 25,000 students were dismissed Friday because of the flu. http://l89m4.tk Sept 8-09 Schools Will not be Closed in Dubai http://qm0bp.tk Sept 8-09 India Health minister regrets ‘dead’ school hygiene programme http://9i9el.tk Sep 5 Perspective. (Editorial) National Newspaper calls for Clear Rules for Schools on Flu Canada. http://xpgql.tk Sep 3-09 Swine flu shown to be deadliest among children http://wbcvq.tk Sep 3 Some Canadian regions not ready for second wave of swine flu http://h87dj.tk Sept 2-09 Obama willing to drop school health clinics from health bill. http://www.nytimes.com/2009... ... - Magazine article. France Targets Schools to Fight Flu. Full test at: http://fp214.tk Sep 1-09 India School of Public Health Helps Schools with Flu http://w1pe2.tk Aug 26. H1N1 screening to be included in India State school health programme http://2uro4.tk Aug 25. BC Prepares for Flu as Schools Re-open. http://84xbw.tk Aug 24. 47 students at U of Kansas get mild swine flu in two days. http://yp1gw.tk Aug 22- New swine flu guidelines issued for US schools. Full story at: http://h8gmn.tk - BC Government on Twitter & Facebook re H1N!. Go to: http://n04gv.tk - Univ of Saskatchewan Invites Questions to Flu Experts. http://malhc.tk - Aug 22. New MOH powers to quarantine, close schools may be tested in flu outbreak http://7ufa8.tk - Aug 21. WHO predicts 'explosion' of swine flu cases http://7ba46.tk - Aug 19 The Canadian government is not recommending school closures to reduce flu. http://81fmm.tk - Aug 19, PHAC issues flu guidelines for schools http://u0pgi.tk - Aug 19 The Quebec Ministry of Education issued a directive to schools about the H1N1 virus http://dudcn.tk Aug 18. Australian experts advises school closures to fight flu. Full story at: http://8cjgf.tk - Aug 17. Manitoba schools launch flu plan http://ocxqg.tk - Aug 17. Quebec schools brace for second wave of swine flu. http://02b22.tk - Aug 17. Precautions taken to prevent swine flu at Canada Games http://y163c.tk - Aug 15. B.C.'s provincial health officer is planning to meet with school officials about swine flu. http://qzqdm.tk Aug 14. Ontario-wide swine flu study begins. http://pk9kh.tk - Aug 13. Pregnant school teachers in Australia are being isolated from their classes as the swine flu epidemic continues. http://0am6f.tk - Aug 13 Swine flu shuts Mumbai schools. Full story: http://rx9lq.tk - Aug 12. Ontario Health Unit and Schools Preparing for Fall Flu Season . Full story at: http://9i8s0.tk - July 24. Swine flu spreading within Yukon http://zh4w6.tk - Aug 10. Three million US students will get flu vaccine through schools. http://agw8f.tk - News Story. Australia's swine flu fight holds lessons for world. http://b0g30.tk - Aug 12. France to offer TV lessons if swine flu shuts schools http://ea1h9.tk - Aug 5. NWT School Supts Meet in Sept on Flu. http://tyle0.tk - Aug 5. Manitoba reserves not ready for flu resurgence: Chiefs http://m4yf6.tk Jul 30. Nova Scotia's Auditor-General report criticizes for inadequate medical supplies for flu virus. http://4iejr.tk - July 22. Manitoba School Closings re Flu to be made on case by case Basis. Flu http://80lu7.tk - July 21. Swine flu inspectors became infected themselves at Alberta farm http://t7j4b.tk - July 20. Closing schools ineffective against swine flu: N.B. medical officer. Full story at: http://fucn6.tk - July 20-09 UK Experts advise School Closings to reduce Flu Outbreak. Full Story: http://mlby6.tk - July 16. Swine flu spreading at Ontario summer camps. Full story at: http://x1418.tk - Alberta pigs believed to be infected with swine flu. http://ndp91.tk - July 9. PEI Health Officer to meet with school boards. http://gbtta.tk - June 10. Flu Causes Drop in International Students. http://k0azb.tk - June 9. WHO to declare H1N1 a pandemic http://l8dss.tk - June 8 Australian schools Closed by Flu. Full story: http://bu6hi.tk - June 8 Schools across Australia are closing to limit the outbreak of swine flu. Full story at: http://9nle7.tk - May 25. H1N1 Fear Hits Australian Schools. Full story: http://6rnnk.tk - May 18. Japan has reported 135 swine flu cases and closed more than 2,000 schools. Full Story: http://0qg38.tk - May 4. Severe form of swine flu appears in Canada http://kmk3j.tk	- Wikipedia Updated Summary on H1N1 in Canada. http://rpi2u.tk - Encyclopedia Summary. History of 1918 Spanish Flu. http://ytbkx.tk - Fact Sheet. Canada & US Difffer on School Closings re Flu. http://a9xpc.tk - Web Page. Yukon Government on H1N1 Preparation. http://bfwoy.tk - Web Tools Cochrane Influenza Resources: podcasts and presentations http://okr4g.tk - Web Page. Alberta Gov't Plan for Pandemic Influenza http://ww6qk.tk - Presentation. Oct 12-06. Alberta Interministry Planning for Pandemics. http://3rovl.tk - Policy Doc. Saskatchewan School Flu Guidelines. http://6xaw5.tk - Policy Doc. Manitoba Guidelines for Pandemic Influenza. http://pn6ip.tk - Policy Doc. Manitoba Govt. H1N1 Information for Schools and Daycares http://krsz1.tk - PHAC School Guidlines for H1NI. Full text at: http://hh33t.tk - Web Page. Mi"kmaq Community has Flu Management Plan. http://qr45j.tk - Policy/Advocacy Document. PEI parents call for more handwashing in schools (Scroll req'd) http://www.edu.pe.ca/stpete.. - Web Page. PEI Government Information for Healthcare Workers on H1N1 http://s4xyl.tk - Web page. CMA Info on H1N1 Flu. Go to: http://72hlq.tk - Policy Doc. Quebec guide for schools during Flu pandemics Full text at: http://n05c0.tk - Flu Tracking web site to track flu in Canada. Media reports, official sites and more. http://rse0q.tk - Policy Doc. Newfoundland Government. Managing Flu in Summer & Day Camps. Full text at: http://7g9hv.tk - Communications Toolkit for School, College, University Administrators. Nova Scotia Government. full text at: http://y4nyj.tk - Fact Sheet. Description of Flu Virus from BC Government. http://902aq.tk - Fact Sheet. BC Canada H1N1 Flu Information for Parents, Students & Schools. http://acupv.tk - Policy Doc. School Guidelines re Flu. Victoria, Australia. Full text: http://z27la.tk - CDC Materials for Infectious Outbreaks. Go to: http://56z4w.tk - Policy Doc. Australia State (Victoria) School Flu Policy. Full text at: http://zcuy1.tk - CDC page on H1N! virus. Go to: http://ez4qb.tk - Student Web Project. Online class exchange project - secondary schools- sanitation & hygiene http://gjyd5.tk Web Site. Sanitation in Schools. International agencies. http://exxl2.tk Web page. Case studies in school sanitation, low income countries. http://xjijq.tk Instruction Resource (Curriculum & Lesson Plans) . Hygiene Education. UNICEF. http://0ansx.tk Lesson Plans. Hygiene Education. For Developing Countries. http://cx0tm.tk Planning Guide. Sanitation for primary schools in Africa http://lyaig.tk Planning Guide (2006) Scaling up programmes for water, sanitation and hygiene in schools http://ndh5f.tk Web site. Planning Hygiene & Sanitation in Schools. http://rzhgi.tk Web Site. WHO Partners for Parasite Control. http://xe1vc.tk News Story & Video Clip. Aug 21. Tennessee SD explains their flu planning. http://nckjd.tk	Understanding the problem (Prevalence, behavioural research) - Review. (nd) Cochrane Influenza Resources: podcasts and presentations http://okr4g.tk - Commentary. Do Public Health and Infection Control Measures Prevent the Spread of Flu? http://yzg36.tk - Commentary (2008). Overview of Prevention of Influenza http://3qadq.tk - Commentary (2007) Pandemic Influenza: Is This Threat Real? http://kvrho.tk - Commentary (2007). List of Public Health Measures in an Influenza Pandemic http://3s6ww.tk Influence of physical and social environment of the school Comprehensive approaches (links with other issues, multi-level), coordinated programs (community, agency, school) and whole school strategies Policy interventions Coordination re school closures Time in school day for handwashing Coordination re surveillance Health Services Emergency Response Procedures Inter-agency cooperation re notifications and communications Vaccinations - Research Review (2009) Update on universal annual influenza immunization recommendations for children. http://f4cy6.tk - Practice Guideline. (2008) Prevention of influenza: recommendations for influenza immunization of children, 2007-2008. http://qedbi.tk - Study (2008) Benefits and costs of immunizing children against influenza at school http://t5u97.tk - Study (2003) Effectiveness and cost comparison of two strategies for hepatitis B vaccination of schoolchildren. http://ywbjs.tk - Review (2009) Update on universal annual influenza immunization recommendations for children. http://f4cy6.tk - Briss PA, Rodewald LE, Hinman AR, et al. Reviews of evidence regarding interventions to improve vaccination coverage in children, adolescents, and adults. Am J Prev Med 2000;18(1S):97-140. - Task Force on Community Preventive Services. Recommendations regarding interventions to improve vaccination coverage in children, adolescents, and adults. Am J Prev Med 2000;18(1S):92-6. Youth Friendly Health Services - Research Review (2006) Incentives to encourage adolescent visits to health services. http://dggza.tk - Summary (2007) Youth-friendly primary-care services: how are we doing and what more needs to be done? http://urfe9.tk6:07 PM Sep 2nd from TwitterBar - Study (2004) Health information-seeking behaviour in adolescence: the place of the internet http://3f5t2.tk Instructional programs Handwashing - Review (2004) Systematic review of the effectiveness of antimicrobial rinse-freehand sanitizers http://f6wvo.tk - Study (2004) The effect of a comprehensive handwashing program on absenteeism in elementary schools. http://b2q5l.tk - Review (2002) The Importance of School-Based Handwashing Programs http://b8enl.tk - Study (2004) Healthy Hands: Use of Alcohol Gel as an Adjunct to Handwashing in Elementary School Children http://zg5d7.tk - Review (2006) Handwashing and risk of respiratory infections: a quantitative systematic review. http://88e0u.tk - Study (2007) THE EFFECT OF A HANDWASHING-PROMOTION PROGRAM IN CHINESE PRIMARY SCHOOLS http://rmlo4.tk Infection awareness (cough, cover) Physical Environment School Sanitation - Research Study. Critical issues regarding the planning of school sanitation and hygiene education programmes in India' http://ls7b0.tk Hand cleanser dispensing machines Soap in bathrooms Universal sanitary precautions Social Support Staff awareness and support Parent awareness and support Program Implementation & Evaluation Building capacity & sustainability System change and institutionalization