1 / 17

Improving Sun-Safety for New M exico Schools

Presented by: Erika Harding, DOH contractor and author of “An Insider’s Guide to Successful Sun Safety Programs” Christine Brown, NM DOH Comprehensive Cancer Program. Improving Sun-Safety for New M exico Schools.

alina
Download Presentation

Improving Sun-Safety for New M exico Schools

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Presented by: • Erika Harding, DOH contractor and author of “An Insider’s Guide to Successful Sun Safety Programs” • Christine Brown, NM DOH Comprehensive Cancer Program Improving Sun-Safety for New Mexico Schools A roundtable discussion and idea session for improving sun-safety policies, curriculum and environment

  2. Learning Objectives: By the end of the presentation, participants should be able to: • Summarize the evidence for school-based sun safety interventions • State the role, resources and support provided by NM DOH Comprehensive Cancer Program • Relate ideas and resources from “Insider’s Guide to successful Sun Safety Programs” to their own schools or districts • Join state-wide sun safety network

  3. Our Not-so-Secret Agenda • Inspire more schools, districts, organizations and individuals to champion sun safety in their community • Increase the number of DOH sun safety contractors and applications • Diversify the types of sun safety initiatives through networking and mentoring • Brainstorm solutions and share resources to barriers facing existing sun safety initiatives • Make a difference in the health and safety of New Mexico’s children

  4. Why School-based Sun Safety Interventions ? What the research shows: • The incidence of melanoma, the most fatal form of skin cancer, is rising at a rate faster than that of all preventable cancers except lung cancer (in the US). • UV exposure and blistering sunburn during childhood and adolescence is highly correlated to the adult development of skin cancer, particularly melanoma. • Between the ages of 6 and 18, children receive a substantial portion of their lifetime UV exposure.

  5. Research Shows… • School-based interventions can be effective, at least in the short term, in changing sun-related knowledge, attitude and behavior. • Teachers are busy, but research-tested interventions can be effective even in very limited doses (1-2 hour sessions). • Sunscreen alone cannot be depended upon for sun safety and skin-cancer prevention, and can generate a false sense of sun protection. • Peer education, modeling, and “appearance-based” interventions (showing teens their skin damage and promoting fashionable sun safety) are key for reaching middle-school and adolescent students.

  6. What we all understand: • School policy is critical to develop parent/teacher/administration buy-in. • There are great research-tested classroom-based sun safety programs to choose from. • Sun-safe knowledge and attitude is important, but behavior change is key. • Sun-safety must be multi-faceted to be effective. • One key to success is to SHADE WHERE CHILDREN PLAY.

  7. About the NMDOH Raising Awareness in Youth about Sun Safety (RAYS) program • NMDOH provides (limited) funding and technical support to schools. • Over 70,000 New Mexico children, school staff and community members reached since 2003. • Targets elementary-aged children in grades K-6 across the state. • Implemented in 19 New Mexico counties, 32 contracted organizations.

  8. NMDOH Focus on Policy and Environment for Sun Safety • Encourage contractors to adopt sun safety policies on campuses. • Allow hats/sunglasses to be worn • Allow sunscreen • Change recess times • Shade structures • Plant trees • Supports classroom-based education • Institutional changes more impactful • Protects all children (and staff)

  9. Use of evidence-based curricula for sun safety • Education and policy in a primary school setting is “Recommended” by the Guide to Community Preventive Services. • Research-tested intervention programs (RTIPS) • Searchable database of cancer control interventions • Usually free (occasional costs may apply)

  10. Let’s hear YOUR issues: • SUCCESSES * creative approaches * finding champions * finding funding * doing without cash • CHALLENGES/BARRIERS * problems “getting started” * policy-level barriers * difficulties implementing curricula * environment issues • OPPORTUNITIES

  11. One Success Story: small steps building momentum • Bandelier Elementary School chronology

  12. What is Missing? How can we help? • New Mexico sun-safety network

  13. Discussion/Q&A

More Related