To examine changes in cigarette smoking among high school students from 1991-99, researchers analyzed data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results indicate that students' current smoking increased significantly, from 27.5 percent to 34.8 percent during that time. Results also suggest that later in the decade, current smoking may have…

Assessed medication administration practices among school nurses, surveying members of the National Association of School Nurses. Respondents were extremely concerned about medication administration. Errors in administering medications were reported by 48.5 percent of respondents, with missed doses the most common error. Most nurses followed…

Investigated health behaviors practiced by 10th graders in Bogota, Colombia. Data from a modified version of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicated that there was a high use of gateway substances (tobacco and alcohol) among respondents, but lower usage, when compared to U.S. students, of other mind-altering substances such as marijuana,…

Describes the current status of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), examining roles that school enrollment-based health insurance (SEBHI) programs play in three states and summarizing lessons SEBHI programs can offer SCHIP as states work toward full implementation. SEBHI programs are an important model leading to more…

Summarizes U.S. data from the 1997-98 World Health Organization Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Study, which examined the attitudes and experiences of children age 11, 13, and 15 years on various health behavior and lifestyle issues. Results are presented on: health and well-being; family relationships; school relationships; school…

Evaluated the use of videotape for HIV/AIDS education in Russian schools, pretesting and posttesting students on their attitudes, knowledge, and practices related to HIV/AIDS and their HIV/AIDS education at school. Results confirmed a lack of HIV/AIDS education and insufficient information sources (parents, friends, and public health). Video…

Examined relationships between high school students' tobacco use and other substance use, intentional injury risk behaviors, and sexual risk behaviors. One-half of students used no tobacco, one-fourth used one tobacco product, and 19.5 percent used more than one tobacco product. Generally, students who used tobacco also engaged in other substance…

Encourages school health educators to include a unit on child abuse and neglect as a component of the health education curriculum, noting the current lack of attention to the subject, describing the magnitude of the problem, and explaining how early intervention can limit the damage. The paper likens such education to secondary prevention, a…

HealthTeacher.com provides free Internet access to a K-12 curriculum which meets recent health education standards and can serve as a school health education curriculum or supplement existing curriculum. It was designed to build health literacy among health educators, helping health teachers understand skills-based teaching and assessment.…

Eight papers on Australia's school health programs discuss: creating health promoting schools in the United States; intersectoral collaboration for developing a national framework for health promoting schools; school-based health promotion nationwide; auditing health promoting schools policy documentation; the nature of health service/school…

Summarizes results from 1999 national school-based surveys and trends during 1991-99 in selected youth risk behaviors as well as 33 state and 16 local school-based surveys. Prevalence of several injury-related behaviors and sexual behaviors have improved. Current smoking rates may be declining. Certain risk behaviors are more common among…

Investigated the effectiveness of strategies to maximize cohort retention in a longitudinal evaluation of a middle school human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted disease prevention intervention. Retention rates of 80 percent at 6 months and 73 percent at 18 months were achieved. This required joint, proactive problem solving at the…

Evaluated the utility of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist for youth when completed by adolescents at a school-based health center (SBHC), noting how identification of psychosocial dysfunction and referral to mental health services improved academic functioning. Results support the utility of psychosocial screening and referral in SBHCs in…

Explores policy deficiencies that perpetuate the status quo in school mental health service provision, discussing: a framework for moving forward; school-community collaboration and school-linked and school-based services; how to move to a three-component model for connecting with school reform; the need to address barriers to learning; and the…

Describes selection criteria based on theory, research, and best educational practice that identify key social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies and program features for promoting students' mental health and reducing risk behaviors. Program features critical to the success of school-based SEL programs emphasize curriculum design,…