ADVISORY- National Healthy Schools Day April 30, 2013

April 24, 2013 - PRLog -- Contact:
Claire Barnett
cbarnett@healthyschools.org
Office: 518-462-0632
Cell: 202-543-7555


                                                                                                       
NATIONAL HEALTHY SCHOOLS DAY, APRIL 30th
Events Held Across the Nation, Twitter Town Hall Scheduled, Webinar, National Healthy School Hero Awards

(Albany, NY)  Beginning April 30 and lasting all week, the Healthy Schools Network and coalition members across the nation will be hosting events across the country in celebration of the 11th Annual National Healthy School Day. School environments play an important role in the health and academic success of children. Each school day, 55 million children and 7 million adults — 20 percent of the total U.S. population and 98 percent of all children—spend their days inside school buildings. Unfortunately, too many of our nation’s 130,000 public and private schools are “unhealthy” buildings that can harm their health and hinder learning. Unhealthy school environments can affect attendance, concentration and performance, as well as lead to costly, time-consuming cleanup and remediation activities for schools. Each year, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and two dozen cosponsoring groups, the Network coordinates National Healthy School Day’s events and outreach.

Healthy Schools Network will announce its National Healthy Schools Hero Awards for spring 2013 to three outstanding leaders for efforts to reduce hazardous chemicals in materials and products purchased by schools and to advance children’s environmental health protections.  One award is scheduled to be presented in Hartford, CT, April 30; two will be formally presented in Washington, DC later this spring.

Additionally, in conjunction with partner, Moms Clean Air Force, the group will host a Twitter chat in honor of National Healthy Schools Day on April 30th.

WHAT: Moms Clean Air Force and Healthy Schools Network Twitter chat in honor of National Healthy Schools Day
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2-3:00 p.m. EST/11 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PST
WHERE:  On Twitter, follow hashtag: #HealthySchoolsDay and @MomsCAF, @HealthySchoolsN

This year, in recognition of the importance of a healthy school environment, the EPA awarded nearly $750,000 in “capacity building” grants to five states -- Connecticut, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. These grants will be used to help states implement comprehensive K-12 school environmental health programs using the new Voluntary Guidelines for States: Development and Implementation of a School Environmental Health Program.  For more information, visit their website.

Regional event highlights include:
In California: Regional Asthma Management and Prevention (RAMP) along with the California Schools Environmental Health and Asthma Collaborative (SEHAC) will be co-hosting the 2013 School Symposium on Asthma. This year's symposium will focus on the role of school-based health centers in supporting students with asthma and exploring collaborative opportunities between health centers and school health staff.

WHAT: 2013 School Symposium on Asthma
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:  Brandon Kitagawa at 510-302-3395 or brandon@rampasthma.org.

In Connecticut: The Department of Public Health, along with other member agencies and organizations of the CT School Indoor Environment Resource Team, is celebrating National Healthy Schools Day 2013 at the State Legislative Office Building with a number of exhibit tables. Over 10 agencies and school-based organizations will have exhibits and provide information. The CT Department of Public Health, one of five states to have been awarded grants by EPA to address school environments, is hosting a public information event with nongovernmental partners in the CT legislative office building.

WHERE: Legislative Office Building
               300 Capitol Avenue
               Hartford, CT 06106
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
   11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenny Foscue with the Connecticut Department of Public Health at (860) 509-7740 or kenny.foscue@ct.gov.       
Nationwide: Free Webinar: Epinephrine in Schools: What You Need to Know. Learn why access to epinephrine in schools is important to children who are at risk for anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction). Anaphylaxis is potentially life threatening and can be triggered by food, insects, and pollution, and epinephrine is the first-line treatment for anaphylaxis. The webinar will cover the four key issues presented by stocking epinephrine in schools and the major challenges in current state laws.

WHAT: Free Webinar: Epinephrine in Schools: What You Need to Know
WHO: Guest speakers are Charlotte Collins, JD, AAFA's VP of Public Policy and Michael Pistiner, MD, KFA's Medical Advisory Team Chair.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
   2:30 – 3:30 EST
REGISTER: https://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/809863847