Minnesota

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools that deliver HIV, STD, or pregnancy prevention programs (including after school or supplemental programs) that meet the needs of ethnic/racial minority youth at high risk (e.g., black, Hispanic, or American Indian youth) by doing all of the following:

• Providing curricula or supplementary materials that include pictures, information, and learning experiences that reflect the life experiences of these youth in their communities.
• Providing curricula or supplementary materials in the primary languages of the youth and families.
• Facilitating access to direct health services or arrangements with providers not on school property who have experience in serving these youth in the community.
• Facilitating access to direct social services and psychological services or arrangements with providers not on school property who have experience in serving these youth in the community.
• Requiring professional development for school staff on HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention issues and resources for these youth.

Activities

• Provide professional development and technical assistance for up to 14 selected school communities whose youth are disproportionately affected by health disparities to implement evidence-based programs and strategies.
• Engage alternative high school youth in a sexual health course and subsequent service learning experience.
• Provide technical assistance and leadership to state-level, community-based coalitions, task forces, or advisory groups to strengthen HIV programming for school-aged youth in and out of school.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools that deliver HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention programs (including after school or supplemental programs) that meet the needs of ethnic/racial minority youth at high risk Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools that provide parents and families health information to increase parent and family knowledge of HIV, STD, and teen pregnancy prevention.

Activities

• Distribute resources to parents in 14 selected school communities whose youth are disproportionately affected by health disparities.
• Work with up to 200 communities to provide health information to parents through school newsletters, parent-teacher associations, and Web sites.
• Provide professional development and technical assistance for school educators on parental awareness and engagement regarding HIV.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools that provide parents and families health information to increase parent and family knowledge of HIV, STD, or teen pregnancy prevention Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools in which the lead health education teacher received professional development during the past 2 years on all of the following:

• Describing how widespread HIV and other STD infections are and the consequences of these infections.
• Understanding the modes of transmission and effective prevention strategies for HIV and other STDs.
• Identifying populations of youth who are at high risk of being infected with HIV and other STDs.
• Implementing health education strategies using prevention messages that are likely to be effective in reaching youth.

Activities

• Train pre-service teachers at institutions of higher education in “HIV/STI Prevention through Education” workshops.
• Deliver workshops on skills-based instruction in health education.
• Deliver HIV prevention curricula trainings.
• Maintain the knowledge and skills of the training cadre members through regular professional development events.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools in which the lead health education teacher received professional development during the 2 years before the survey on four key HIV prevention topics Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Physical Activity

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools in which at least one physical education teacher or specialist received professional development on physical education during the past 2 years.

Activities

• Provide professional development and technical assistance to up to 14 selected school communities whose youth are disproportionately affected by health disparities to implement evidence-based programs and strategies.
• Conduct a Summer Institute in Adolescent Health for school and public health educators and graduate students to gain knowledge and skills for the delivery of effective programs and strategies.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools in which at least one physical education teacher or specialist received professional development on physical education during the 2 years before the survey Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Nutrition

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools that do not sell the following foods and beverages anywhere at school outside the school food service program:

• Baked goods that are not low in fat (e.g., cookies, crackers, cakes, pastries).
• Salty snacks that are not low in fat (e.g., regular potato chips).
• Candy (i.e., chocolate or non-chocolate candy).
• Soda pop or fruit drinks that are not 100% juice.

Activities

• Provide nutrition policy information at all School Health Index trainings.
• Disseminate the School Wellness Toolkit link to school and communities.
• Collaborate with professional education associations to design and deliver a statewide Healthy Schools Conference on physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco policies and practices.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools that did not sell less nutritious foods and beverages anywhere outside the school food service program Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Tobacco

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools that provide tobacco-use cessation services to faculty, staff, and students through direct service at school or arrangements with providers not on school property.

Activities

• Provide technical assistance and resources to professional education associations to promote school employee wellness programs that focus on physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco.
• Partner with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Allina Hospitals and Clinics, the American Lung Association, clinics, and other health care services to disseminate smoking cessation resources to communities.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools that provided tobacco cessation services for students, faculty, and staff at school or through arrangements with providers not on school property Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools that have ever assessed their policies, activities, and programs by using the School Health Index or a similar self-assessment tool in any of the following areas:

• Physical activity.
• Nutrition.
• Tobacco-use prevention.

Activities

• Conduct School Health Index trainings.
• Invite school staff in 14 selected communities to participate in School Health Index trainings.
• Provide technical assistance to school staff on the importance of parent recruitment/representation for a school health council or wellness team.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools that ever used the School Health Index or other self-assessment tool to assess their policies, activities, and programs in physical activity, nutrition, or tobacco-use prevention Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools in which students’ family or community members have helped develop, communicate information about, or implement policies and programs on any of the following health issues:

• Tobacco-use prevention.
• Physical activity.
• Nutrition and healthy eating.

Activities

• Provide technical assistance on the importance of parent recruitment and representation for a school health council or wellness Team.
• Assist schools with educating parents on involving home-based learning activities that support classroom instruction.
• Provide technical assistance to school parent-teacher associations/organizations on building strong partnerships between schools and families to improve school wellness policies.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools in which students’ family or community members helped develop or implement policies and programs on tobacco-use prevention, physical activity, or nutrition and healthy eating Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]

Minnesota is seeking to increase the percentage of schools that provide parents and families health information to increase parent and family knowledge of any of the following health issues:

• Tobacco-use prevention.
• Physical activity.
• Nutrition and healthy eating.

Activities

• Distribute resources to parents in 14 selected school communities whose youth are disproportionately affected by health disparities.
• Work with up to 200 communities to provide health information to parents through school newsletters, parent-teacher associations/organizations, and Web sites.
• Provide professional development and technical assistance for school educators on parental awareness and engagement regarding coordinated school health, and physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco.

Status

Percentage of secondary schools that provided parents and families health information to increase parent and family knowledge of tobacco-use prevention, physical activity, or nutrition and healthy eating Table [pdf 4.2M] | Map† [ppt]