November Meeting Minutes

Health Solutions Team (HST) Meeting

Thursday, November 17, 2011

11:30 AM CT

Conference Room 130, Hall Center, Pensacola, FL

Present:

Sue Kennedy	Jamie White	Jessica Clark
Laura Graham	Amy Kuhn	Manny Harageones
Robin Herr	Dr. Debra Vinci	Tiffani McDaniel
Karen Johannes	Dr. Susan Turner

Welcome/Introduction - Dr. Vinci

· Today’s meeting began at 11:30 AM CT. Everyone in attendance gave an introduction and stated his or her affiliation.

· Due to the December holidays, HST will resume meeting on Thursday, January 19, 2012. New members will receive name badges during January’s meeting.

Safe Pathways to School - Dr. Vinci

Safe Pathways received funding through June 2012 for pedestrian/bike safety projects.
On Saturday, November 12, the Pensacola News Journal published an editorial written by Escambia County School District’s director of transportation Rob Doss regarding walking and biking infrastructures in Escambia County. The city’s poor infrastructures create substantial public costs; however, members of the Pensacola City Council plan to improve the infrastructures. Better infrastructures throughout Escambia County would save the state $4 million. Currently, the Escambia County School District transports 7,000 students who live within two miles of school due to unsafe walking conditions between students’ homes and school. It costs approximately $51,000 to put a school bus on the road.
Manny Harageones said students should refrain from walking to school until conditions are improved.

Escambia County Health Department Update - Dr. Turner

School Health has a shortage of school nurses and health support technicians due to their ability to find employment elsewhere with higher wages.
Escambia County Health Department’s Healthy Communities, Healthy People coordinator, Jessica Clark, will implement the Healthy Choices Restaurants Program to encourage restaurants to offer healthier menu items. To become a Healthy Choices Restaurant, establishments must implement at least three healthy choices. These choices are Take Half Home (automatically boxing up half a meal); Offer Healthy Substitutions (offering the substitution of vegetables, fruit, salad or rice for French fries); Cook to Order (offering grilled instead of fried or no butter added); Ask Before Bringing Complimentary Items (bread, chips or other items); or Post nutritional information. Portabella Market (400 Jefferson), Native Café (45A Via De Luna), and Wildman’s (710 North Palafox) have already returned their applications to be considered participants in the Healthy Choices Restaurant Program.
Local hospitals are interested in formulating a team to assess and address community health needs in Escambia County. Assessments are a catalyst for change within the community. Sacred Heart Hospital plans to hire a community coordinator to assist with the assessment. The timeline for the assessment has not been determined.

Escambia County Health Department Update - Dr. Turner

The National Association for School Nurses awarded three Escambia County schools with grant funds. Bellview Middle School received funds for pedometers, Cordova Park Elementary School received funds for lanyards and a portable water fountain, and N.B. Cook Elementary School received funds for four raised garden beds and fruit trees.
Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, developed a 14-week program addressing proper eating habits and weight loss for 10 children. The program encourages children and their parents to refrain from drinking sugary beverages and other poor eating habits. Families were assigned homework to increase knowledge and improve nutritional and physical activity habits.
Sue Kennedy wants to implement Temple’s program within Escambia County Schools. Ideally, each school would have from 10 to 20 participants. Students and parents would attend a nutrition and physical activity class once a week. Many school nurses and principals have expressed interest. Blue Angel Elementary School’s gym teacher will assist with the program.
Oakcrest Elementary School hosted Family Night Tuesday, November 15 at 6 PM CT. The Culinary Club prepared homemade vegetable soup and whole-wheat pizza. Some students performed skits about different fruits and vegetables while providing nutritional information. Oakcrest’s Culinary Club is a behavioral based club that teaches students proper cooking techniques.
Food service inventories for the school district are due Wednesday, November 30. The inventories address areas needing improvements and areas that are doing well. Oakcrest Elementary School completed their food service inventory during Family Night.

School Garden Action Team Update – Dr. Vinci

McArthur Elementary has installed four 4x8 garden beds with the help of master gardeners.
SGAT will meet on Wednesday, December 14 from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM CT at Manna Food Pantries (116 East Gonzalez Street). Anna Houghton will present information about recycling and saving money for gardens.
On Wednesday, January 11, SGAT will meet to discuss fundraising ideas for gardens at Gulf Breeze Elementary (549 Gulf Breeze Parkway) from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM CT.

General Announcements – Dr. Vinci

On Friday, March 2, McArthur Elementary will host a Culture Safety Wellness Carnival, which will provide information about bike safety. Dr. DiNatale would like to borrow the mobile kitchen from Oakcrest Elementary for a cooking demonstration. The time for the event has yet to be determined.