Springfield Collaborative for Active Child Health(Generously funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois)

Our Team

• Springfield Public Schools

• Springfield Urban League Head Start

• SIU School of Medicine

• Illinois Department of Public Health

With informal support from:The YMCA of the USA (Jeff Sunderlin)

The U of I Extension Service

Springfield Urban

League

Primary Care Providers

Head Start Schools

SIU School of Medicine

Springfield Public

Schools

IL Dept of Public Health

Parents

Elementary Schools

Our Goal

To prevent and control

the child obesity epidemic

through a multi-disciplinary

community partnership.

Mc Clernand

Iles

FairviewRidgely

Enos

Dubois

Butler

Lindsay

Springfield Collaborative District 186 Grade Schools

What We Offer

• Resources and engagement• Measurement tools, expertise, and results

• And….• Link to health care providers• Link to local Head Start programs• Link to IDPH and other school health experts• Consistent health messaging

Resources We Provide

• Support for the District’s Wellness Policy

• Health fairs • Classroom sessions with

med students• Results of measures• Sustained partnership

What We Measure(Fall and Spring – 1st and 4th grades)

Eight Schools

1. BMIs (Body Mass Index: Wt(kg)/Ht²(m))

2. SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time)− Measures levels of Moderate to Vigorous Physical

Activity (MVPA) (examples: walking, running, jumping rope)

3. SPAN Questionnaire (4th grade only)− Forty nine multiple choice questions about activity,

nutrition, and health knowledge

Overweight and Obesity in 1st and 4th Gradersin District Schools, Spring 2014

*Source: 2011-2012 Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health

Overweight and Obese 1st and 4th Graders - Spring 2014

• 33.0% of 1st and 4th grade students were overweight (14.2 %) or obese (18.8 %)

• In a classroom of 30 students:

4 are overweight and

6 are obese

Physical Education in 1st and 4th Grades District Schools

MVPA=Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity

4th Grade SPAN Questionnaire2013-14 Results

4th Grade SPAN Questionnaire2013-14 Results

*Fall-to-Spring change not statistically significant

4th Grade 2013-2014 Fitnessgram Results

• Compares a student’s ability to perform fitness maneuvers to four standards measuring: • Abdominal strength -- Body composition• Aerobic capacity -- Upper body strength

FitnessGram (cont.)

• For our 8 schools, from Fall 2013 to Spring 2014:

– 7 schools saw gains in “healthy fitness zone” students in 2+ standards

– In the 8th, > 70 percent of students stayed in the healthy fitness zone for 3 standards.

The Benefits for Active, Healthy and Fit Students

• Improved test scores and grades

• Improved behavior and fewer disciplinary referrals

• Improved attendance

• More likely to become healthy, fit adults

• May influence the health of other family members

Other EffortsKeep Kids in School Coalition (formed Fall 2013)•SIU SOM doctors, residents and nurses provided exams•SCDPH provided on-site immunizations•283 students excluded this fall vs. over 700 in 2013

(fewer than 100 students excluded as of Sept. 5)

Enos School Partnership (1984-present)

Pending: Develop a model for targeting interventions; grant application submitted

ConclusionThe Springfield Collaborative:

• Supports 186’s efforts to improve health via wellness policies, classroom events, health fairs

• Measures student BMIs, PE quality, student knowledge and attitudes about healthy habits

• Involves students, parents, health care providers, teachers and school staff

• Supports strong, continued commitment among SIU SOM, District 186, and other partners

Generously funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Thank You. Questions/Comments?