Programs
The Jefferson County Health Department’s Health Education Unit is proud to offer a variety of educational programs.
These age-appropriate presentations focus on: physical activity, nutrition, tobacco use and control, consequences of methamphetamine use, life skills, and many others.
Programs for grades K-2nd
Spikes Poison Prevention: The goal of this course is to teach young children to always ask an adult before touching, tasting, or smelling a potentially poisonous substance. Participants will learn to identify at least 2 places in teh home where dangerous substances may be located.
Healthy Teeth/Healthy Me: The goal of this course is to teach children how to keep teeth healthy. Germs and the need to wash hands and brush teeth to remove germs will be discussed as well as healthy snacks and going to the dentist.
Sun Safety: In this class, children will be introduced to the five ways to protect their skin from the sun. Positive and negative affects of the sun will also be discussed.
Germs are not for Sharing: The goal of this course is to teach children how to reduce the spread of germs through proper hand washing, proper coughing technique, and how to keep their properly washed hands clean.
Traffic Safety: In this course, children will learn safety rules to protect themselves and their families when in cars, on bikes, and walking. Traffic rules and bike helmet use will also be discussed.
I try New Foods: In this course, children will learn to identify familiar foods by shape, color, and texture. The taste buds and different areas of the tongue will also be discussed.
Fruits and Vegetables-How They Grow: In this course, children will learn about and how to identify fruits and vegetables. They will also learn the need to eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables everyday for good health. Where fruits and vegetables grow will also be discussed.
OrganWise Guys: The goal of this course is to teach children about healthy nutrition and physical activity and how it affects the body. In this course, children will learn to make healthy food choices that includes fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, the importance of water in the diet, and the importance of physical activity to have a healthy body.
MyPlate: This course is an exploration of the different food groups and how each group contributes to creating a healthy body.
Programs for grades 3rd-5th
MyPlate: This course is an exploration of the different food groups and how each group contributes to creating a healthy body.
“Fun” tastic Nutrition is a 6-week nutrition program for 3rd grade students. Each session lasts for one hour and includes topics such as learning the parts of the digestive system and their functions, how nutrition and health are interrelated and understanding that food provides energy to work, grow and play! Results will be measured by pre- and post- testing. Teachers also will receive student feedback and evaluations. Show-Me Standards and MAP skills are emphasized in all lessons.
Sneakers: Nutritionally sound eating practices, cardiovascular health, and fitness principles are the focus of this 4-week class designed specifically for 3rd grade students. This course includes 4, one-hour interactive sessions. Kids will learn the importance of healthy habits and exercise from the course instructor. Exercise logs and individual goals, visual demonstrations, and 15 minutes of exercise that target the body system studied that day will be part of each class. Results will be measured by pre- and post- testing. Teachers also will receive student feedback and evaluations. Show-Me Standards and MAP skills are emphasized in all lessons. Sneakers can be adapted to fit the individual needs of your school.
Girls on the Run: Girls on the Run of St. Louis is a non-profit program for girls in grades 3 through 8. The program encourages pre-teen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. It combines training for a 5K (3.1 miles) race with self-esteem building and life-skills exercises to enhance not only physical health, but also social, mental, and emotional well-being. Social responsibility is also addressed through community service. The St. Louis chapter of Girls on the Run is one of over 140 chapters nationwide and internationally. In the spring of 2009 the Jefferson County Health Department helped facilitate the 10-week Girls on the Run program for 22 girls at St. Joseph Catholic School in Imperial, MO. All 22 girls accomplished much during the season, including a community service project and (along with many of their family members) finishing the 5k on May 17!
Tar Wars: Tobacco Use, No Thanks!: This one hour tobacco prevention program created by the American Academy of Family Physicians focuses on peer pressure and refusal skills as well as how tobacco advertising tries to manipulate youth.
Nurture Your Noggin: This prevention program, approximately one hour in length, incorporates factual information about the brain into age appropriate lessons and activities designed to teach that the brain is the boss of our body, an important resource to protect. Nurture Your Noggin teaches students how methamphetamine greatly affects the human brain and entire body. Students will learn that there are multiple ways to protect and nurture the brain- none of which involve drug use.
Programs for grades 6th-12th
Fast Food, Fat Food: This is a 30-60 minute program that educates participants about the amount of sugar in different size regular sodas and the amount of fat in different meals from local fast food restaurants.
Nurture Your Noggin: This prevention program, approximately one hour in length, incorporates factual information about the brain into age appropriate lessons and activities designed to teach that the brain is the boss of our body, an important resource to protect. Nurture Your Noggin teaches students how methamphetamine greatly affects the human brain and entire body. Students will learn that there are multiple ways to protect and nurture the brain- none of which involve drug use.
Heroin: This presentation, approximately 30-45 minutes in duration, discusses the harmful physical effects of this drug as well as the extremely addictive nature of heroin. Students will also learn of signs or symptoms that may indicate a friend could need help as well as resources they may refer friends to or can seek for themselves if necessary. Additionally, this presentation addresses the significant connection between prescription drug abuse and heroin use
Alcohol 101: This educational presentation addresses what alcohol is and how it affects the body, specifically the central nervous system. Alcohol's temporary and potentially permanent negative effects are discussed, including the risks of youth drinking under the age of 21. Students will also learn of the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol. This presentation lasts approximately 30-45 minutes.
Marijuana: Students will learn in this presentation what marijuana is and how it affects the human body. The health risks associated with marijuana will be addressed in addition to combatting common myths about this drug. While this drug is highly integrated into society and media messages, students will gain a better understanding of how to resist the misconception that marijuana is acceptable to use because "it's just pot". This presentation lasts approximately 45 minutes.
Methamphetamine: This 30 minute presentation focuses strongly on how methamphetamine affects the human brain as well as the other parts of the human body. The long term, potentially irreversible, effects are emphasized as well. Additionally, students will learn of signs that may indicate a friend may need help, resources to which individuals can be referred, and also how to confidentially report suspicious drug activity.
ABC's of Tobacco: This one hour tobacco prevention program discusses how tobacco affects the Air and Body, as well as discusses the Costs associated with tobacco use.
Tobacco Use and Influence: This one hour tobacco prevention program addresses refusal skills and the marketing of tobacco, as well as the dangerous effects to your health.
STOP: This is a BJC Healthcare program designed to help high school age students quit smoking. This program takes place during schools hours and lasts for eight weeks. There is a small fee for this program.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: This course gives some history and statistics of STD’s. Participants will learn the names of the most common STD’s, symptoms for males and females, view visual aids of actual cases, and learn who is at high risk for which disease. Participants will also learn how STD’s are spread and treated, prevention techniques, and what tests and clinics are available to help.
Bike Pro: This is an 8-hour course for 6-8th graders. The course teaches bicycle safety and skills. Most of the course is conducted on the bicycle, including parking lot drills and a road-ride the final day.
Adults
Sexually Transmitted Diseases: This course gives some history and statistics of STD’s. Participants will learn the names of the most common STD’s, symptoms for males and females, view visual aids of actual cases, and learn who is at high risk for which disease. Participants will also learn how STD’s are spread and treated, prevention techniques, and what tests and clinics are available to help.
Diet & Diabetes: This is a 60 minute program that educates the public about diabetes and a carbohydrate controlled diet plan.
Nutrition 101: This course will teach participants how to read food labels and how to make smart food choices when dining out. Participants will also learn the food groups from the food pyramid and will learn the importance of portion size. More focus can be placed on any of these 4 topics.
Eating Healthy on a Budget: This course addresses the common myth that it is too expensive to eat healthy. In one hour, the new food recommendations shown on MyPlate are discussed as well as ways to follow these recommendations using a limited income.
Nutrition for Your Toddler: This course discusses how to appropriately feed your child from infancy through the toddler years. Teaching your children how to develop a healthy relationship with food and how to avoid mealtime battles are also addressed.
Fast Food, Fat Food: This is a 30-60 minute program that educates participants about the amount of sugar in different size regular sodas and the amount of fat in different meals from local fast food restaurants.
Act in Time: Heart Attack Signs: In this course, participants should be able to: explain the extent of the heart attack problem in the United States, know how the heart functions, describe how a heart attack occurs, cite the importance of rapid treatment for a heart attack, identify the common heart attack warning signs, and learn the factors that increase a person’s risk of heart disease and steps that will help reduce the risk.
Communication: This course focuses on understanding the importance of communication in strengthening relationships. Through various hands-on activities, participants will be introduced to different communication models and learn to communicate with one another more effectively. Participants will learn communication techniques by watching a video. They will have an opportunity to reinforce verbal, nonverbal and reflective listening skills through group role play situations. This course can be adapted for workplace or family settings.
Stress Management: This course provides participants the opportunity to recognize some indicators of stress and stressors in their lives, information to identify the signs and symptoms of stress, and ideas for positive ways to eliminate or reduce stress. Participants will spend time during the session practicing stress reduction techniques. They will write a goal to address how to reduce stress in their life. This course can be adapted for workplace or family settings.
Cancer Prevention: This course provides cancer information & ranks them as to the most common. This course also provides information on lifestyle changes to prevent cancer and the current knowledge of cancer.
Universal Precautions: This course teaches infection control & spread. It uses the approach that all human blood & body fluids are potentially infectious. Participants will learn names and descriptions of infectious agents. Personal protective equipment, hand washing, injury prevention, & proper clean up and disinfection of surfaces will be discussed.
Stress management: This course describes stress and it’s effects on the body.Participants will learn phases of stress arousal, common symptoms of stress (physical, mental, behavioral, & emotional), ways to reduce & manage/control stress. Self awareness of what causes an individual’s stress will also be discussed.
Food Allergy: This course discusses the difference between an allergy and food intolerance, risk factors, signs and symptoms, as well as treatment options for those with food allergies. Participants will learn how to prepare food and sanitation techniques to prevent cross contamination. Label reading will also be discussed to teach participants how allergens can be masked in different foods or unexpected places.
Positive Discipline: This course presents a perspective toward child discipline and guidance that considers the unique needs of different situations and different ages. It will provide participants with ideas on how to discipline and guide children in a positive and healthy way for child development.
Cycling Savvy: This is a 3 part course.
- Part 1, Train Your Bike: This session is conducted in a parking lot. It consists of a set of progressive drills designed to increase students' control and comfort handling their bikes in various situations.
- Part 2, Truth and Techniques of Traffic Cycling: Through guided discussion with video and animation, this session familiarizes students with bicycle-specific laws, traffic dynamics and problem-solving strategies. Students discover that bicycle drivers are equal road users, with the right and ability to control their space.
- Part 3, Tour of the City: This session is an experiential tour of your city's roads. The course includes some of the most intimidating road features (intersections, interchanges, merges, etc.) a cyclist might find in his/her travels
More information on Cycling Savvy can be found here.
For more information about Health Education topics and trainings, or to schedule a class, call (636)797-3737 x 112.
