Overview of the
North Dakota Coordinated School Health
Roughrider Health Promotion Conference
Sponsored by:
Roughrider Health Promotion Association
Funded in part by:
N.D. Department of Public Instruction, N.D. Department of Health and N.D. Department of Human Services
Purpose:
The North Dakota Roughrider Health Promotion Conference has a two-fold purpose that:
Facilitates collaboration and provides training to communities, schools and prevention specialists in order to accomplish community level changes regarding substance abuse prevention and;
Collaboratively provides personal and professional development for educators and community members to promote healthy school and community environments and positive student behaviors through a coordinated school health approach.
Mission:
To promote healthy lifestyle concepts to North Dakota students, school personnel and community members in order to share, learn and to develop plans of action for healthy schools and communities.
Conference Objectives, Expectations and Outcomes:
- Assess your school health environment (using CDC's School Health Index) and determine areas of need based on scoring.
- Develop a realistic and attainable healthy school and community action plan.
- Expand knowledge of research-based prevention curriculum, enhancement through after-school programming and classroom behavior management strategies.
- Expand prevention efforts specific to environmental strategies and evidence-based programs.
- Share successful teaching techniques and prevention strategies and programs.
- Expand your knowledge of North Dakota health initiatives, resources and community programs for healthy students, schools and communities.
- Write a personal health contract that will enhance and improve the lives of yourself and your family.
- Attend the entire conference/complete graduate credit requirements.
- Participate in conference activities.
- Develop an attainable action plan.
- Learn healthy skills for self, schools and community.
- Be an enthusiastic team player and network with other conference participants.
- Experience fun, excitement, and friendship!
- Provide tools and technical assistance for data driven decision making.
- Learn an understanding of the coordinated school health approach.
- Facilitate a sustained collaboration between schools and communities regarding substance abuse prevention occurring in all communities in North Dakota.
Staff:
The Conference is made possible through the cooperation, hard work and contributions of the following entities:
- The Roughrider Health Promotion Association Board is comprised of members representing:
- N.D. Department of Public Instruction (Conference Tri-Chair)
- N.D. Department of Health (Conference Tri-Chair)
- ND Department of Human Services (Conference Tri-Chair)
- ND Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinators
- ND Association of Family and Consumer Sciences
- ND Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
- ND School Nurse Organization
- School Administrator
- Classroom Teacher
- School Board Member
- Community Health Professional
- Community Member-at-Large
- Financial Manager
- The Roughrider Health Promotion Conference Planning Committee is comprised of educators, health professionals and state agency personnel who serve on the following subcommittees:
- Conference Coordinators (DPI, DoH and DHS)
- Conference Planners (JC)
- Facilitator Coordinator
- Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinators
- Equipment Technicians
- Meals and Snacks
- Social Personal Wellness
- Conference Nurse
- The Roughrider Health Promotion Conference Team Facilitators and Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinators work with school teams during and after the conference to oversee the completion of each team's action plan. Approximately 12-16 facilitators from across the state provide their expertise to ensure the mission of Roughrider is achieved.
- The Roughrider Health Promotion Conference Facilitator Coordinator has extensive knowledge of coordinated school health and provides technical assistance, training and coordination to the team facilitators. The Facilitator Coordinator assists with the evaluation report of activities, programs, polices, etc. that schools have implemented as a result of attending the Conference and the development of an action plan.
School Teams /Action Plans:
Participants attend the Roughrider Health Promotion Conference as part of a school team with the expectation of the development of action plan.
- Teams are made up of 3-6 members. Suggested team members include administrators, school board members, school nurses/public health, educators, counselors, school resource officers, school support staff, parents, community members, youth pastors, tobacco/safety coordinators, extension agents and community leaders.
- Two additional team members must be community members that are not affiliated with schools and will receive a special funding option.
- School districts with less than 1,000 students may send one team. School districts with over 1,000 students may send up to three teams.
- Teams complete the school assessment “School Health Index” prior to attending the conference (and send in with their registration). Using information gained from this assessment and from conference sessions, teams develop an action plan during the conference. The goals and activities identified in the action plan are then implemented during the upcoming school year.
Follow-up Process:
The Facilitator Coordinator, Team Facilitators and Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinators work with school teams during and after the conference to oversee the completion of each team's action plan. This follow-up process is the foundation for assuring the successful implementation of quality, coordinated school health programs at the local level with emphasis on community substance abuse prevention and a healthy lifestyle.