Extension Report

Baldwin County Extension Office

302A Byrne Street

Bay Minette, AL  36507

Telephone (251) 937-7176 or

928-0860/943-5061 ext. 2222

FAX (251) 937-7285

Amanda Outlaw

Regional Extension Agent, Urban

November 9, 2010

Baldwin County Students Rock with Health Rocks

Health Rocks New Team Leaders from Bay Minette Intermediate School:
Left to Right: Jake McGowin, Maggie Diehl, Cameron Jones, Aubrianna White, Destane Broughton, Jasmine White, Sydney Swofford, Jacqueline Cox.

Students at Bay Minette Intermediate School have been rocking and learning about healthy living through the Health Rocks curriculum.  Urban Regional Extension Agent, Amanda Outlaw with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, was the facilitator for the program. The goal of the ten session program was to bring youth, families and communities together to reduce tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Health Rocks helps youth develop life skills in the area of critical thinking, decision making, communication, managing feelings, stress management and goal setting to help them resist risky behaviors.  There are two levels in the curriculum, the beginning level for ages eight to twelve years and the Intermediate level or middle school level for ages twelve to fifteen. The Health Rocks program is part of the National 4-H Curriculum and meets the National Health and Education Standards (NHES) which are the framework for health instruction in schools. The NHES were designed to support schools in meeting the essential goal of enabling students to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote personal, family and community health. The eight standard statements enable education professionals to align health education curriculum, instruction and assessment practices. The following are the eight standards: Standard 1: Students will comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention to enhance health. Standard 2: Students will analyze the influence of family, peers, culture, media, technology, and other factors on health behaviors. Standard 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to access valid information and products and services to enhance health. Standard 4: Students will demonstrate the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to enhance health and avoid or reduce health risks. Standard 5: Students will demonstrate the ability to use decision-making skills to enhance health. Standard 6: Students will demonstrate the ability to use goal-setting skills to enhance health. Standard 7: Students will demonstrate the ability to practice health-enhancing behaviors and avoid or reduce health risks. Standard 8: Students will demonstrate the ability to advocate for personal, family, and community health.

Health Rocks is designed to be facilitated by teen and adult teams. Bay Minette Intermediate School now has over one hundred and fifty students that are ready to meet the challenge and become teen leaders in their school and community. The students will complete the Health Rocks program by receiving certificates and awards. Many thanks are extended to Bay Minette Intermediate School Principal, Albertnette Hamilton, Guidance Counselor, Vickie Liles and Physical Education Instructor, Coach Jake McGowin for their assistance in welcoming the Alabama Cooperative Extension System and Health Rocks to the students in Baldwin County.

Youth are a part of a very complex social structure. They often spend a great deal of time with peers and friends than with family. Our charge as a community is to stay involved with our children. Get to know their friends and their friend’s parents. Make sure your student communicates with you about any issue they may be concerned with. Help youth avoid risky behaviors such as alcohol, tobacco and other drug use. Youth need to learn they may be influenced by others and their behavior but they have a choice and that choice is to let your head rule to make the best decision they can. The decision you make today can affect you for the rest of your life. Keep rocking Bay Minette Intermediate with Health Rocks and share what you have learned with your family and friends.

For more information on the topics included in this article visit: http://www.cancer.org/Healthy/MoreWaysACSHelpsYouStayWell/SchoolHealth/national-health-education-standards-2007 and the CDC's (Center for Disease Control) School Health Education Resources at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/sher/.

Email address: aoutlaw@aces.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5061, 928-0860, ext. 2222

The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M and Auburn Universities) in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity educator and employer.