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Pandemic Flu - Care at Home

WHAT IS A PANDEMIC? A pandemic is an illness that can spread to the whole world. Click here to download a brochure made by the NM Department of Health and partnering agencies; and visit the site www.pandemicflu.gov for additional information. 

Wellness Policy - Moving from Policy into Action

By Julie Garcia, MA, Health Services Consultant, School and Family Support Bureau, NM Public Education Department

In the spring of 2006, the Public Education Department (PED) signed the Wellness Policy Rule. The Wellness Policy Rule requires local school districts to develop, adopt, implement, monitor, and evaluate local wellness policies. This rule requires school districts to have policies around the coordinated school health framework including areas related to nutrition and physical activity. In addition, the rule requires local boards of education to establish a district School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) that consists of a parent, school food authority personnel, school board member, school administrator, school staff, student, and community member. Since the signing of the Wellness Policy Rule, trainings and resources have been offered to school districts to fully comprehend and comply with the rule.

To assist school districts with compliance of the Wellness Policy Rule, two trainings were conducted. School districts sent up to two representatives from their school district to trainings held in Las Cruces and Albuquerque. The training walked participants through the requirements of the local Wellness Policy including a timeline for compliance. Along with the compliance trainings, a post-conference workshop was offered at the annual Head-to-Toe conference. The goal of the workshop was to provide participants with the tools to support school districts in the implementation of the local Wellness Policy.

To further support school districts in developing and/or implementing local Wellness Policies, funding was allocated from the 2006 New Mexico State Legislature. PED is providing mini-grants to local school districts in the development, implementing, and/or monitoring of local policies through a request for information (RFI). Other funding will be available through a competitive request for application (RFA).

 Guidance and technical assistance documents can be found at http://www.ped.state.nm.us/div/sipds/health/wellness_TA.html

For additional information on the Wellness Policy, contact Julie Garcia at 505-827-1851 or Julie.garcia@state.nm.us

Used with permission from the School Health News, Volume 5, Issue #3 – Spring 2006