Doing 'Whatever It Takes' To Address School Health
The Del Valle School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), which held its first meeting in October 2003, was created to address health-related issues within the Del Valle educational system and the surrounding community. In 2001, the people of Texas spent 10.5 billion dollars to treat obesity-related illnesses. If the trend of obesity in the youth of Texas continues we will be the first generation of parents in 100 years that will have a longer life expectancy than our children. The latest data show that the amount spent nationwide on diabetes alone has increased by 32% since the year 2002, to $174 billion.
The formation of a school health advisory council has been mandated for every public school district in Texas. The uniting of the knowledge and experience of parents, community members and educators seemed the ideal solution to address this and other issues threatening the health of Texas' youth.
The formation of this council was mandated by Texas legislation, however, the vision and motivation that has characterized Del Valle's SHAC originated from its membership. The Del Valle SHAC has members representing non-profit organizations; educators and administrators in facility safety, physical education, nutrition, elementary education and health care. But the most important members that are committed to the council are its parents. Parents will ultimately be affected by the consequences of their children's present choices, and therefore have a legacy to protect involving their child's health. Parents can express, from an impartial standpoint, recommendations to the board of trustees that could tremendously influence the lives of their own families for years to come. What a tremendous responsibility this produces!!
Health and education are commodities that are very difficult to live without. No one can effectively be educated without first being healthy. If you are a parent and you have read or seen anything here that motivates you to want to take action about this and other health problems our children are facing in this community, please contact the office of the
District Nurse, Del Valle ISD, at 386-3073.
Together we can make a difference!!
