A community Plan to Ensure All Griswold’s Children Are Healthy, Prepared and Successful Lifetime Learners Letter from the Superintendent

OUR INDICATORS HEALTH
HEALTHY CHILDREN
In the earliest years of our children’s lives – indeed, from conception – brain cells are multiplying and neurons being formed at an astounding rate. . . “ quote on the actual numbers” During these years, a child’s physical and mental health has a huge impact on her brain development and learning ability. . .
What We Know - Characteristics of child health in Griswold
Approximately 125 children are born to Griswold families each year.

Late or No Prenatal Care: in 2006, 7.1% of moms had late or no prenatal care; by 2008 the rate had increase slightly to 8%
Low birthweight babies: in 2006, 5.7% of Griswold’s new babies were underweight; by 2008, it had nearly doubled to 10.2 %.
Kids on HUSKY: In 2006, 783 of Griswold’s children were on HUSKY; by 2010, the number had more than doubled to 1,502. While an increased number can be a positive development as it shows that more families are accessing this as a resource, it also clearly correlates with the level of unemployment and poverty.
NEED ADDITIONAL DATA/compare all to State Average:

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  Mothers who smoke while pregnant
  
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  Non-adequate prenatal care,
  
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  Mental/behavioral health
  
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  Dental health
  
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  Lack of local pediatricians/health clinics
  

Indicator of Child Health: Body Mass Index

Rate of overweight or obese kindergarten students
Griswold has chosen Body Mass Index (BMI) as a headline indicator to track the general health of Griswold’s young children. Body Mass Index is a number calculated from a person's weight and height that is used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as “a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems.” ⁴
In Griswold, the percentage of students entering kindergarten who have a BMI that puts them in either the overweight or obese category has fluctuated over the last several years between 18 and 39 percent, hovering near the alarmingly high national average of 30 percent. During the school year 2010-2011, nearly a quarter of all children entering kindergarten were overweight or obese.

	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11
Overweight/Obese	19.8	32.7	38	26.1
Underweight	1	3.8	6	2.3

Insert numerator/denomiinator into chart. Also compare to statewide data.

Why is this important?

Why are rates of high BMI among our children such a serious concern? Public health officials agree that childhood obesity is an epidemic in our country. The CDC reports that, over the last 30 years, US rates of obesity have approximately tripled among preschoolers and adolescents, and quadrupled among children aged 6 to 11 years.⁵

The short and long-term impacts on children’s health are serious:

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  60% of overweight children already exhibit at least one risk factor for heart disease, the #1 cause of death.⁶
  
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  Type 2 diabetes—once referred to as “adult-onset” diabetes—represents up to 45% of new pediatric cases, compared with 4% a decade ago.⁷
  
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  Overweight and obese children are at risk for other physical, social and mental health problems, including asthma, sleep apnea, behavioral problems, depression and poor self-esteem.⁸
  
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  Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults: nationally, more than 50 percent of all obese 6-year-olds are projected to become obese adults. In addition, if overweight begins before age 8, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.⁹
  
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  Obesity kills more Americans each year than AIDS, cancer and injuries combined. At this rate, the current generation of children will not live as long as their parents.¹⁰
  

The economic impact of obesity cannot be ignored. In Connecticut alone,

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  An estimated $856 million of adult medical expenditures are attributable to obesity each.¹¹
  

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  More than 3,000 people die each year from obesity and its complications. In just one year, obesity-related health problems added $665 million in Medicaid and Medicare cost.¹²
  

The importance of reaching low-income families.

According to the 2009 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) data, nearly one-third of the 3.7 million low-income children ages 2-4 years were obese or overweight, and 541,000 were obese.¹³

Troubling rates of high BMI are showing up among our youngest children, especially those in low-income families. In 2006, 16% of low-income children ages 2-5 in Connecticut were obese; given the national trend, the rate is likely to be higher today.¹⁴

OUR STORY HEALTH

Why are approximately 25% of Griswold’s kindergarten children overweight or obese? What’s happening in our community to cause this alarming rate?

Perhaps the two factors contributing the most to children being overweight and obese are unhealthy food choices/eating behaviors and lack of physical activity. According to the American Obesity Association, today’s youth are considered the most inactive generation in history.¹⁵ In Connecticut, a 2007 survey¹⁶ conducted by the CT DPH revealed that

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  Most Connecticut high school students (55%) did not meet the recommended physical activity level.
  
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  One-third (33.5%) of the state’s high school students watch TV for 3 or more hours on an average school day.
  

Poverty

Families with lower incomes have less access to healthy food choices. Working multiple jobs on a tight budget often means eating low-cost food that is highly processed and high in sodium and fat. In Griswold, 2010, the unemployment rate was 8.3 percent and 32.9% of children were eligible for free and reduced lunch program; both rates had doubled over the last five years. In addition, the number of families on SNAP benefits¹⁷ more than doubled between 2007 and 2009, from 294 to 513.¹⁸

Food Desert

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  15.3% of children and 64% of residents in Griswold’s census tract have low access to a grocery store¹⁹
  
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  Families without transportation go to the corner store and pick up processed and fast foods.
  

Food Insecurity (insert more information when data collected)

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  St. Mary’s food pantry/churches only access to supplemental food/rely on donations. During the month of September 2012, the number of recipients requesting food nearly doubled, jumping from 60 at the beginning of the month to 112 in the second session.
  

Lack of Physical Activity

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  No recess in Kindergarten and the higher grades.
  
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  Too much screen time, less outside play (parents working?, fear-based?)
  
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  No playgrounds in rural areas.
  
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  Organized programs cost money.
  

Knowledge, Skills and Lifestyle Don’t Support Eating Healthy Food

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  Lack of education on healthy eating in grades K-3. No programs on healthy lifestyles or healthy cooking for families and children.
  
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  Parents have too much going on and eat on the run. Families don't eat together anymore.
  

Lack of Access to Farm/Garden Fresh Food

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  We’re a farming community, but there’s no community garden.
  
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  No farm to school connection.
  
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  The farms are seasonal and many people can't get to the local stands.
  

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  HEALTHY CHILDREN
  
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  Indicator: % of children with healthy BMI
  

Poverty

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  In Griswold, 2010, the unemployment rate was 8.3 percent and 32.9% of children were eligible for free and reduced lunch program; both rates had doubled over the last five years.
  

Lack of Knowledge, Skills, Lifestyle

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  Lack of education on healthy eating in grades K-3.
  
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  No programs on healthy lifestyles or healthy cooking for families and children.
  
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  Parents have too much going on and eat on the run. Families don't eat together anymore.
  

Food Desert

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  15.3% of children and 64% of residents in Griswold’s census tract have low access to a grocery store
  
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  Families without transportation go to the corner store and pick up processed and fast foods.
  

Lack of Access to Fresh Food

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  We’re a farming community, but there’s no community garden.
  
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  No farm to school connection.
  
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  The farms are seasonal and many people can't get to the local stands.
  

Lack of Physical Activity

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  No recess in Kindergarten and the higher grades.
  
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  Too much screen time, less outside play (fear-based?)
  
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  No playgrounds in rural areas.
  
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  Organized programs cost money.
  
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Strategies to Turn the Curve

(Revisit strategies, reexamine potential for turning the curve, add’nl research needed)

Strategy #1

Increase Community Access to Healthy Food

Run community-based programs for families around nutrition, cooking and healthy lifestyles

Farmers Market

Community Gardens

Strategy #2

Create a community environment and culture that promotes physical activity

Support, strengthen and promote current community-based fitness programs

Youthtopia: increase movement activities,

Bring 5-K walk-run to town; promote Richard Bronson walk

Do Fitness Rocks, or similar program again

Make Gym part of everyday curriculum - ABCs

Make current programs more affordable - soccer, swimming, t-ball

Run "Off The Couch" campaign and/or "Turn Off The Screens" week(s)

Strategy #3

Develop new community-based physical fitness programs

Mommy and Me: open gym, movement and music, geared toward 0-3

ABC in Classroom

Friendly Competitions

Field Days: family centered

Local Farm involvement/experiences

Golf Course: taster sessions for kids

Triathlons/ Half Marathons

Sports Program Subsidies

Biking Event

Guided Nature Walks

Strategy #4

Bring about changes in school policies/programs that promote a healthier school environment

Introduce healthier food into the breakfast and lunch programs

Increase physical activity - recess time, school-wide walk-around, etc.

Include more K-3 nutrition education in the curriculum

Re-activate the Health Advisory Council

Implement a school garden program: Form Project Team; Research best practices + possible funding sources; Review curriculum standards - tie in with garden-based learning; Develop concept paper - pitch to BOE/Superintendent

Data Development

Tracking over time – implementing an ongoing tracking system to record BMI as kids move through their grades.

Mental Health issues – still need to determine what kinds of data we need and the plan for gathering it.
OUR INDICATORS EDUCATION

You’ll note from the graphs below that Griswold has scored consistently below the State average in both math and reading, though reading scores showed a promising rise in the 2010-2011 school year. Nonetheless, fewer than half of Griswold students are performing at goal in math and only a bit more than half are performing at goal in reading.

% of children scoring at or above goal on 3^rd grade reading CMTs – MATH

	05-06	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11	11-12
State	56.3	59.4	60.2	63	62.6	63.2	66.8
Griswold	59.8	56.5	54	48.6	48.2	46.5	45.8

% of children scoring at goal on 3rd grade reading CMTs – READING

	05-06	06-07	07-08	08-09	09-10	10-11	11-12
State	54.4	52.3	52.1	54.6	57.1	58.3	59.2
Griswold	63.6	46.4	43.8	36.9	49.3	57.6	54.8

Kindergarten Letter Naming Fluency

	Fall '09	Fall-'10	Fall-'11	Fall'12
Well Above Avg. >=	12%	13%	9%	12%
Above Avg. 32-41	17%	19%	18%	16%
Avg. 18-31	48%	37%	44%	43%
Low Avg.		20%	18%	14%
Below Avg. 6-11	8%	7%	9%	14%
Well Below Avg. 0-5	15%	4%	2%	1%

OUR STORY EDUCATION

In order to make positive change on the trend lines (or baselines) we see graphed out on the previous page, we must carefully examine the conditions in our community that influence the indicators we are tracking. By looking at the things we are doing well, and identifying conditions which could be causing problems or inhibiting progress, we can begin to ‘turn the curve’ in a positive direction. To understand the story behind our baseline, we not only gathered statistical data, but solicited input from the community (review all community engagement efforts, insert total number reached) through community conversations, focus groups, surveys and interviews.

POVERTY
Research has demonstrated that living in poverty has a wide range of negative effects on the physical and mental health and well-being of our nation’s children. Poverty has a particularly adverse effect on the academic outcomes of children, especially during early childhood. Children living in poverty are also at a greater risk of behavior and emotional problems. As early as 24 months, children in low-income families have been found to show lags in cognitive and behavioral development compared to their peers in higher-income families (Young Children at Risk, Oct 2012).

They are also at an increased risk for poor nutrition which can lead to food insecurity and obesity (American Psychological Association).

The indicators of poverty in our town have drastically increased over the past six years. Since 2006, the unemployment rate in Griswold has climbed from 4.6% to 9.4% and the number of food stamp cases (per 1,000) has skyrocketed from 65 to 110.4. (ctdata.org). Griswold is home to approximately 1,500 children who are birth through age eight, 676 children under five years of age and 740 from 5 to 9 years. The percentage of our Children (age birth through 5) that are living in poverty has climbed from 7% in 2007 to 12% in 2015. 15% of families in poverty are single-moms
Educational attainment of parents is a significant indicator of healthy child developments and well-being. Low levels of parental education increase the likelihood that a child will live in a low-income or poor family. They are also less engaged with their children’s learning. 39% of Griswold children were born to mothers with a high school education or less in 2008; the State average is 25%. Griswold’s High School graduation rate in 2008 was 83%; the State average was 92%. Feedback from our community suggests that many parents, with varying levels of education, do not have a good understanding of developmental milestones or how to integrate numeracy into every day life.
Research also suggests that stable housing is important for healthy child development. However, children living in low income families are twice as likely as other children to have moved in the past year and three times as likely to live in families that rent a home. (APA) We are collecting data on our transiency rate, however we do know that our foreclosure rate has jumped from 50.27 in 2009 to 95 in 2010. (CERC profile). Preliminary data suggests we have a significant rate of transiency among our families and we are looking into this.
The declining economic conditions have a big Impact on home life—an increase in environmental, or “toxic stress” and, ultimately, more kids with higher need. (include husky, birth to three, kid’s poverty level data, insert charts to show state/peer town comparisons)
Our teachers have shared that students are experiencing increased stress due to turbulent home environment and fragmented family structures, including an increase in the numbers of children in extended living situations (Anecdotal reports from Birth to 3 reports indicate that half of their clients are in extended living situations.) They report that more kids are coming to school tired and/or hungry and there are fewer parents attending open house. There have also been cut-backs on school supports – staff and para-professionals

Family characteristics, parents working indicate a higher need for child care

68% of single moms have children age 5 and under (source
70.3% of Griswold children have both parents in the labor force (source) , which would suggest a significant need for childcare. Single parent households

K-3 students chronically absent, 4.7% in 2012 (need to get add’l data to establish trendline).

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  Access to, and knowledge of, services Lack of quality 0-3 care, 2008 preschool lost peer 3-year-olds, cut back on amount of time
  

Substance Abuse, Mental Health issues – parents, kids (data)

Transient rate is very high – data from schools

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  The percentage of ELL students, though still low, has risen significantly in the last 4 years: .6% in 2006 > 2.3% in 2009
  

The Earliest Years