California Healthy Kids Survey

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California Healthy Kids Survey

• Ventura Unified School District Results
• 2003/04, 2005/06, and 2007/08
• Focus on Anacapa Middle School
• Data Analysis by
• Heidi Christensen, PhD
• Ventura County Office of Education

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California Healthy Kids Survey Procedure

• The CHKS is administered to all 5th, 7th, 9th,
  and 11th grade students
• Ventura Unified changed to passive parental
  consent in 2005/06
• Only districts receiving Title IV or TUPE funding
  are required to participate in the CHKS

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California Healthy Kids Survey Changes in 2007/08

• Questions about prescription drug use were ADDED
  to the Core Module
• Questions about nutrition, exercise, and asthma
  were REMOVED from the Core Module
• Height and weight questions were REMOVED from the
  Core Module

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Group Data Analysis

• In your group you will have 3 minutes to
• Review the Anacapa California Healthy Kids
  data set provided
• Find something positive or that surprised or
  concerned your group
• Choose a reporter to report the most
  significant of these (10-20 seconds each group)
• Questions???

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Number of Ventura Unified Students Participating
in the CHKS
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Challenge A

• Too many of our
• children and youth are using alcohol, tobacco,
  and other drugs and engaging in
• binge drinking.

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Challenge A Why Alcohol use Matters

• Early alcohol use leads to alcoholism
• Alcohol permanently damages the developing brain
• Binge drinking is both prevalent and dangerous
• Underage drinking is a factor in nearly half of
  all teen car accidents

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In the past 30 days, have you had at least one
drink of alcohol?
Yes Answers
9
During the past 30 days, have you had 5 or more
drinks of alcohol in a row (within a couple of
hours)?
Yes Answers
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Why Alcohol Matters . . .
Current Alcohol Use Among 9th Graders, by
Academic Performance
10
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Challenge A- Why Smoking Matters

• Youth who smoke are significantly more likely
  than non-smokers to
• Engage in alcohol and other drug use
• Be involved in violence and gang membership
• Experience school-related problems and
  disengagement
• (Austin, McCarthy, Slade, Bailey, 2007)
• Half the people who smoke today will eventually
  be killed by tobacco
• (World Health Organization)

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In the past 30 days, have you smoked a cigarette?
Yes Answers
According to WHO statistics, of the 467 secondary
school smokers in Ventura Unified in 2007/08, 234
will eventually die from a tobacco-related illness
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Challenge A Marijuana

• Marijuana use among Ventura Unifieds 7th, 9th,
  and 11th graders exceeds that of students state
  and countrywide
• . . . and continues to grow

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In your lifetime, have you ever used marijuana?
Yes Answers
15
In the past 30 days, have you used marijuana?
Yes Answers
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Why Marijuana Matters . . .
Current Marijuana Use Among 9th Graders, by
Academic Performance
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17
Lifetime use of substances (2008) During your
life, have you . . .
Yes Answers
17
18
Lifetime use of substances (2008) During your
life, have you . . .
Yes Answers
18
19
Lifetime use of substances (2008) During your
life, have you . . .
Yes Answers
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Challenge B - Bullying

• Too many of our
• children and youth are bullied at
• school, in the neighborhood,
• and in cyber-space.

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Challenge B Why Bullying Matters

• Bullying harms everyone
• Victims
• Bystanders
• Bullies
• Bullying erodes students ability to learn
• Studies show a link between bullying and later
  delinquent and criminal behavior

22
In the past 12 months, have you been pushed,
shoved, slapped, hit, or kicked by someone at
school who wasnt just kidding around?
Two or More Times
23
Physical Bullying by Gender and Ethnicity
5th graders are asked Do other kids hit or push
you at school when they are not just playing
around?
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24
In the past 12 months, have you had sexual jokes,
comments, or gestures made to you at school?
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Challenge C

• Too many of our
• children and youth feel disconnected from
• school and their community.

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Youth Asset Development -How it Matters

• Children and youth with more assets are more
  likely to
• Get better grades in school
• Develop positive work behaviors
• Be responsible for self and others
• Set and achieve goals
• Believe they have a future

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Youth Asset Development -How it Matters

• Children and youth with more assets are less
  likely to
• Be involved in risk behaviors such as smoking,
  drinking, and drug use
• Contribute to violent or destructive behaviors
• Give up on themselves and drop out of life

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ResiliencySchool Connectedness
Percent of Students Reporting High Levels
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ResiliencyCaring Relationships with Adults in
School
Percent of Students Reporting High Levels
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Caring Relationships with Adults in School by
Gender and Ethnicity (2008)
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ResiliencyHigh Expectations from Adults in
School
Percent of Students Reporting High Levels
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High Expectations from Adults at School by
Gender and Ethnicity
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ResiliencyMeaningful Participation in School
Percent of Students Reporting High Levels
33
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Meaningful Participation in School by Gender and
Ethnicity (2008)
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Why Connectedness Matters During the past 12
months, did you ever feel so sad or hopeless for
2 or more weeks that you stopped doing some of
your usual activities?
36
Why Connectedness Matters Caring Relationships
at School and Binge Drinking (2008)
37
Student vs. Staff Perceptions (Anacapa)
Students Staff
37
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What We Can Do

• Form strong, positive relationships with young
  people
• Build assets in our youth through small acts of
  caring
• Foster a sense of connection to the community

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What is Happening in Ventura Unified?

• Prevention curricula has been implemented at the
  elementary and secondary levels
• Prevention Liaison secured at almost all
  secondary schools
• Parent/Community Assessment Survey (annual)
• Competitive TUPE grant secured at grades 9-12
• GRASP Grant In 2008, VUSD was awarded a 3 year
  federally funded Grant to Reduce Alcohol Abuse

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What is Happening in Ventura Unified?

• Prevention curricula has been implemented at the
  elementary and secondary levels
• Prevention Liaison secured at almost all
  secondary schools
• Parent/Community Assessment Survey (annual)
• Competitive TUPE grant secured at grades 9-12
• GRASP Grant In 2008, VUSD was awarded a 3 year
  federally funded Grant to Reduce Alcohol Abuse

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Resources

• Download document www.vcoe.org, bottom left
  corner of main page
• Join the Ventura County CAREs list serve
• Send email to join-venturacountycares_at_lists.vcoe.
  org
• School copy of the California Healthy Kids Survey
  results or go to www.wested.org
• Straight Up Ventura County www.straightupvc.org/
  
• Search Institute www.search-institute.org