ICMSA

 

Health Promotion

 

The Michigan Bullying Prevention Summit

By Lisa Hildorf

September 30, 2011 @ Kellogg Center/ East Lansing

"Wonderful!" "Long overdue." "Excellent!" These were the words overheard in the corridor outside the first ever "Michigan Bullying Prevention Summit". This event brought together all the diverse organizations and associations that focus on the need to prevent bullying in the state of Michigan. It was well organized, and succeeded in bringing attention to the issue of bullying through local television news coverage and media attention. There were over 400 people in attendance and the Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association (MEMSPA) deserves a loud round of applause for launching this first ever event!

It was my honor to attend the morning sessions and introduce the speakers for the afternoon breakout sessions. When I introduced the speakers for the session "Not In My School: Promoting a Safe School Climate" I asked for a show of hands from those teachers who have used our AMA/ MSMSA publications of "Hands Are Not for Hitting" and "I Don't Have To Be Bullied"...over one third of the audience of 300 people raised their hand! How about that? This audience of teachers attended from throughout the state...so our MSMSA distribution system is working well and touching all the far corners of our state.

Our efforts to stop bullying in our state will continue, and we must thank PHP of Michigan for their generous funding in 2011 and 2012 for the purchase of the AMA books that we distribute throughout our state that help elementary teachers provide a curriculum that explains and prevents bullying.

Highlights of the summit follow:

. Cyber bullying can begin as early as first and second grade
. Michigan laws are evolving to address cyber bullying and sexting
. Defining teen dating violence verses bullying
. Suicide prevention steps and establishing best practices
. Establishing a safe school environment

It was a pleasure to join in the conversations and engage with the experts at this event. I know there will be a second session in the fall of 2012. Since we were an organization that endorsed and supported the first one, we will be advised of next year's date with ample time to organize a large group of our health promotions chairs. For more information contact: Michigan Elementary & Middle School Principals Association@ 517-694-8955/www.memspa.org

 

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Aim For A Healthy 2009

Alison Kochan, Health Promotions Chair

We all have good intentions to stick with a diet and exercise plan but it's hard to stay motivated especially when the weather makes it difficult to get to the gym or outside for a walk. Don't despair; with a just a little effort you can achieve your goals. Make it a daily priority to eat smaller portions, limit your intake of fats and sweets, and exercise at least twenty minutes. A brisk walk around the mall before you shop, a twenty minute period on the treadmill, or a session with a good exercise DVD will get you moving and feeling better. Challenge a friend to start a healthy eating and exercise plan with you. It's much easier to stick to your plan when you have the support of a friend. Make realistic goals and don't give up even if you've had a few setbacks. Let's face it, you don't need to look like the model images on magazines and you aren't going to be the same size that you were during your college days, but you do need to be healthy. Check with your doctor before making any radical changes to your diet or before starting any strenuous exercise program. Aim for a healthy 2009 and measure your success by how great you feel when you've accomplished your daily goals.

The National Institutes of Health website is a great resource for health related information. Go to health.nih.gov for more healthy living tips.

 

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SAVE Lansing's Children

Alison Kochan, ICMSA Health Promotions Chair

On Wednesday, October 8, 2008 Alliances across the country celebrated SAVE Today. SAVE, which stands for Stop America's Violence Everywhere, is designed to bring local and national awareness to the need for reducing violence in streets, school and homes. Within our local area, the Ingham County Medical Society Alliance supports the Lansing School District in appropriate violence prevention education through the distribution of the AMA anti-violence and anti-bully booklets, "Hands are NOT for Hitting" and "You Don't Have To Be Bullied". These booklets have been provided free to the Lansing Elementary Schools for the past several years by the ICMS Alliance. Funds raised by the Alliance, through events such as the Holiday Boutique, ensure that every school year over 3200 books can be purchased and distributed to every first and third grade Lansing student. The feedback from the schools that receive the materials is overwhelmingly positive.

Look for billboards, sponsored by Sparrow Hospital, around the Lansing area promoting the "Hands are NOT for Hitting" anti-violence theme. Use these visual reminders to start meaningful conversations with your children and grandchildren. Listed below are online resources for more information on bullying.

The "Hands are NOT for Hitting" and "You Don't Have To Be Bullied" books are available to all schools through the American Medical Association. To inquire about quantity pricing, call 312-464-4470 or AMAA@AMA-ASSN.ORG.

Thank you to all everyone who has supported the fundraising efforts of the Alliance and to those members who have helped with the distribution of the materials to the schools. Together we are making a difference in the health and safety of our community.

Where to Go For More Information on Bullying

1. www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov - the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sponsors this site to educate children and adults on how to identify prevent and intervene with bullying in schools.

2. www.aafp.org - the American Academy of Family Physicians is a professional medical member organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the science and art of family medicine to ensure high-quality, cost-effective health care for patients.

3. www.aap.org - the American Academy of Pediatrics is a professional organization, committed to the attainment of optimal physical, mental and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents and young adults.

4. www.csn.org - the Child Safety Network is a professional organization dedicated to making America a safer place for children to live.

5. www.netsmartz.org/news/sep03-01.htm - NetSmarts Workshop, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children - Tips to Help When Your Child is Bullied Online.

6. www.safeyouth.org/scripts/teens/bullying.asp - United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts for Teens: Bullying

 

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Billboard sponsored by Sparrow Health System & Mid-Michigan MRI

 

September 2007

A big thank you to Allison Kochan for once again being in charge of the "Hands are Not Hitting" materials. These materials are distributed to all 1st grade classroom ingham County. The program is part of the American Medical Associations' SAVE (Stop America's Violence Everywhere) program launched in 1995. Today, more than 600 communities SAVE programs are teaching children conflict resolution skills without violence.

 

February 2006

The ICMSA distributed materials to 26 schools in the Lansing School District in October/November 2005. 1920 books were delivered (approximately 5.5 boxes of books) as well as letters and evaluation forms to 92 teachers and each principal at every school. In the past, I have only received a few of the evaluation letters back from the teachers that I sent them to. To date, I have only received one back this year, however, the letters that I have received are overwhelmingly positive and the feedback indicates that the "Hands" books are well received by both the teachers and students. Every school welcomes the books and looks forward to using them each year.

Thank you for your continued support of this program. The Alliance appreciates the materials as this program is one of our major Health Promotion projects.

Alison Kochan

 

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Helping Hands by Alison Kochan

Six pairs of helping hands belonging to Drew and Faith Krogulecki, Daniel and Emily Kochan, Marilyn Dotson and Kailey Peterson assembled over 100 wooden hand magnets. The "handmade" magnets as well as over 1400 Hands Are NOT for Hitting activity books and I Can Handle Bullies books are being distributed to Lansing School District first & third grade classrooms by the ICMSA. The books reinforce non-violent behaviors through a variety of activities and encourage children to talk about what they are doing with their hands. Here's what our ICMSA children do with their hands:

Drew, Age 11 "Hands are for playing, hugging, being good and helping".

Daniel, Age 9 "Hands are not for hitting but they are for skateboarding, soccer, BMX and computers".
Faith, Age 9 "Hands are for hugging and playing the piano".
Emily, Age 7 "Hands are for hugging and my hands do computers".
Marilyn, Age 6 "Hands are for helping others".
Kailey, Age 5 "Hands are for doing all nice things".

 

Bullying by Alison Kochan

Bullying has become and issue that everyone is concerned about today. Currently, 30 percent of children in school experience some form of bullying. On September 22, a workshop on Bullying was held by the Michigan State Medical Society to address this public health problem. State Sen. Buzz Thomas (4th District, Wayne Co.) who spoke at the conference, has introduced Senate Bill No. 92, which would enact a statewide policy for school districts to adopt prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying at school. Sen. Thomas encouraged constituents who support Senate Bill No. 92 to contact their individual State Senators at P.O. Box 30036, Lansing, MI 48090-7536. Other speakers at the conference were Mr. Jim Davis, Director of Student Services, Lansing School District, Barbara Jett, AMA Alliance field Director and Karen Baldwin, ACSW an Alliance counselor with the Port Huron School District. All of the speakers acknowledged bullying as a major problem affecting all children as victims, bullies or bystanders. It affects not only our schools, but homes and communities as well. If bullying has become an issue for someone that you know, the American Medical Association Alliance offers these tips:

When children are bullied:

Listen to them. Make it clear that it is not their fault.
Teach self-respect. Help them develop a sense of self-worth.
Do not teach them to fight back.
Help them search for answers.
Get involved at their school. See what programs are available to help prevent bullying.

When children are bullies:

Model caring and empathetic relationships at home.
Help your children to develop their skills and interests.
Establish consistent rules and limits.
Recognize and reward positive attitudes, behaviors and actions.
Avoid use of physical punishment harsh criticism, and violent emotional bursts.
Source: AMA Council on Scientific Affairs, 2002

 

 

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2003 Ingham County Medical Society Alliance

Last Updated: October 2011