Adolescent Risk Behaviors-behaviors identified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as being the most influential in the health of our nation's youth. These behaviors include avoidance of:
1. tobacco use;
2. dietary patterns that contribute to disease, sedentary lifestyle, sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection/other STDs and unintended pregnancy, alcohol and other drug use; and
3. behaviors that result in unintentional and intentional injuries.
Critical Thinker and Problem Solver-health-literate individuals are critical thinkers and problem solvers who identify and creatively address health problems and issues at multiple levels, ranging from personal to international. They use a variety of sources to access the current, credible, and applicable information required to make sound health-related decisions. Furthermore, they understand and apply principles of creative thinking along with models of decision-making goal setting in a health-promotion context.
Effective Communicators-health-literate individuals who organize and convey beliefs, ideas and information about health through oral, written, artistic, graphic, and technologic mediums are effective communicators. They create a climate of understanding and concern for others by listening carefully and responding thoughtfully and presenting a supportive demeanor which encourages others to express themselves. They conscientiously advocate for positions, policies, and programs that are in the best interest of society and intended to enhance personal, family, and community health.
Health Education Standards-standards specify what students should know and be able to do. They involve the knowledge and skills essential to the development of health literacy. That "knowledge" includes the most important and enduring ideas, issues and concepts in health education. Those "skills" include the ways of communicating, reasoning, and investigating which characterize health education. Health Education standards are not merely facts, rather, they identify the knowledge and skills students should master to attain a high level of competency in health education.
Health Literacy-the capacity of an individual to obtain, interpret, and understand basic health information and services and the competence to use such information and services in ways which are health enhancing.
Institution for Higher Education-a college or university that awards undergraduate degrees and that may include programs of professional preparation for teachers.
Local Education Agency-the organization that has the responsibility for overseeing the public education of students within a community.
Performance Indicator-specific concepts and skills which fourth-, eighth-, and eleventh-grade students should know and be able to do to achieve the National Health Education Standards. They are intended to help educators focus on the essential knowledge and skills basic to the development of health-literate students. They serve the same purpose as the benchmarks in other standards documents. The performance indicators form a blueprint for organizing student assessment.
Responsible, Productive Citizens-individuals who realize their obligation to ensure that their community is kept healthy, safe, and secure so that all citizens can experience a high quality of life. They also realize that this obligation begins with oneself. That is, they are responsible individuals who avoid behaviors which pose a health or safety threat to themselves and/or others, or an undue burden on society. Finally, they apply democratic and organizational principles in working collaboratively with others to maintain and improve individual, family, and community health.
School Health Education-one component of the comprehensive school health program. This component includes the development, delivery, and evaluation of a planned instructional program and other activities for students pre-school through grade 12, for parents, and for school staff. It is designed to positively influence the health knowledge, attitudes, and skills of individuals.
School Health Educator-a practitioner who is professionally prepared in the field of school health education, meets state teaching requirements, and demonstrates competence in the development, delivery, and evaluation of curricula for students and adults in the school setting that enhance health knowledge, attitudes, and problem-solving skills.
Self-Directed Learner-health-literate individuals are self-directed learners who have a command of the dynamic, changing health promotion and disease prevention knowledge base. They use literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking skills to gather, analyze, and apply health information as their needs and priorities change throughout life. They also apply interpersonal and social skills in relationships to learn from and about others and, as a consequence, grow and mature toward high-level wellness.
State Education Agency-the department of state government that has the responsibility for overseeing the public education of students within the state.
State Health Agency-the department of state government that has the responsibility for recording and overseeing the health of citizens within the state.
La. Admin. Code tit. 28, § LIX-523