Q&A
Various aspects of health education implementation
2:00:42
·
167 sec
Council Member Rita Joseph asks a series of questions about different aspects of health education implementation, including remote learning, substance abuse education, suicide prevention, and resource availability. DOE officials provide brief responses on each topic.
- Health education was taught remotely during the pandemic, with relaxed time requirements but maintained content requirements
- SAPIS counselors are used for substance abuse education where available
- Suicide prevention is included in age-appropriate mental health units
- Students are taught how to access valid and reliable health resources
- School-based health clinics are utilized to support health education
- The Condom Availability Program (CAP) is implemented in all high schools
Rita Joseph
2:00:42
During remote learning, was any of the health education classes taught on remote learning?
Narrator in Shown Video
2:00:49
Yes.
2:00:49
We provided lots of, resources, guidance, etcetera, for remote learning because the requirement was still in place.
2:00:55
What was relaxed was the time requirement.
2:00:57
So that was that was what, you know, the 54 hours was was waived for that time period, but they were still required to teach health.
2:01:04
And so, we, you know, pivoted as fast as we could to make videos, to make, remote lesson plans, and give guidance to teachers so that they could teach, you know, even some of the more challenging topics remotely.
Rita Joseph
2:01:17
Are we using any of the SAPIS counselors for the substance abuse part?
Narrator in Shown Video
2:01:21
Yeah.
2:01:21
We we work very closely with SAPIS.
2:01:23
Not all schools have a SAPIS counselor, but in those that do, we definitely encourage them to partner with the health education teacher for the substance abuse portion.
Rita Joseph
2:01:31
And then if the school doesn't have a SAPIS counselor, it's Yeah.
2:01:34
The health education teacher that provides that?
Narrator in Shown Video
2:01:37
Yes.
Rita Joseph
2:01:37
We and we know also notice a a high rate of suicide prevention.
2:01:42
Is that part of the health education?
Narrator in Shown Video
2:01:44
Yes.
2:01:44
Absolutely.
2:01:45
Mental health is a really important unit at all grade levels, and, you know, in age appropriate ways, suicide prevention is included in them.
Rita Joseph
2:01:53
And and and the use of 988 students are aware that this is a resource that they have and
Narrator in Shown Video
2:02:00
Yeah.
2:02:00
So access I've sort of talked about some of the skills in health education, like advocacy.
2:02:05
Another key skill is called accessing valid and reliable resources.
2:02:08
So in all the different units, part of the focus is where do you go for help.
2:02:13
Right?
2:02:13
So for mental health, where do you go for help?
2:02:15
For sexual health, where do you go for help?
2:02:17
For substance abuse disorders, where do you go for help?
2:02:20
So that's a really important piece
Farah N. Louis
2:02:23
of the curriculum.
2:02:23
Do you also use some of the
Rita Joseph
2:02:23
health clinics that are already based in the schools to provide support?
Narrator in Shown Video
2:02:27
Yes.
2:02:27
Definitely.
2:02:28
We we Tell me
Rita Joseph
2:02:29
about that.
Narrator in Shown Video
2:02:29
Yeah.
2:02:29
We really try to promote school based services wherever possible.
2:02:32
So in schools that have a school based health center or a CATCH program in the high schools, to provide, health services, it's it's so important.
2:02:40
We want schools to take their students to the or teachers in the health class.
2:02:44
Part of the lesson, in the sexual health curriculum, at least in high school, is the is a clinic visit.
2:02:49
And so in a school, that's really easy for them to do.
2:02:52
Right?
2:02:52
They can just go downstairs or whatever it is and visit the clinic so that students become more familiar with it, more comfortable with it.
2:02:58
If they don't have a clinic in their school, then we provide them with, the Department of Health has a NYC health map where you can filter by teen services, as well as the city sexual health clinics, and so, teachers can do activities with their students around where how to find the clinic that's gonna work best for you.
Despina Zaharakis
2:03:16
The CAP program.
Narrator in Shown Video
2:03:17
Oh, yes.
2:03:18
So we also manage the CAP program, which is the condom availability program.
2:03:21
So all high schools, are are required to have, at least 2 staff members trained to make condoms available for their students.
