Programs

Children's Health Program: Bienestar/NEEMA

Coordinated School Health Program (Pre-K through 8th grade)

Program Overview

SAHRC operates the Bienestar/NEEMA Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) for Pre-K through 8th grade.

The program targets the four environments influencing children's health behaviors: classroom, gym, school cafeteria, and home.

Now Available as a Digital Interactive Platform

The Bienestar/NEEMA curriculum has been adapted to a fully digital, interactive online platform that works synchronously with the traditional PDF format — giving students and teachers an engaging, modern learning experience.

Healthy Lifestyles Healthy Minds

Classroom

Moving for Life

Gym

Eat to Live

School Cafeteria

MyFamily/MiFamilia

Home

Outcomes Reported in Scientific Journals

Large studies have shown that the program has decreased obesity rates, waist circumference, BMI, glucose, insulin, and dietary fat intake; and increased dietary fiber intake and fitness levels in children.

Results may vary by setting and implementation.

Program Recognition

The BN CSHP has been recognized as Evidence-Based by multiple national health authorities.

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Recognized as an Evidence-Based Cancer Control Program (EBCCP)

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Listed as an evidence-based nutrition education intervention

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

Recognized as a successful strategy

2 Star CDC-recognition for the National Diabetes Prevention Program

Texas Education Agency (TEA)

Approved as an official school health curriculum

Theoretical Foundation

The BN CSHP, based on the ecological model, consists of multilevel interventions that combine intrapersonal (the child), interpersonal (parents and teachers), institutional (the schools), and public policy (Texas Education Agency's Senate Bill 19). Specifically, the BN CSHP targets four environments: classroom (Healthy Minds Healthy Lifestyles), gym (Moving for Life), school food service (Eat to Live), and home (MyFamily/Mi Familia).

Theory at a Glance — NCI Guide for Health Promotion Practice

Program Components

Comprehensive health education across all school environments

Healthy Lifestyles Healthy Minds

Health Class (Pre-K–8th Grade)

Goal: increase health knowledge and encourage healthier lifestyles.

Topics: nutrition, physical activity, mental health, oral health, prevention of obesity and associated chronic conditions (diabetes and cardiovascular disease).

Includes instructor's book and student workbook; 10 to 20 lesson plans depending on grade; pre/post health knowledge exam. Available for both Elementary School (Pre-K through 5th) and Middle School (6th through 8th).

Moving for Life

P.E. Class

Goal: maximize fitness.

Teacher's book with over 100 moderate-to-vigorous physical activities. The program targets a heart rate of 140 bpm or higher for at least half of the P.E. period and includes structured activities and classroom management skills.

The instructor's book is available for Pre-K, K through 2nd, 3rd through 5th, and 6th through 8th.

Eat to Live

Food Service / School Cafeteria

Goal: use the school cafeteria as a learning environment to encourage healthier dietary practices.

Collaborates with food service staff to improve their nutrition knowledge and enhance their ability to promote healthy food choices and encourage students to make healthier dietary decisions.

Instructor's book for food service managers and workbooks for staff; 10 lesson plans covering nutrition, general health, and the role of nutrition in preventing obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease; includes pre/post health knowledge test.

MyFamily/MiFamilia

Parent Component

Goal: encourage parents to adopt healthier household lifestyles.

Newsletter take-home activity; 10 issues; healthy eating and exercise; recipes, cooking tips, exercise challenges, and knowledge about obesity, oral health, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease prevention.

Each newsletter is available for teachers to print and send home with the children.