Among the group's responses were suggestions that we could help identify funding and train faculty to integrate health promotion into curricula. Implementation is a challenge since training takes time and money - on both the part of the Rusk faculty and the UT faculty. Dr. Risser describes the current effort where Rusk teachers are adapting commercially available curricula on health into the curriculum and adapting the new curricula to TASS essential elements in each curriculum. She worked with teachers adapting 108 lessons in areas targeted by needs assessment. Classroom management is also an issue.
Teachers have kids with different reading levels, behaviors, etc.
They experienced major difficulties with getting teachers to cooperate and create time in the curriculum for the study. Dr. Engels added that the principal limits teachers' access to clinic and the staff. Hardy Loe sees this as a failed commitment of the project. Martee Engels described the general lack of outcomes assessment measures for school-based clinics. As the participants discussed alternatives to hard data outcomes measures, there was much discussion of the efficacy of more subjective measures.