Pubdate: Fri, 07 May 2010
Source: Kamloops Daily News (CN BC)
Copyright: 2010 Kamloops Daily News
Contact:  http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/679
Author: Michele Young

INTERIOR HEALTH, SCHOOL DISTRICT CHANGE ADDICTION PREVENTION PROGRAM

Interior Health is exchanging a substance abuse prevention worker 
position in Kamloops schools for someone who will promote healthy lifestyles.

Anne Clarotto, IHA's director of prevention services, said Thursday 
the change means the contracted position with the Phoenix Centre will 
be gone at the end of June.

Instead, the new job comes out of a partnership between Interior 
Health and Kamloops-Thompson School District.

The position was revamped after consultation with school districts, 
various ministries and health officials and a review of current 
literature, she said.

"There will be a position but it will focus on comprehensive school 
health," she said.

So instead of the prevention worker who deals with kids with 
substance abuse issues, the new healthy schools co-ordinator will try 
to get kids involved in activities and information that steers them 
away at an earlier age.

"We see this as a big gain," said Clarotto.

"We want to implement a change that is going to have a positive 
effect for a larger population."

Marilyn McLean, the district assistant superintendent of student 
support services, said IHA wanted to fund the healthy schools 
co-ordinator position last year but had no money.

The district went ahead and funded a similar position last year to 
work with high-risk children and families on low incomes to 
understand healthy eating and inexpensive activities.

Now Interior Health is joining in on the healthy schools co-ordinator position.

"Part of it will be building healthy habits, trying to get people to 
be healthier so they don't use substances. It's more of a long-range 
program," McLean said.

"It's attaching kids to healthier activities and enlarging their 
communities - getting them more engaged in school."

The new job will cover more subjects, but could reach more children 
through that, she said.

"It's quite broad in terms of what we're looking at. But we're still 
trying to see some achievable outcomes in that."
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart