Resources and tools

Growth screening toolkit - Nurse tips

Recommendations from School Nurses:

  • Notify parents before you conduct the screenings to let them know to expect the screening results in the mail
  • Be sure to articulate to parents that BMI is a screening tool, like vision or hearing, and is meant to be helpful, not hurtful
  • Present information at parent and community meetings about the BMI screenings, what the results could mean, and the importance of good nutrition, physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight
  • Take time to look individually at students as you're conducting the screening and consider the entire child (an athlete will likely have a higher BMI, etc.) If possible, take time to personalize the letters with screening results to parents of children who have situations that don't 'match' the BMI results
  • If possible, take time to make personal phone calls about the results, in addition to sending a letter, to parents of students who may be particularly sensitive to the results
  • Communicate with your school superintendent about the additional time the screenings will require and the importance of presenting information about the screenings to the school board
  • Include information about resources to help families achieve or maintain healthy BMI including ways to work with their physician (PDF)
  • Partner, partner, partner!
    • Work in coordination with the larger school community to address childhood obesity issues (join or form a school health council), and tell parents about the positive things the school is doing to address this.
    • Reach out to area doctors to inform them of the screenings, and find out what local resources might be available to help children with high BMI results.
    • Coordinate with local YMCA's and other community groups to find out what programs might be available to help overweight children.
    • Form alliances with local colleges and universities with nursing programs that might be able to provide manpower to help conduct the screenings.

BMI screenings are a great opportunity to focus the school's attention on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity. Following are a list of nrgBalance programs and events to get you started:

“Enrolling as a Keystone Healthy Zone school has allowed our students to participate in lifetime activities through our physical education and after-school programs.”

Jill Hoffman
Health and Phys Ed Teacher
Blue Ridge Middle School
Susquehanna County