ISU health and nutrition science chair receives NHES training

Willis McAleese, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Health and Nutrition Science at Idaho State University, participated in the National Health Education Standards Training (NHES) of Trainers meeting in Atlanta, Ga., in late February.

The meeting was co-sponsored by the American Cancer Society and The American Alliance for Health Education (AAHE) and brought together leaders in health education from every state in the country.

McAleese was invited to be part of a four-person team representing the State of Idaho. The purpose was to train key leaders in school health education in the newly revised national health standards. Every grade, including prekindergarten through high school is addressed in detail in the new standards. Each state team will now go back to their home states to set up training workshops for teachers, administrators, school nurses and other health professionals so they can be part of the effort to properly educate youth in critical health related areas.

“It was an honor to be invited to attend the NHES meeting where the top school health education leaders from around the country were in attendance,” McAleese said. “The status of children’s health in the U.S. as well as in Idaho will definitely be enhanced if the new health standards are taken seriously and actually taught.”

McAleese noted that we are experiencing a time in our country featuring “abysmal levels” of obesity, physical inactivity, poor mental and emotional health, as well as drug, alcohol and tobacco use with our children.

“The training I received at the NHES conference will help me in turn, to train the educators and other health professionals in Idaho to make a significant impact on the health of Idaho’s children and youth,” he added. “I have been a health and physical educator in Idaho for 31 years, and I believe the new national health education standards will truly make a positive difference for Idaho’s children.”