Robert LaChausse
Robert LaChausse, Chair of the Department of Public Health Sciences at California Baptist University, has nearly 20 years of experience in public health education and prevention research. His research focus is primarily child and adolescent health risk prevention and program evaluation. Robert earned his BA in Psychology and MA in Health and Behavioral Science from California State University, San Bernardino, and his PhD in Developmental Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. He is an active member for the American Evaluation Association, the Society for Public Health Education, and CAHPERD, among others. He has been published in various scholarly journals such as the American Journal of Health Education and the Journal of Adolescent Health. Robert enjoys spending time with his family and church, as well as running, cycling, and fishing.
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Getting Comfortable With Teen Pregnancy Prevention
School-based health education is the primary resource for adolescents to learn the skills necessary to decrease unhealthy behaviors and avoid diseases or disorders. This interactive session will discuss teacher comfort with teen pregnancy prevention and demonstrate unique health education teaching techniques. Participants will experience effective and ineffective practices in teen pregnancy prevention with recommendations for increasing effectiveness in health education.
As the role of the health educator continues to change in the schools, it is important to understand how that might impact student behavior and the effectiveness of the programs we implement. While our recent efforts have shown steady decreases for many health risk behaviors, there is still much to be considered when implementing evidence-based health programs and curriculum. Various studies have examined the role of implementation fidelity: the extent to which a program or curriculum is implemented, and how it affects behaviors. Using fidelity data and teacher surveys from a federally funded evaluation of a teen pregnancy prevention program, this presentation will show how comfort in health education, specifically teen pregnancy prevention, correlates to how well a program is implemented. Although teen birth rates have dropped 10% from 2012, there were nearly 270,000 babies born to women ages 15 to 19 in 2013 (CDC, 2015). This session will present the need for trained health educators in teen pregnancy prevention. Session attendees will be asked to participate in group surveying, and volunteer in group demonstrations on effective teen pregnancy prevention teaching techniques.
School-based health education is the primary resource for adolescents to learn the skills necessary to decrease unhealthy behaviors and avoid diseases or disorders. This interactive session will discuss teacher comfort with teen pregnancy prevention and demonstrate unique health education teaching techniques. Participants will experience effective and ineffective practices in teen pregnancy prevention with recommendations for increasing effectiveness in health education.
As the role of the health educator continues to change in the schools, it is important to understand how that might impact student behavior and the effectiveness of the programs we implement. While our recent efforts have shown steady decreases for many health risk behaviors, there is still much to be considered when implementing evidence-based health programs and curriculum. Various studies have examined the role of implementation fidelity: the extent to which a program or curriculum is implemented, and how it affects behaviors. Using fidelity data and teacher surveys from a federally funded evaluation of a teen pregnancy prevention program, this presentation will show how comfort in health education, specifically teen pregnancy prevention, correlates to how well a program is implemented. Although teen birth rates have dropped 10% from 2012, there were nearly 270,000 babies born to women ages 15 to 19 in 2013 (CDC, 2015). This session will present the need for trained health educators in teen pregnancy prevention. Session attendees will be asked to participate in group surveying, and volunteer in group demonstrations on effective teen pregnancy prevention teaching techniques.
Physical Activity and the Classroom: Health and Academic Success
There is much discussion on whether physical activity has an effect on academic outcomes for children and adolescent teens. Presenters will examine the correlation between course load and a sedentary lifestyle, and discuss the benefits of exercise on both physical and mental health. Recommendations for increasing physical activity and academic success in school will be offered.
The positive benefits of exercise are unquestionable, yet heavy course loads and academic commitments can play a significant role in keeping students from being physically active. Regular exercise can have both physical and mental benefits including an increase in sleep, reduction of stress, higher self-esteem, and can prevent many chronic diseases and disorders. Recent studies have examined the connection between exercise and grade point average (GPA): noting the more consistently one exercises the greater likelihood of a higher GPA. However, as education technologically evolves and physical education is reduced in the schools there is more risk of a sedentary lifestyle. Using student heath data from a Southern California University, this session will examine course load and its impact on physical activity and mental health. Presenters will demonstrate the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating. Attendees will join in innovative techniques to increase movement in the classroom, on campus and at home. Health educators will leave knowing their efforts in increasing physical activity will have a sustaining impact on their students.
There is much discussion on whether physical activity has an effect on academic outcomes for children and adolescent teens. Presenters will examine the correlation between course load and a sedentary lifestyle, and discuss the benefits of exercise on both physical and mental health. Recommendations for increasing physical activity and academic success in school will be offered.
The positive benefits of exercise are unquestionable, yet heavy course loads and academic commitments can play a significant role in keeping students from being physically active. Regular exercise can have both physical and mental benefits including an increase in sleep, reduction of stress, higher self-esteem, and can prevent many chronic diseases and disorders. Recent studies have examined the connection between exercise and grade point average (GPA): noting the more consistently one exercises the greater likelihood of a higher GPA. However, as education technologically evolves and physical education is reduced in the schools there is more risk of a sedentary lifestyle. Using student heath data from a Southern California University, this session will examine course load and its impact on physical activity and mental health. Presenters will demonstrate the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating. Attendees will join in innovative techniques to increase movement in the classroom, on campus and at home. Health educators will leave knowing their efforts in increasing physical activity will have a sustaining impact on their students.
Obesity Prevention in a Diverse Culture
Dieting is the most common form of weight loss management, but those more at risk for obesity are less likely to diet. This session will demonstrate how culture, ethnicity and gender can lead to weight misperception, and how that will adversely harm their health. Presenters will demonstrate obesity prevention techniques that attendees can use in culturally sensitive communities.
Weight misperception is a critical issue in obesity prevention that is not often mentioned. Under or overestimating your weight can deter a person’s efforts to access help with diet and exercise, especially in the low-income, minority community. This can leave a person with an increased risk of the adverse health effects of being under or overweight. Research has shown the prevalence of obesity to be higher among ethnic minorities when compared to non-minorities, however, dieting was more likely to occur among non-minorities. This presentation will use student health data from a Southern California college to examine ethnic and gender differences in weight perception, obesity and weight loss methods. As early prevention is key to reducing the risk of obesity and the need for dieting, presenters will demonstrate the obesity prevention skills school-aged students must learn to maintain healthy eating and exercise habits. Attendees will be shown the best practices in assessing the need for obesity prevention and techniques in preventing obesity among youth and young adults.
Dieting is the most common form of weight loss management, but those more at risk for obesity are less likely to diet. This session will demonstrate how culture, ethnicity and gender can lead to weight misperception, and how that will adversely harm their health. Presenters will demonstrate obesity prevention techniques that attendees can use in culturally sensitive communities.
Weight misperception is a critical issue in obesity prevention that is not often mentioned. Under or overestimating your weight can deter a person’s efforts to access help with diet and exercise, especially in the low-income, minority community. This can leave a person with an increased risk of the adverse health effects of being under or overweight. Research has shown the prevalence of obesity to be higher among ethnic minorities when compared to non-minorities, however, dieting was more likely to occur among non-minorities. This presentation will use student health data from a Southern California college to examine ethnic and gender differences in weight perception, obesity and weight loss methods. As early prevention is key to reducing the risk of obesity and the need for dieting, presenters will demonstrate the obesity prevention skills school-aged students must learn to maintain healthy eating and exercise habits. Attendees will be shown the best practices in assessing the need for obesity prevention and techniques in preventing obesity among youth and young adults.