WELLER CENTER SURVEYS LOCAL STUDENTS FOR NATIONAL RESEARCH STUDY

(Easton, PA) The Weller Health Education Center announced today that it is taking part in a national research project called KidsHealth KidsPoll. The Center is one of just 13 health education centers nationwide that will collect data from students ages 9 – 13 to find out kids’ attitudes and behaviors regarding health-related issues.

KidsPoll is a collaborative project between the Nemours Center for Children’s Health Media, the National Association of Health Education Centers, Southern Illinois University, the Weller Center and a dozen other independent nonprofit health education centers across the country.

Throughout this year, Weller and other participating centers will conduct four rounds of surveys. Each center will survey 100 to 200 students between grades 3 and 7 for each topic. Surveys are conducted using eInstruction—the Weller Center’s electronic questionnaire system. Questions are displayed on a video screen and students answer using a wireless keypad that provides instant feedback.

Southern Illinois University will compile and analyze the data collected by each center and the Nemours Foundation will provide funding for the dissemination of the results. Upon completion of each round of KidsPoll, results will circulate in national and regional press releases as the “Voice of America’s Children.” Results will also appear on the Weller Center’s web site.

The first round of KidsPoll started on November 10 and tackled the topic of obesity. Project partners will determine future topics. Locations of the other health education centers participating in KidsPoll include Denver, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Indianapolis.

“KidsPoll is really about ‘taking the pulse’ of area children to find out what they think about urgent health topics,” said Weller Center CEO Melissa Lee. Lee is excited to be part of a nationwide effort. “These studies will help spotlight issues that concern our kids and help parents, teachers and health education centers like Weller develop programs to deal with these issues,” she said.

Offering more than 30 programs in general health, character education, drug abuse prevention, growth and development and nutrition and fitness, the Weller Center partners with school districts to provide interactive curricula-based health science programs for more than 70,000 students each year from 39 counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Serving more than 1,000,000 students since 1982, the Weller Center remains the only such center in the region and one of just 33 health education centers in the nation.