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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, April 11, 2013 | 28 Youths engaging in less risky behaviour: survey by Julia Le Metroland West Media Group Health We know it takes a village to raise a child and we know we all need to work together and we're seeing that today. "Connected to your Community" Children are engaging less in risky behaviour. That was among the findings of Our Kids Network's Halton Youth Survey Community Profile, which measured key factors related to healthy youth development and compared the results to previous surveys conducted in 2006/07 and 2009/10. Our Kids Network Director Elena DiBattista and Research Associate Liz Wells told Halton regional council's health and social services committee last week there has been a substantial drop in substance use from the last time the survey was conducted as well as a decrease in criminal activity. Wells said six per cent of Grade 10 students admitted they were smokers, compared to 13 per cent in 2009/10 and 14 per cent in 2006/07. About 34 per cent of Grade 10 stu- dents admitted to an episode of heavy drinking in the last 12 months, compared to 47 per cent in 2009/10 and 50 per cent in 2006/07. "We see the same pattern in cannabis usage where one in every four Grade 10 students in 2006 and 2009 were using cannabis and now it's less than one in five," she said. The survey also revealed 20 per cent of Grade 10 students admitted to being involved in some type of criminal activity, compared to 26 per cent in both 2009/10 and 2006/07 surveyed years. The survey was carried out between Oct. 2 and Nov. 16 last year with a total of 10,379 Grade 7 and Grade 10 students in the Halton District School Board and Halton Catholic District School Board completing it. It asked students a series of questions related to assets that help them develop into thriving individuals, relying on selfreported information that may not be representative of all students. Our Kids Network director Elena DiBattosta Strategic plan for oral health discussed at Halton Region by Julia Le Metroland West Media Group DiBattista said the survey is used as a planning tool to get people engaged in a conversation about Halton's youths. It evaluates where the needs and gaps are and also tracks how the community is doing every three years in relation to the well being of young people within Halton's communities. "We use it as an awareness building tool and it also stimulates community action," said DiBattista. "We know it takes a village to raise a child and we know we all need to work together and we're seeing that today," she said, referring to the positive results of the survey that reveals family support has improved and more students report being engaged in their schools. Overweight and obesity numbers have fallen among both Grade 7 and Grade 10 student surveyed. About 20 per cent of students in both grades admitted they are over weight or obese, compared to 25 per cent in 2009/10 for both Grade 7 and 10 students and 21 per cent and 23 per cent respectively in 2006/07. But while the recent survey reflects a positive direction youth are heading in, Wells said more work needs to be done to support youths who are transitioning to high school. DiBattista added students expressed wanting more meaningful relations and interactions and suggested more collaboration between partners and com- munities should be done to support and promote positive health and well-being. Committee members expressed concern about the statistics, noting that it's alarming knowing about one in every three students in Grade 10 are binge drinking. DiBattista said the Our Kids Network is doing intentional work within the community, working with other groups to build on the communities assets that represent positive relationships, youth competencies, self-perceptions and values needed for children and youth to succeed. The survey results will be circulated throughout the community. Our Kids Network, a Halton-wide partnership of agencies and organizations serving children and youth, promotes healthy development, security and safety for all children, youth and families through neighbourhood collaboration, service integration and by measuring results. Oral health continues to be a key issue affecting older adults and adults with special needs living within Halton communities says Carole Ward. Though significant strides have been taken over the last 15 years to identify barriers as well as possible solutions when it comes to accessing oral health services, Ward, committee chair of Halton Oral Health Outreach (HOHO), said more work is still needed to overcome the challenges. "Many seniors may have received good dental health care earlier in their life course due to employment health insurance plan and greater access to services. However, management of oral health care often declines due to issues of access and affordability," she said, quoting information from Public Health Agency of Canada. Ward went before Halton Region's health and social services committee Tuesday to share HOHO's strategic plan for 2013-2015 to reduce the barriers to good oral health. Her presentation coincided with Oral Health Month, which is recognized nationally in April. She highlighted the progress HOHO has made since 1998, when the com- munity collaborative was developed by Halton's health department and Community Care Access Centre of Halton. Some of the group's successes, Ward noted, include encouraging the Region to establish a Dental Care Counts Fund to financially assist those who cannot afford to get dental treatment. The fund, which has been around since 2002, has helped more than 2,500 people over the years. On average, it Specializes in: Helping Families Every Step of the Way! · Fertility Issues · Low Back/Neck Pain · Sciatica · Posture · Osteoarthritis · Pediatrics · Pre and Postnatal Care · Naturally Turning Breech Babies · Headaches/Migraines Wellness care for the entire family! 250 Wyecroft Rd., Unit 15, Oakville, ON Family Chiropractor/Acupuncturist Dr. Jenna Davis 905.844.WELL (9355) www.acornhealth.ca drdavis@acornhealth.ca helps 250 to 300 people each year. The 2013 budget is $180,300. However, Ward says there is growing concern about the need for dental care increasing as Halton's older adult population rises. It's predicted that by 2036 older adults will comprise 20 per cent of the total population of Halton. The strategic plan attempts to address the needs for better oral care among older adults and those with special needs with three long-term goals, which include: · Educating key stakeholders and decision makers regarding the importance of regional and provincial mandates that ensure the provision of preventative daily oral care and oral treatment in long-term care homes and in assisted living facilities or programs · Promoting the importance of maintaining good oral health, promoting oral health services and programs in Halton available for older adults and adults with special needs as well promoting the increasing need for oral health services · Strengthening existing relationships and establishing new collaborations with community partners Ward said it's also important to know how oral health affects the rest of your body. Poor oral health has been linked to systemic diseases like diabetes in people of all ages, respiratory diseases particularly among the elderly and cardiovascular diseases like strokes and heart attacks.