title: Prevention through health risk management.
abstract: Risk can lead to catastrophe. Risk-management systems are highly effective in preventing the catastrophes of fire, earthquakes, and work-site injuries. No such effective systems are present to prevent health and social problems. A practical, cost-effective system to manage risk in children is being developed by the nonprofit Arizona Health Evaluation and Longevity Planning (HELP) Foundation. Information regarding such risk is collected in the school setting. This voluntary information comes from the administration, the school nurse, physical fitness testing, blood testing by the local hospital, self-esteem instruments, and parent, teacher, and child questionnaires. The HELP Foundation then develops an individual child and class risk profile that is presented to the teacher, school nurse, principal, and parent. Those involved with each child then prioritize, plan, and implement programs and activities to manage the identified risk(s). Risks is tracked throughout the child's school career by periodic reassessment. Evaluation of change in problem outcome will be a natural extension of the process.
authors.affiliation: Health Evaluation and Longevity Planning Foundation, Paradise Valley, AZ.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D001130:Arizona; D002648:Child; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D011315:Preventive Medicine; D012307:Risk Factors; D012574:Schools