Background
BSCS is a 501(c)3 non-profit research and development organization focused on improving the teaching and learning of science. In October 2010, BSCS was awarded a three-year, $3.3 million contract from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). With this funding, BSCS partnered with Canyon Ranch Institute and other organizations to develop the Diabetes Education Curriculum K-12 (DECK-12) Program.
The curricula will target Hispanic and African American populations that have a higher-than-average incidence of type 2 diabetes. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, the risk of diagnosed diabetes is 66 percent higher among Hispanics/Latinos, and 77 percent higher among non-Hispanic African Americans. ²
Canyon Ranch Institute President Richard H. Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS; Executive Director and Board Member Jennifer Cabe, M.A.; and Health Literacy and Research Director Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D., serve on the BSCS Advisory Board for the program.
How We're Making a Difference
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that begins when the body no longer uses insulin properly. When the body is insulin resistant, cells do not absorb blood sugar, and high levels of sugar accumulate in the blood. Unmanaged diabetes can cause kidney failure, limb amputation, and blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Type 2 diabetes is hard to detect in children because there may be no symptoms or only mild symptoms. However, type 2 diabetes can be prevented or effectively managed with healthy eating and physical activity.
To advance health literacy about type 2 diabetes prevention and management, Canyon Ranch Institute, BSCS, and other collaborators will provide strategic insight and thought leadership in the development of the following materials for students in grades K-12:
- Curriculum supplement units that contain lessons and supporting materials for the teacher;
- Web-based student activities that coordinate with the print materials and lessons;
- DVD-based test bank of assessments to evaluate students' understanding;
- Adult-audience facilitation guide to inform parents, guardians, and school personnel about what their students are learning; and an
- Informational website where teachers can learn about the curricula.
Canyon Ranch Institute will be playing a significant role in the development of a community outreach component of the curricula.
Evaluation
Canyon Ranch Institute is contributing to the development of a needs assessment and formative evaluation of the K-12 diabetes education curricula materials (both pilot testing and field testing).
To learn more about BSCS, visit www.bscs.org.
¹Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/projects/cda2.htm
²National Diabetes Statistics, 2011. Available at: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/#ddY20