Prevention Matters

South Dakota’s provision of free colon cancer screening for older residents was named Partnership for Prevention's "Best Prevention Idea of the Week," while Texas’ decision to drop a state requirement for health education was named the "Worst Prevention Idea of the week."

The Best/Worst Idea awards are a regular feature of Prevention Matters, the blog of Partnership for Prevention. Each week, Partnership for Prevention's staff will choose the designees based on nominations of items in the previous week's news submitted by members, staff and the public at large. To submit a nomination or for more information, contact Damon Thompson at dthompson@prevent.org.

BEST

South Dakota Develops Statewide Colorectal Screening Program http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/9665-1

A free health benefit is on the way in January for South Dakotans between the ages of 50 and 64 who don't have health insurance. They'll be able to get a free colon cancer screening from their local physician. The new screening program is being developed by the State Department of Health using a $600,000 grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.


WORST

Texas Drops Health Education Requirement
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6518304.html

Health class will no longer be a state requirement for high school students this fall, making Texas one of the few states in the country with no required health education, officials said. Education Commissioner Robert Scott announced the move in a recent letter to school districts, causing some to worry Texas students will miss out on critical topics like alcohol awareness, sex education and basic nutrition.