TMPPM 2008 > Texas Medicaid Services > Texas Health Steps (THSteps) > Clinical Information

43.2.3.12 Health Education/Anticipatory Guidance

Health education is a federally mandated component of the THSteps medical check up and includes anticipatory guidance. Face-to-face health education and counseling with parents or guardians and clients are required to assist parents in understanding what to expect in terms of the client's development and to provide information about the benefits of healthy lifestyles and practices, and accident and disease prevention. Written material also may be given but will not replace face-to-face counseling.

Developmentally and age-appropriate health education, anticipatory guidance, and counseling include the following:

•Developmental expectations.

•Dental health.

•Sleep.

•Feeding and nutrition.

•Lead poisoning risks.

•Healthy lifestyle/practices.

•Accident and disease prevention.

Adolescent Development

Providers must give adolescents the following health guidance:

•Promote a better understanding of their physical growth and their psychosocial and psychosexual development.

•Promote the importance of becoming involved in decisions about their health care.

Healthy Lifestyles and Safety Practices

Providers must give adolescents health guidance on the following injury-prevention techniques:

•Promote the avoidance of the use of alcohol or other substances altogether and especially while using motor or recreational vehicles or where impaired judgment may lead to injury.

•Promote the use of safety devices, including seat belts, motorcycle and bicycle helmets, and appropriate athletic protective devices.

•Promote water safety and encourage the adolescent to learn to swim.

•Promote the resolution of interpersonal conflicts without violence.

•Promote the avoidance of the use of weapons and promote weapon safety.

•Promote obtaining appropriate physical conditioning before exercise.

•Promote avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, high noise exposure, other abusable substances, and anabolic steroids.

Diet and Fitness

Providers must give adolescents health guidance on the following diet and fitness topics:

•Benefits of a healthy diet.

•Ways to achieve a healthy diet.

•Maintenance of healthy weight.

•Benefits of safe exercise on a regular basis.

•Benefits of adequate rest.

Refer to: Bright Futures: Guidelines for Health Supervision of Infants, Children, and Adolescents (3rd edition revised), at www.brightfutures.org.

Guidelines for Health Supervision III from the AAP Publication Department, PO Box 927, 141 Northwest Point Blvd., Elkgrove Village IL 60009-0927.