Translation of District Sun Safe Policies to Schools

Translation of District Sun Safe Policies to Schools intervention was guided by Diffusion of Innovation Theory. Principals and other staff in intervention schools received 1) initial coaching meeting that guided principals through an evaluation of current sun safety practices, the selection of goals for the implementation of sun safety practices, and guidance on the use of intervention materials to support implementation of sun safety practices in the school, 2) follow-up communications from coaches including email, telephone, and virtual meetings, 3) access to media and online resources to support implementation of sun safety practices, 4) mini-grants to support changes in school sun safety practices. These components promoted implementation of the 10 policy components recommended by CDC.

Schools in the control condition received three emails during the 20 month intervention period including (1) NASBE's Fit Healthy and Ready to Learn; A School Health Guide Part II: Policies to Promote Sun Safety and Prevent Skin Cancer, (2) CDC's Guidelines for Sun Safety to Prevent Skin Cancer, and (3) a link to the Surgeon General's 2014 Call to Action to Prevent Skin Cancer. This attention-control treatment will equalize schools on awareness of recommendations to implement school sun safety.