HEALTHY SCHOOLS Comprehensive School Health in York Region

Outline Why a Healthy Schools Approach? What are Healthy Schools? Future Directions for Funding Allocation

Why Healthy Schools? Why Healthy Schools? MEASURED OVERWEIGHT AGES 2-17 YEARS CPHI. Promoting Health Weights

Why Healthy Schools? U.S. EPA, 2003 PROPORTION OF CHILDREN WHO WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL?

Shields. Statistics Canada, 2005 Why Healthy Schools? Why Healthy Schools? PREVALENCE OF OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY: Effects of screen-time Canadian children (ages 2-17)

Courtesy of Dr. Kumanyika, Univ. of Pennsylvania IS OUR FRAME OF REFERENCE CHANGING?

Why Healthy Schools? Why Healthy Schools? TIME DEVOTED TO P.E. BY COUNTRY (ages 6-18 yrs) (European Union of Physical Education Associations, 1997)

Pulmonary disease abnormal function obstructive sleep apnea hypoventilation syndrome Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease steatosis steatohepatitis cirrhosis Coronary heart disease Diabetes Dyslipidemia Hypertension Gynecologic abnormalities abnormal menses infertility polycystic ovarian syndrome Osteoarthritis Skin Gall bladder disease Cancer breast, uterus, cervix colon, esophagus, pancreas kidney, prostate Phlebitis venous stasis Gout Why Healthy Schools? Why Healthy Schools? MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF OBESITY Idiopathic intracranial hypertension Stroke Cataracts Severe pancreatitis

Why Healthy Schools? Why Healthy Schools? TRENDS IN DRUG COSTS IN CANADA $ in billions Source: Canadian Institute for Health Information

Why Healthy Schools? Why Healthy Schools? A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY Literacy is a social determinant of Health. Students who are unhealthy are less likely to be performing well academically. Recent EQAO data for schools using the Healthy Schools’ framework indicates that after 2 years mean results for Grade 3 improved 36.7% whereas Comparison Schools increased 0.78 %. Students will have the most successful outcome when as many conditions for learning are in place as possible.

What are Healthy Schools? Healthy Schools: Include a broad spectrum of opportunities for students to participate in, observe and learn positive health attitudes and behaviours Provide a connected framework for strategies that support the School Plan for Continuous Improvement

What Are Healthy Schools? High-quality instruction and programs Age-appropriate, up-to-date curriculum instruction about health topics and issues; promotes development of life skills, sense of personal competency, resilience Healthy physical environment Clean & adequate facilities, safety, healthy choices Supportive social environment Peer support, positive role models & school climate; promote empowerment, social competencies Community partnerships Access to resources and services available to support students, staff and families Activities within all four components are needed to create sustained behaviour changes and best possible outcomes

Future Directions for Funding Allocation 1. Given the opportunity to have a Professional Development forum with a focus on the Healthy Schools Approach, list what you’d like to see, hear and feel on that day. 2. Based on what you’d like to see, hear and feel on the P.D. Healthy Schools Approach Day, design an appropriate schedule for the day.

Conclusion The Healthy Schools approach responds to what research tells about the conditions necessary to promote the development of the whole child. In the York Region District School Board, we know our students will have the best outcome when as many conditions for learning are in place as possible.