How can school districts support the development of healthy school communities? Facilitated by: Rhonda Patton, Alberta Health Services Dr. Steve Manske, Propel Centre for Population Health Impact Workshop with: Shaping the Future Conference, Kananaskis, AB January, 2012

Purpose of This Session Explore factors that contribute to healthy school districts Discuss the role of school districts in supporting healthy school communities Inform the possible development of a comprehensive school health (CSH) planning / assessment tool for school districts Learn from each other!

Session Outline Overview of CSH CSH and School Districts Discussion – School Districts & Healthy School Communities Healthy School Planner Discussion – School District Planning / Assessment Tool

What is CSH? Model adapted from the Joint Consortium for School Health

A Note About Language... ModelPillars CSH (JCSH) Social & Physical Environments Teaching & Learning Healthy School Policy Partnerships & Services 4E’s (Ever Active Schools; PHE Canada) EnvironmentEducation(policy included in ‘Environment’ pillar) EveryoneEvidence Health Promoting Schools (IUHPE) Social Env’ts Physical Env’ts Individual health skills and action competencies Healthy School Policies Community Links Health Services

Why Use a CSH Approach? Adopting CSH can lead to enhanced learning outcomes Schools are an influential setting for the development of long-lasting health behaviours CSH programs are effective for improving health indicators related to a variety of health behaviours

What role can School Districts play in Supporting Healthy School Communities? Supportive policies and procedures Ongoing, embedded professional development Extensive Internal & External Supports Leadership and Management Structures Development and Allocation of Adequate Resources – Fiscal & Human Hoyle et al. (2008) Tools for assessment, planning, evaluation

What are Alberta School Districts doing?* Developing policies to support student health Obtaining funding from the Alberta Healthy School Communities Wellness Fund Forming district level committees to support district- wide CSH initiatives Modifying their purchasing practices (negotiating with suppliers) Dedicating staff to support healthy school communities * See handout

What are Alberta School Districts doing? (#2)* Partnering with other organizations to support healthy school communities Providing district-wide professional development to staff (principals, teachers, food service providers, etc.) regarding healthy school communities Including goals / strategies related to student health and wellness in their annual education plans Monitoring progress towards healthy school communities in their schools * See handout

What do you think? (5 minutes) RolesWhat does role look like in your context? What are barriers / solutions to fulfilling the role? Ongoing, embedded professional development Extensive Internal & External Supports Supportive policies and procedures Leadership and Management Structures Development and Allocation of Adequate Resources – Fiscal & Human Tools for Assessment

What do you think? Process 11

What do you think? Pair (5 minutes) RolesWhat does role look like in your context? What are barriers / solutions to fulfilling the role? Ongoing, embedded professional development Extensive Internal & External Supports Supportive policies and procedures Leadership and Management Structures Development and Allocation of Adequate Resources – Fiscal & Human Tools for Assessment

What do you think? (Square task) RolesNeedBarriers How would you know that your district is fulfilling this role? Ongoing, embedded professional development Extensive Internal & External Supports Supportive policies and procedures Leadership and Management Structures Development and Allocation of Adequate Resources – Fiscal & Human Tools for Assessment

What do you think? Share Each group reports back one top idea. Collect sheets for us to summarize and feed back electronically – record on the sheet

The “How To”: 5 Conditions of Collective Impact Common Agenda – recognize no one can do it alone – establish understanding of core impact desired Shared Measurement Systems Mutually Reinforcing Activities Continuous Communication Backbone Support Organization

Free tool Immediate results Quick

Healthy School Planner: Foundational Module Does your school community have a leader for healthy school initiatives?

STEP 1: TEAM Healthy school planning works well if the workload is shared and all key groups are involved. It is essential that students participate and that their ideas are respected Who regularly participates at your school in planning for a healthy school community? Does your school community have a leader for healthy school initiatives? Healthy School Planner: Foundational Module Questions

STEP 2: PLANNING Has your school used data (e.g., surveys) from the following groups to inform your action plans for creating a healthy school community? Does your school develop SMART goals (i.e., specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time limited) within an action plan to create a healthier school community? Does your school community communicate the relationship between health and learning outcomes with the following groups at least once a year? Does your action plan to create a healthy school community include ways to: (using 4 pillars) Healthy School Planner: Foundational Module

STEP 3: IMPLEMENTATION Across the 4 Pillars Teaching & Learning Does your school develop SMART goals (i.e., specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time limited) within an action plan to create a healthier school community? Does your school community communicate the relationship between health and learning outcomes with the following groups at least once a year? Does your action plan to create a healthy school community include ways to: (using 4 pillars) Healthy School Planner: Foundational Module

Healthy School Planner: Rubric Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4 School has a team that plans for a healthy school community with membership covering a variety of perspectives Our school does not have a team in place. Our team consists of 2 members or just one perspective Our team consists of 3+ members from 2 perspectives Our team consists of 3+ members from at least 3 perspective s and a leader

Healthy School Planner: Rubric Social Environment Level 1Level 2Level 3Level 4 All members of the school community feel safe and supported Our school does not make members of our school community feel safe and supported … members of our school community feel safe and supported to a minimal extent … to some extent … feel safe and supported to the full extent

What do you think? Assessment tool Would a planning / assessment tool benefit CSH in school districts? If so, how? If not, why? What are some key components / considerations for a school district planning / assessment tool? Discuss the above in your group of four (10 minutes). Please be prepared to share a short summary of your insights with the larger group.

Thank You! Rhonda Patton Alberta Health Services Steve Manske Propel Centre …See you on the ski trails... In partnership with: