1. Chapter 6 The School Health Program: A Component of Community Health

2. Introduction
The school health program has great potential for affecting health of the community

3. Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP)
An organized set of policies, procedures, and activities designed to protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of students and staff

4. CHSPs Include but are not limited to: Health education
School health services
Healthy school environment
School counseling
Psychological and social services
Physical education
School nutrition services
Family and community involvement
School-site health promotion for staff

5. The School Health Advisory Council
Individuals from a school or school district and its community who work together to provide advice and aspects of the school health program
Should include diverse representation
Primary role – provide coordination of the CSHP components

6. The School Nurse Can provide great leadership for the CSHP
Has medical knowledge and formal training
Has multiple responsibilities
Often districts do not have resources to hire full-time nurses

7. The Teacher’s Role Heavy responsibility in making sure the CSHP works
Often spend more waking hours with children than parents

8. The Need for School Health
An unhealthy child has a difficult time learning
Health and success in schools are interrelated
A CSHP provides the integration of education and health

9. Foundations of the School Health Program
School administration that supports the effort
A well-organized school health advisory council
Written school health policies

10. School Health Policies
Steps for creating local health-related policies include
Identify the policy development team
Assess the district’s needs
Prioritize needs and develop an action plan
Draft a policy
Build awareness and support
Adopt and implement the policy
Maintain, measure, and evaluate

11. Policy Development Should be executed by the school health council
Should cover all facets of the school health program
Gain approval from key stakeholders

12. Policy Implementation
Policies only effective if implemented
Distribute policies to those affected
Distribute with a memorandum of explanation
Place in faculty, staff, and student handbooks
Present them at group meetings (PTO)
Hold a special meeting for explaining policies
Place them in the school district newsletter

13. Policy Development Resources
Action for Healthy Kids
School Health Index (via CDC)

14. Monitoring Status of School Health Policy in the U.S.
School Health Policy and Practices Study (SHPPS)
National survey conducted by CDC every 6 years
Assesses:
School health policies
School health practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels

15. Components of a CSHP Administration and organization
School health services
Healthy school environment
School health education
Counseling, psychological, and social services
Physical education
School nutrition services
Family/community involvement
School-site health promotion for staff

16. Administration and Organization
A CSHP should be administered by a school health coordinator
Trained professional at the state, district, or school level who is responsible for managing, coordinating, planning, implementing, and evaluating school health policies, programs, and resources
Often not a position required by states

17. School Health Services
Health services provided by school health workers to appraise, protect, and promote health
AAP recommends, at a minimum, that schools provide:
State-mandated services
Assessment of minor health complaints, medication administration, and care for students with special needs
Management of emergencies and other urgent situations

18. Healthy School Environment
By law, school districts are required to provide a safe school environment
Physical environment
Buildings and structures, and the behaviors of those using them
Location, age, air quality, food service, temperature, etc.
Psychosocial environment
Attitudes, values, feelings of students and staff

19. School Health Education
The development, delivery, and evaluation of a planned curriculum
Priority health content:
Alcohol and other drugs, healthy eating, mental and emotional health, personal health and wellness, physical activity, safety/unintentional injury prevention, sexual health (abstinence and risk avoidance), tobacco, violence prevention

20. Development of and Sources of Health Education Curricula
Many available from national specialists
Approved curricula from state departments of education or health
Health agencies and associations
Commercially produced curricula
National Health Education Standards

21. Other CSHP Components Counseling, psychological, and social services
Physical education
School nutrition services
Family/community involvement for school health
School-site health promotion for staff

22. Issues and Concerns of the School Health Program
Lack of support for CSHP
School health curriculum challenges
School-based health centers
Violence in schools

23. Lack of Support for CSHP
Limited success in getting CSHP implemented across the country
Need supportive legislation

24. School Health Curriculum Challenges
Controversy
Strong opinions on various topics
Improper implementation
Often provided by individuals other than health education specialists
Barriers to school health education

25. School-Based Health Centers or School-Linked Health Centers
Rapidly growing concept
Provided in different ways; most common is in school building
Common features among various centers
“Cultural wars”
Funding challenges

26. Violence in Schools High profile incidents of violence in schools
Bullying
Electronic aggression
Recommendations for improving school climate as it relates to violence

27. Discussion Questions
Why is a CSHP so challenging to implement in every school district?
How can schools have more effective health programs with limited funding?