Chapter 6 The School Health Program A Component

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Development of and Sources of Health Education Curricula • Sources • 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?