Chapter 6 The School Health Program A Component

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

Chapter Objectives (1 of 2) After studying this chapter, you will be able to: 1. Describe the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. 2. List the ideal members of a school health advisory council. 3. Explain why a school health program is important. 4. Define written school health policies and explain their importance to the school health program. 5. Explain processes for developing and implementing school health policies. 6. List the ten components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. 7. Describe the role of the school health coordinator.

Chapter Objectives (2 of 2) 8. Identify those services offered as part of school health services and explain why schools are logical places to offer such services. 9. Explain what is meant by a healthy school environment and discuss the two major environments. 10. Define school health education. 11. Identify the eight National Health Education Standards. 12. Explain how a health education specialist could locate credible health education curricula. 13. Identify and briefly explain four issues that are faced by school health advocates.

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

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model • A model focused on addressing the educational and health needs of children within the context of the school setting • Community strengths can boost the role of the school in addressing child health and learning needs, but also can be a reflection of areas of need in the community • Provides a shared framework and approach for schools and the community to work together to provide a systematic, integrated, and collaborative approach to health and learning

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 WSCC components

The School Nurse • Can provide great leadership for the school health program • 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 WSCC model works • Often spend more waking hours with children than parents do

The Need for School Health • An unhealthy child has a difficult time learning • Health and success in schools are interrelated • A school health program 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 • • Build a policy development team Assess the environment Draft the policy Adopt the policy Implement the policy Measure and evaluate Communicate the results

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. • CDC has periodically conducted a national survey to assess school health policies and practices • School Health Policy and Practices Study (SHPPS) • Assesses – School health policies – School health practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels

Components of a WSCC Model • • • Administration and organization School health services Healthy school environment School health education Counseling, psychological, and social services Physical education and physical activity Nutrition environment and services Community involvement Family engagement Employee wellness

Administration and Organization • A WSCC model 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 • The Framework for the 21 st Century School Nursing Practice calls for student-centered nursing care focused on the key principles of care coordination, leadership, quality improvement, and community/public health with standards of practice as the foundation

Healthy School Environment • By law, school districts are required to provide a safe school environment • Physical environment – School building and its contents, the land on which the school is located, and the area surrounding it • 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 WSCC Components • • • Counseling, psychological, and social services Physical education and physical activity Nutrition environment and services Community involvement Family engagement Employee wellness

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

Lack of Support for WSCC • Limited success in getting WSCC 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 • Provided in different ways; most common on school property • Seven core competencies used to guide the delivery of health care in a school setting • “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 WSCC model so challenging to implement in every school district? • How can schools have more effective health programs with limited funding?