Transcript Starting a Healthy School Team

Starting a Healthy
School Team
Why is Health Important?
Good health is necessary for academic
success
 It is difficult for students to be successful
in school if they are:

Depressed
 Stressed
 Tired
 Being bullied
 Sick
 Hungry

Why is Health Important?

A child’s physical, emotional, social, &
mental health directly affects capacity to
learn
Health Risk Behaviors of Young
People
Behaviors that may result in
unintentional injuries and violence
 Sexual risk behaviors
 Alcohol and other drug use
 Tobacco use
 Unhealthy dietary behaviors
 Inadequate physical activity

Florida Statistics High School
Students: 2005
1 in 4 is overweight &/or at risk for
overweight
 14.5% of students seriously considered
suicide during the past year
 1 in 6 students are current cigarette
smokers
 2 of 5 students reported current alcohol
use
 40% of students report ≥3 hours daily
TV on school day

Obstacles to Academics
Poor health
 Food insecurity
 Physical condition of a school
 Absences
 Discipline problems
 Mental health issues

Why Schools?
Most young people enrolled in school
 School health programs can improve
students’

Health knowledge, attitudes, and skills
 Health behaviors and health outcomes
 Social outcomes
 Educational outcomes

What is Coordinated School
Health (CSH)?
Systemic method of promoting health
that brings together teams of people
in eight areas who are able to address
all aspects of student health
 Healthy students are fit and ready to
learn
Schools deliver consistent health
messages
 Schools coordinate existing resources
 Individualized means to wellness

What is Coordinated School
Health (CSH)?
CSH: A Solution to Problem
Keeping kids healthy over time
 Supporting a student’s capacity to
learn
 Help students develop knowledge and
skills to make smart choices for life
 Reinforcing positive behaviors
throughout the day
 Making it clear good health and
learning go hand in hand

Benefits of CSH Approach
Reduced school absenteeism
 Fewer behavior problems in classroom
 Improved student performance
 More positive spirit among educators
and students
 Reduced duplication between schools
and community activity

Steps for Healthy School Team
Success
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Gather team members
Identify school needs
Identify local school resources
Write a School Health Action Plan
Manage and monitor implementation
Market success
Step 1: Gather Team Members
Seek faculty/staff who have a
commitment to the cause
 Look for community partners to join
team
 Secure administrator support
 Set time for regularly scheduled
meetings

Step 2: Identify School Needs

Investigate state & local survey results
Florida Youth Risk Behavior Survey
(YRBS)
 Local YRBS in Broward, Hillsborough,
Miami-Dade, Orange, and Palm
Beach


Identify health issues & concerns of
students, families, & school staff by
completing the School Health Index: A
Self-Assessment and Planning Guide
School Health Index
Uses a coordinated school health
approach
 Identifies strengths and weaknesses
of their health promotion policies &
programs
 Develops an action plan for improving
student health
 Involves teachers, parents, students &
community in improving school
programs, policies, & services

Step 3: Identify Local School
Resources
Look up your district’s Wellness Policy
posted in the Food and Nutrition
section of district website
 Contact your district’s School Health
Advisory Committee (SHAC) for
support
 Work with your School Advisory
Council (SAC)

Step 4: Write a School Health
Action Plan
Use results of needs assessment to
develop action plan
 Consider short & long-term goals for
team
 Document actions, steps to complete
actions, and person & date
responsible
 Sponsor/promote projects for
students, parents, & school

Step 5: Manage & Monitor
Implementation
Reflect on action plan to monitor progress
 Meet regularly with team members
 Recognize members for accomplishments

Step 6: Market Success
Celebrate successes
 Spread the word about successful
healthy school team accomplishments
 Remind key stakeholders about
benefits of healthy students & staff,
which in turn affect educational
success

Summary

Coordinated school health approach can:
increase healthy behaviors
 impact students’ academic achievement
 Empower students with knowledge, skills,
& judgment to help them make smart
choices in life


Creating a Healthy School Team
manual available from Florida
Department of Education:
www.fldoe.org/BII/CSHP