Transcript Comprehensive School Health (CSH): An Overview

Comprehensive School Health:
(CSH)
An Integrated Approach to
Promoting Wellness in a Healthy
School Setting
CSH: Background & History
“Horses are easier to ride in the direction they
are going.”
Presentation Goals
Visioning exercise
 Introduction of the Comprehensive
School Health Concept
 Group Work: Opportunities & Barriers
 Where do we go from here?

Visioning: What Constitutes a
Healthy School?

Let’s imagine that your school has made
a conscious decision to become the
healthiest school possible. As the School
Nurse, what might you notice….
– as
– as
– as
– as
you
you
you
you
walk through the school?
meet with the principal & teachers?
meet the students?
meet the parents?
Goals of comprehensive approaches:
– to promote health and wellness
– to prevent specific diseases, disorders, and
injury
– to intervene to assist children and youth
who are in need or at risk
– to help support those who are already
experiencing poor health
Definition from CASH and CNA:

“A comprehensive school health
approach includes a broad spectrum of
activities and services that take place in
schools and surrounding communities
and enable children and youth to
enhance their health, develop to their
fullest potential, and establish
productive and satisfying relationships
in their present and future lives.”
Basically…...
promoting skills, values, and
behaviours for healthy living.
Why has this approach gained so
much popularity over the years?
because
 because
learning
 because
 because

young people are more at risk
better health means better
it’s cost-effective
it works! --> --> --> --> -->
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“Comprehensive approaches that link
the development of skills and
knowledge with different forms of social
support, services, or healthier physical
environments are most effective.”
Why target schools for health
promotion activities?
other than family, main source of
influence on children
 workplace of 20% of our population
(students and educators)
 another 30% of the population
(parents) are directly involved with
schools through their children

Organizations that have officially
endorsed the concept of CSH:
 CAP
 CCSA
 CLA
 CTF
 CASA
 CCTC
 CMA
 CAN
 CAPHERD  CGCA
 CPHA
 H&SFC
 CASH
 CHEA
 CRC
 SJA
 CCS
 CHSPTF  CSBA
Canada & CSH

In 1990…..only 3% of educators and
health leaders were familiar with the
term

By 1998…..
– 10/12 education ministries
– 5/12 health ministries
– 40% of school boards
– and 53% of Public Health Units
………………..explicitly support CSH
Components of a CSH
Program
Formal and informal health instruction
in schools
 Support services for students and
families
 Social support from parents, peers,
staff, local community, media, and
policymakers
 Healthy physical environments

Components
Criteria for Instruction
Active health promotion
 Comprehensive curriculum in the areas
of health, physical education, personal
development, and family studies
 High-quality teaching/materials
 Appropriate teaching methods using
varied learning strategies
 Effective teacher inservice training

Examples of Instruction
Strategies:


Integration of health
into other subject
areas
Recognition of
formal & informal
learning
opportunities with
peers and parents

Lifestyle-focused
physical education
focusing on
awareness, decisionmaking, skillbuilding, social
action, attitudinal &
behavioural change
Criteria for Support Services
Access to appropriate health & social
services and information for children
and families
 Inter-agency, inter-ministry, and interdisciplinary cooperation, coordination of
services, & comprehensive policies
 Inter-agency committee
 Inservice training for nurses and
professionals
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Examples of Support Services:
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student services
school guidance &
counselling services
child protection
services for special
needs students

an integrated web of
services offering
appraisals, early
identification,
referrals, treatment
and follow-up
Criteria for Social Support
positive school climate
 involvement of all stakeholders
 formal needs assessment & planning
 active student participation
 community involvement in the school
 community coordination
 active parental/family involvement
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Examples of Social Support:
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role modelling by
school staff
adult mentorship
peer support
programs/
leadership
staff wellness
programs
comprehensive
wellness programs
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appropriate school
discipline policies
community
development
media cooperation
healthy public policy
from school boards,
boards of health and
social service
agencies
Criteria for Building a Healthy
Physical Environment
Comply with legislation
 Implement health-related policies
 Tell the school
 Tell the community

Examples of Environmental
Support:
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
safety and accident
prevention measures
in the school and
playgrounds
environmental
health standards for
sanitation, clean
water, hygiene,
lighting, & noise
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healthy food
services and/or meal
programs
smoke-free school
policies
alcohol and drugfree policies
harassment,
discrimination, and
bullying policies
Example of the concept in
action
CASH’s recommended six step
process for implementation:
Review idea. Talk with colleagues.
 List activities/programs already
happening in your community.
 Connect these activities/programs &
maintain regular communications.

Six steps, con’t
Brainstorm possible joint activities/
projects.
 Priorize. Choose one or two activities.
Develop an action plan.
 Assess. Evaluate. Celebrate successes.
Choose your next steps.

Group Work

What are the opportunities and barriers
to implementing a CSH Model in our
schools?
Taking Action: One Step at a Time
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Start simply
Be imaginative
Work to gradually
implement elements
over a period of
time
Have fun!
The turtle wins the race.
Next Steps