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.   Gather team members
2.   Identify school needs
3.   Identify local school resources
4.   Write a School Health Action Plan
5.   Manage and monitor implementation
6.   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