Get Smart about Your Schools Health Needs

A comprehensive, coordinated school health program can improve the academic success of your school and the quality of life for your students, faculty and staff. If students are healthy, they are ready to learn. School health and wellness programs may include initiatives in the areas of mental or emotional health, health care, nutrition and physical activity and health education. 

A comprehensive program addresses a wide range of student needs and includes several initiatives that are interconnected and not just one-time events or activities. It brings together all of your school members including teachers, staff, parents and students. A successful program will transform the culture of your school so that the focus is on both academic success and lifelong health and wellness.

So how can your school do this? Your first charge is to figure out your school’s current state of health. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar to you?

• You have many health programs that are one-time events or are not sustainable over time.
• Your school has so many health needs that you don’t know where to start.
• Your school community has a tremendous number of great ideas about incorporating health programs, but somehow nothing seems to materialize.
• Your staff lacks time to research and bring resources in on their own.
•   A school staff member leaves and their program leaves with them.
•  There are several partners performing the same activities in some areas while other areas are lacking support.
•  Your staff needs support from outside sources to help bring health into your school environment.

If you have encountered any of these situations, you may want to consider developing a comprehensive school health and wellness plan. Short- and long-term health plans can give your school a road map for success and help you track accomplishments along the way. 

For more information, contact Cathy Schmelter at cathy@getsmartschools.org or 303-825-6246 x 349

8 COMPONENTS OF A COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PROGRAM 

In order to implement a fully comprehensive, coordinated school health program it is important to include the 8 areas of the coordinated school health model. A stellar school health program includes all 8 components working together for the benefit of student learning. The 8 components are counseling & psychological services (mental health), health services (medical, dental, vision, etc.), nutrition or foodservice, physical activity and education, health education, family and community involvement, health promotion for staff and healthy school buildings.