Why Support a Coordinated Approach to School Health

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A Coordinated Approach to School
HealthMaking It Happen

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Making It Happen
Many communities are already implementing some
components of CSHn At first, CSH may seem
difficult but,n Remember, the CSH pilot sites
have 6 years of experience. Consider what will
work best in your local community.
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Your SchoolToday To begin CSH, you need to
know whats already happeningin your school and
community.
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Your School Today
So, its time to ask some questions, like n
What types of health programs exist?
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Your School Today
So, its time to ask some questions, like n
What types of health programs exist?n Are
there connections among different health
program efforts?
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Your School Today
So, its time to ask some questions, like n
What types of health programs exist?n Are
there connections among different health
program efforts?n Whats working and whats not
working?
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Your School Today
So, its time to ask some questions, liken
What types of health programs exist?n Are
there connections among different health
program efforts?n Whats working and whats not
working?n Whats missing?
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Your School Today
So, its time to ask some questions, like n
What types of health programs exist?n Are
there connections among different health
program efforts?n Whats working and whats not
working?n Whats missing?n What would make
your approach a truly coordinated one?
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Step One
Assess

• The CDCs School Health Index is the instrument
  to use for self assessment and planning. Begin
  with Modules 1, 2, 3 and 4.

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n Assess your local, community, city, and
state policies and public health mandates to
determine what school health requirements
existn Collect available data from your state
and local school district and TDOH
Step One
Assess
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n Interview key people, distribute a
written questionnaire to others (including
parents, principals, teachers, and staff), and
review current curriculum, materials, and
existing school/community programs
Step One
Assess
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n n Identify existing components of a
coordinated approachn Determine the level of
community support for school health from such
sectors as public health departments
parents religious organizations
businesses social service agencies
Step Two
Identify Possible members for SHAC
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mass media/reporters government
community groups youth organizations health
organizations
Step Two
Identify Possible members for SHAC
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A coordinated approach will look different in
different communities. Identify the most pressing
child and adolescent health problems locally and
start there!n Health issues in urban areas
often differ greatly from suburban and rural
areas.n Certain health and safety issues
depend on geographic location, for example the
Walking to School program in rural or high
crime areas.
Step Three
Build School Support
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Whats Absolutely CriticalA school principal
or assistant who recognizes the importance and
valueof a coordinatedschool health effort!
Step Three
Build School Support
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Other opinion leaders to include in building
a CSH consensusn Parentsn Teachersn
Counselorsn School board members n Social
workersn Psychologists
Step Three
Build School Support
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n Nursesn Food Service directorsn
School Resource Officersn School volunteersn
Drug and alcohol prevention coordinatorsn
Health department administratorsn Staff of
state or local voluntary health organizations
Step Three
Build School Support
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You may run into some people who are opposed to
CSH. To determine who might be opposed,
consider askingQ What are common
misconceptions about CSH?Q What are differing
views about how programs will affect children,
parents, community?Q Which parts of the
coordinated approach present a problem?Q What
needs do those who object have that CSH might
fill?
Step Four
Overcome Objections
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Steps 1- 4 help providen An assessment of
what is, or is not happening (School Health
Index) n Knowledge of community support
groups, organizations, and influential
individualsn The Coordinator needs to build
relationships with community and school staff.
Step Five
Put It All Together
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n A detailed view of what constitutes
CSH in your arean A list of reporters who
can be accessed to cover the topicn An
awareness of who opposes CSH and how to address
their concerns
Step Five
Put It All Together
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Making It Happen
Design StructuresSuccessful school- community
partnerships exist on many levelsn School
Health Advisory Committeen Staff Coordinating
Counciln Healthy School Teamsn County Health
Council
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Making It Happen
n Consider where local organizations stand on
school healthn Determine if you can work
through an existing group, or if you need to
establish a new group
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Making It Happen
When recruiting members to a new, or existing,
entityn Identify skills and expertise members
needn Target individuals and/or organizations
that have - interest in/commitment to the
issue - familiarity with the political
system - credibility - financial/in-kind
resources or fundraising ability - contacts
with other potential allies
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Making It Happen
n Make sure people understand how
much involvement you expectn Build support
through media relations, CSH communications
materials, and advertisingn Develop a
leadership structure and set of operating
procedures once the group is established
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Making It Happen
Youll needn A chair to lead the group and an
agenda n A mission statement with goalsn
Recognition procedures
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Your Community Tomorrow
Determine Priorities n Once you form your
group, determine priorities (School Health
Index)
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Your Community Tomorrow
Helping to Involve People in the Communityn
Approach groups you have identified for
participation and/or support.n The goal is
twofold 1. Educate them about the advantages
of CSH. 2. Present concrete steps to support
the approach and get them involved.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n Carefully consider the benefits of school
health to each group. n Work with them to
help them see how a coordinated approach can
help them further their mission.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n Parent Organizations CSH reinforces the
role of parents in teaching children to make
smart choices for life.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n Business Leaders CSH helps prepare todays
students for entering the workplace tomorrow.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n Voluntary Health Organizations CSH is
supportive of their mission.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n School Administration and School Boards
Programs can improve classroom behavior,
attendance, teacher and staff morale, and reduce
absenteeism.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n Health Departments CSH supports state and
local health departments by assisting these
entities in improving and protecting the health
of young people.
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Your Community Tomorrow
Make a Difference and Remembern To succeed,
kids need to learn to read, write, and
understand math.n They cant learn if theyre
hungry or tired.n They cant study if theyre
using alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs.n
They cant concentrate if theyre depressed
or stressed.
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Your Community Tomorrow
n Start Slow Baby Steps.Build relationships
Register a few victories early in the process
and then celebrate success. n A coordinated
approach to school health is a powerful way
to reinforce positive, healthy behaviors
throughout the school day.n Good health and
learning go hand in hand.
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Systems Change takes 5-7 yearsHealthy Kids
Make Better Students.
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