School Health Resources
Here are some links to resources that you will find useful for considering local knowledge and school policies that have important influences in the health of our children. Schools play a critical role in improving the dietary and physical activity behaviors of students. Schools can create an environment supportive of students' efforts to eat healthily and be active by implementing policies and practices that support healthy eating and regular physical activity and by providing opportunities for students to learn about and practice these behaviors.
The prevalence of obesity among children and adolescents more than tripled from 1980 to 2008. In 2008, more than one third of U.S. children and adolescents aged 6−19 were overweight or obese. Obese children and adolescents are more likely than normal weight children and adolescents to have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, or insulin. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommends that children and adolescents engage in 60 minutes or more of physical activity every day.
The health of students is linked to their academic success. Both physical activity and healthy eating may help improve academic achievement.
School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: Executive Summary
School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy eating and Physical Activity
National School Boards Association
NSBA's School Health Programs department helps school policymakers and educators make informed decisions about health issues affecting the academic achievement and healthy development of students and the management of schools. Research shows that when school districts and schools have effective policies and practices that support the health of their students and staff:
- Student and staff absenteeism decreases
- Student concentration improves
- Student behavior problems are reduced
- Children and adolescents establish life-long health-promoting behaviors
Kentucky Department of Education: Coordinated School Health
Studies of school-based programs show that health instruction is effective in changing health attitudes and behaviors. By combining instruction with environmental, social and service support, a Coordinated School Health Plan aims to make sure pro-health attitudes and behaviors endure. It shows students, teachers, parents and the community that by working together, they can achieve a higher level of health and well-being. The Kentucky Department of Education calls upon all boards and councils to approve a Comprehensive School Health Program based on the eight components listed below and do so in concert with the concepts of KERA. Individual strengths, needs and solutions should be slowly developed through fervent cooperation with others.
Mississippi Office of Healthy Schools
Through the strategies, programs, services and initiatives coordinated by the Office of Healthy Schools, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) continues to focus on and promote the undeniable connection between healthy students and schools and academic achievement.
Mississippi Alliance for School Health (MASH)
The Mississippi Alliance for School Health, Inc. (MASH) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) civic, charitable and educational association dedicated to improving the health of Mississippi's children through the promotion of coordinated school health.
Mississippi State Department of Health: Coordinated School Health
The MSDH School Health Program works to make all Mississippi children healthy, ready to learn, and prepared to make lifelong healthy choices. To advance that goal, the program provides leadership and support to communities to help them meet the needs of their schoolchildren for health services and health education. The program follows a coordinated approach among families, health care workers, the media, religious and community organizations, and young people themselves.
The Ohio School Based Health Care Association
The Ohio School Based Health Care Association supports the health, well-being and long term success of Ohio's children, adolescents, families, schools and communities through promotion of locally-tailored school based health care.
Ohio Action for Healthy Kids
Ohio Action for Healthy Kids, Children's Hunger Alliance and American Dairy Association Mideast have joined forces to accomplish a shared goal to improve the health and academic performance of Ohio's school children. The Healthy Kids, Healthy Schools, collaboration empowers children to improve their health with comprehensive nutrition education and physical fitness programs that make eating healthy and staying active fun!
Virginia School Health Guidelines
This document is intended to enhance the educational process by providing guidance to and resources for school administrators, school nurses, teachers, and other staff members on the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive or coordinated approach to school health. It presents up-to-date, practical health information and recommendations for developing local programs and policies related to school health programs. Federal and state laws and regulations, local needs, professional personnel from educational and health care fields, and the availability of resources will influence how this publication can be adapted for local use.
Virginia Department of Education
Each Virginia public school board establishes a school health advisory board consisting of representation from parents, students, health professionals, educators and others. The school health advisory board assists with the development of health policy in the school division and the evaluation of the status of school health, health education, the school environment and health services.
School Nurses
This is a great destination for up-to-date, evidence based school health information! The editors are school nurses and school nurse consultants with real life experience in an educational environment.environment.
Child and Teen BMI Caluculator
This calculator provides BMI and the corresponding BMI-for-age percentile on a CDC BMI-for-age growth chart. Use this calculator for children and teens, aged 2 through 19 years old. For adults, 20 years old and older, use the Adult BMI Calculator.
Tips for Parents
Childhood obesity is associated with various health-related consequences. Obese children and adolescents may experience immediate health consequences and may be at risk for weight-related health problems in adulthood.
Overweight and Obesity
The goal is to to implement policy and environmental strategies to make healthy eating and active living accessible and affordable for everyone.
Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity
CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) utilizes a public health approach to address the role of nutrition and physical activity in improving the public's health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases. The scope of DNPAO activities includes leadership, policy and guidelines development, surveillance, epidemiological and behavioral research, intervention development, technical assistance to states and communities, training and education, communication, and partnership development.
Adolescent and School Health
CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) promotes the health and well-being of children and adolescents to enable them to become healthy and productive adults.
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