Implementing the School Health Index in Your School

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Implementing the School Health Index in Your
School
A discussion of the benefits of the School Health
Index tool
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Mission Statement

• The American Cancer Society is the Nationwide
  Community-based Voluntary Health Organization
  Dedicated to Eliminating Cancer as a Major Health
  Problem by Preventing Cancer, Saving Lives and
  Diminishing Suffering From Cancer, Through
  Research, Education, Advocacy, and Service.

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Primary Focus on Chronic Disease Prevention

• Health risk behaviors begin in childhood and
  persist into adulthood.
• Many of these behaviors place adults at risk for
  cancer.
• To prevent many cancers we need to prevent young
  people from engaging in health risk behaviors.

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• Schools have more influence on the lives of
  young people than any other social institution
  except the family and provide a setting in which
  friendship networks develop, socialization
  occurs, and norms that govern behavior are
  developed and reinforced.
• Healthy People 2010, U.S. Department

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Academic performance is compromised by poor
health. Physical Inactivity and Poor Diet
contribute to risk factors for heart disease,
diabetes, obesity, and cancer.

• 27 of children age 5-10 have 1 or more heart
  disease risk factors
• 1 in 3 children born in the year 2000 will
  develop Type II Diabetes (based on current trends)

Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC)
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Students who engage in positive health behaviors
have

• Improved attendance
• Better grades
• Higher graduation rates
• Increased standardized test scores
• Lower dropout rates
• Fewer behavioral problems at school
• More participation in school activities
• Higher aspirations for post secondary
• education

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How To Make A Coordinated Approach Happen ...

• Organize a school health council to coordinate
  the school health program
• Many schools are already implementing some
  components of CSHP
• Initially it may seem difficult
• There are no set rulesconsider what will
  work best in your school community

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What Is A School Health Council?

• An advisory body comprised of faculty and staff
  from the coordinated school health program
• School nurses health educators physical
  educators administrators counselors food
  service personnel
• Additional members
• Parents members of community health
  agencies faith community local businesses
  students
• Members should be committed to the health of
  children and youth

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Benefits of a School Health Council

• Improve overall health education
• Link schools with community health resources
• Provide a means for improving school health
  policies and programs
• Educate the community about the school and
  health issues
• Increase parent and community involvement in the
  school

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Our Work In Philadelphia

• School District of Philadelphia 214,350
  students enrolled in 2003/2004 school year and
  276 schools
• Large, urban environment with challenges such as
  poverty, violence, competing issues
• Formed partnership between ACS, the Food Trust
  and the District
• Will form 100 school health councils over the
  next four years

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Philadelphia, continued

• work collaboratively by holding weekend
  educational programs for council
  members/participants in Food Trust program
• Meet one-on-one with schools to help form
  councils, discuss/assist with SHI, develop action
  plans to address weaknesses identified on SHI
• To date, there are 25 new school health councils
  formed in the 03-04 school year
• Meetings to be held over next 2 weeks for
  additional schools to form councils and to
  administer the SHI

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Q How Can Schools Begin?A By Completing the
School Health Index

• The School Health Index is a Self-Assessment and
  Planning guide from the Dept. of Health and Human
  Services/the CDC.
• It will enable your school to identify strengths
  and weaknesses in health promotion policies and
  programs.
• It will help your school develop an action plan
  for improving student health.
• It involves the necessary parties of parents,
  students, teachers and the community all
  working together to improve school health
  policies, programs and services.

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The School Health Index

• Focus on Physical Activity, Healthy Eating, and a
  Tobacco-Free Lifestyle
• 8 Different modules based on CSHP
• Health Education
• Physical Education
• Health Services
• Nutrition Services
• Counseling, Psychological and Social Services
• Healthy School Environment
• Health Promotion for Staff
• Family/Community Involvement

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The School Health Index

• available at no cost
• Can be complete in as little as 5 hours
• Many improvements you will want to make can be
  done with existing staff and resources

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Getting Started

• Identify a Site Coordinator and have that
  individual review the 8 modules
• Assemble a School Health Index Team
• Principal/Assistant Principal
• Health Ed./Phys. Ed./Other teachers
• Food Services
• Parents
• Students
• School Nurse
• School Counselor/psychologist/social worker
• Coaches
• Community-based HCP
• Community-based Social Service Provider
  
  
  Community-based health
  agency (e.g. ACS Food Trust)

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Completing the Modules

• Assign modules to appropriate Index Team members
  or subcommittees
• Answer questions as accurately as possible no
  passing grade, not designed to be punitive
• Expect at least some low scores look at these
  as areas that carry potential
• Have each team develop and rate a set of
  recommendations

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Next Steps

• Meet with full team to discuss recommendations
• Select a manageable number to address
• Complete School Health Improvement Plan
• IMPORTANT NOTE There are two separate tools
  one for elementary and one for Middle/High Schools

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The American Cancer Society Supports School
Health Because

• Health education in schools can help to prevent
  cancer.
• Health education in the classroom must be
  reinforced and coordinated with other components
  of the school health program.
• A coordinated school health program can lead to
  healthier students and communities, and can
  ultimately reduce cancer risks.

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THANK YOU!!!
1-800-ACS-2345
www.cancer.org
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• Never doubt that a small group of committed
  people can change the world. Indeed, it is the
  only thing that ever has.
• Margaret Mead