While the National Health Education Standards have focused great interest and attention for student (consumer) health literacy, equal attention should be given to teacher (provider) health literacy. Teacher Health Literacy may be defined as "the capacity of teachers to obtain, interpret, and understand basic health information and services, with the competence to use such information and services in ways that enhance the learning of health concepts by school students". The purpose of this session is to review traditional approaches to teacher preparation in school health, then present an alternative, innovative, university field-tested vision for enhancing health literacy in school health teacher education. Educators need to be fully prepared to address the complex issues and social morbidities that youth present in the classroom in the 21st century. A holistic vision for professional preparation in child and adolescent health will be presented for integration into school health promotion training programs. This training model (vision) or "CAH Logic Framework" illustrates the link between child and adolescent health research and theory, CAH information, and the domains of youth health promotion practice such as health pedagogy, health education, public policy, health advocacy, and medical care. The health literate teacher requires knowledge and skills that goes beyond traditional health pedagogy such as reviewing how to do lesson plans, understanding the ten health content areas, and learning different teaching methods. This session targets school health promotion specialists whom are responsible for pre-service and in-service school health teacher education
Learning Objectives: This session will demonstrate a new vision or model for the preparation of school health educators. The participants will learn how to move beyond traditional health pedagogical methods in the design of pre-service and in-service school health education in teacher education. They will receive a paper which describes how to enhance teacher health literacy through implementation of the Child and Adolescent Health Logic Framework
Keywords: School Health Educators, Health Literacy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.