Uneducated children are less likely to be healthy, and unhealthy children are educationally disadvantaged. A strong relationship exists between student involvement in health risk behaviors and negative education outcomes, behaviors, and attitudes. Historical precedent exists for school-based health promotion. Despite unprecedented gains in health, education, and economic status, America's most threatening health problems are often the result of lifestyle and personal decision-making which develops throughout the school years. Schools are uniquely capable of leading the way in altering this trend. Because health is a means to almost all educational ends, health education should be a central part of curriculum and a primary prevention strategy in health care reform. Comprehensive School Health Education (CSHE) provides students and staff with planned, systematic, ongoing learning opportunities that are developmentally appropriate and designed to ensure health-enhancing decision making that will prevent illness or disability and promote wellness and personal growth. Although program differences exist, the core body of knowledge includes 10 fields of study. Coordinated School Health Programs (CSHPs) encompass 8 different components, of which CSHE is but one. Coordinated School Health Programs have existed for many years, but the concept continues to evolve. Various aspects of CSHPs have been implemented with varying levels of success. There are many suggestions for more successful implementation. The reality of what CSHPs are still lags behind the vision of what they can be. Designing and implementing effective CSHPs represents a key challenge, but when well-designed integrated health service programs are coupled with CSHE, there is the potential to advance the state of health of the entire nation.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this lecture, the participant should be able to… 1. recount the historical precedent which exists for the involvement of schools in promoting health. 2. justify why the focus of health education efforts is towards elementary and secondary aged students. 3. name the ten general areas of study in comprehensive school health education and the eight specific components of coordinated school health programs. 4. list several past and present comprehensive school health education implementation projects. 5. identify specific strategies for more successful implementation of Coordinated School Health Programs.
Keywords: School Health, Education
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.