Successful school health programs: Using pacing events to get organized, create commitment, and spur action

Healthy schools are needed to support healthy minds and bodies of students and staff. However, committed leaders of school health may lack the tools to translate a vision, secure buy-in or generate commitments to advance a project or program , particularly in tight budgetary environments where schools are not inclined to spend on anything but programs viewed as core to their mission.

In partnership with U.S. EPA, the Cadmus Group, Inc. has developed a framework and rapid change technology to empower school champions in almost half of the nations school to implement school environmental health programs. Using a simple framework, our guidance provides strategic actions demonstrated to deliver program success and provide a common language and vision that attracts stakeholders to school-based action. To further spread this actionable guidance throughout the school community, pacing events – thoughtfully prepared and facilitated meetings that focus on intentional outcomes and vigorous participant roles – are used to create powerful buy-in and excitement for a school health improvement initiative.

Using findings from a national campaign that promotes school environmental health– U.S. EPA's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Program – this session will explain how providing simple, proven guidance coupled with the innovative technology of pacing events to pace and accelerate action can build the commitment and political will within a school district to sustain effective school health programs. The approaches presented may be used at the local, state and national level.