Sunday, August 25, 2013

PHHE 295. Chapter 6. The School Health Program: A Component of Community Health

PHHE 295
Chapter 6: The School Health Program: A Component of Community Health

Chapter Objectives
1)      List the ideal members of a school health council.
2)      Explain why a school health program is important.
3)      Identify the major foundations of a coordinated school health program.
4)      Define written school health policies and explain their importance to the school health program.
5)      Explain processes for developing and implementing school health policies.
6)      List the eight components of a coordinated school health program.
7)      Describe the role of the school health coordinator.
8)      Identify those services offered as part of school health services and explain why schools are logical places to offer such services.
9)      Explain what is meant by a healthy school environment and discuss the two major environments.
10)  Define school health education.
11)  Identify the eight National Health Education Standards.
12)  Explain how a health education specialist could locate credible health education curricula.
13)  Identify and briefly explain four issues that are faced by school health advocates.

Key Terms
·         Coordinated School Health Program: An organized set of policies, procedures, and activities designed to protect, promote, and improve the health and well-being of students and staff, thus improving a student’s ability to learn. It includes, but is not limited to, comprehensive school health education; school health services; a healthy school environment; school counseling; psychological and social services; physical education; school nutrition services; family and community involvement in school health; and school-site health promotion for staff.
·         School Health Council: Individuals from a school or school district and its community who work together to provide advice on aspects of the school health program.
·         School Health Policies: Written statements that describe the nature and procedures of a school health program.
·         School Health Coordinator: A professional at the district (or school) level responsible for management and coordination of all school health policies, activities, and resources.
·         School Health Services: Health services provided by school health workers to appraise, protect, and promote the health of students.
·         Healthy School Environment: The promotion, maintenance, and utilization of safe and wholesome surroundings in a school.
·         School Health Education: The development, delivery, and evaluation of a planned curriculum, kindergarten through grade 12.
·         Curriculum: A written plan for instruction.
·         Scope: Part of the curriculum that outlines what will be taught.
·         Sequence: Part of the curriculum that states in what order the content will be taught.


Chapter Summary
·         The potential impact of a coordinated school health program on the health of children, their families, and the community is great because the school is the one institution through which we all must pass.
·         To date, the full potential of school health has not been reached because of the lack of support and interest.
·         If implemented properly, coordinated school health programs can improve access to health services, educate students and about pressing health issues, and provide a safe and healthy environment in which students can learn and grow.
·         The foundations of the school health program include:
o   1) A school administration that supports such an effort
o   2) A well-organized school health council that is genuinely interested in providing a coordinated program for the students
o   3) Written school health policies.
·         School health policies are critical for ensuring accountability, credibility, and the institutionalization of programs and efforts to make schools a healthy learning environment.
·         The components of a coordinated health program include:
o   1) School health services
o   2) A healthy school environment
o   3) School health education
o   4) Counseling, psychological, and social services
o   5) Physical education
o   6) School nutrition services
o   7) Family/community involvement for school health
o   8) School-site health promotion for staff.
·         The eight National Health Education Standards emphasize a skills-based curriculum focusing on the following:
o   1) Core Concepts
o   2) Analyzing Influences
o   3) Accessing Valid Health Information, Products, and Services
o   4) Demonstrating Interpersonal Communication Skills
o   5) Utilizing Decision-Making Skills
o   6) Utilizing Goal-Setting Skills
o   7) Practicing Health-Enhancing Behaviors
o   8) Advocating for Personal, Family, and Community Health
·         A number of resources exist to assist health education specialists in locating and assessing available curricula.

·         A number of issues face school health advocates, including a lack of support for coordinated school health, health curriculum challenges, the implementation of school-based health centers, and violence in schools.

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