LESSON 1

INTRODUCTION TO COORDINATED
SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM

What is Coordinated School Health?

Coordinated School Health program is an integrated set of planned, sequential, school-

affiliated strategies, activities and services designed to promote the optimal physical,
emotional, social and educational development of students.
The program involves and is supportive of families and is determined by the community. It
is based on local needs, resources, standards and values. It is coordinated by a multidisciplinary
team (CSH Leadership Team) that is accountable to the community for program quality and
effectiveness. By addressing health-related issues, schools not only foster students’ academic
achievements, but also help to establish healthy behaviours that last a lifetime.

IMPORTANCE AND GOALS OF COORDINATED HEALTH PROGRAM

Schools play a vital role in developing and supporting children as they grow and learn.
Every teacher, parent, administrator and school staff member want to see students succeed in
school, and establish the skills, knowledge and readiness they will need as adults.
While Health and Physical Education (HPE) classes are an integral part of school health,
the evidence is clear that the skills and knowledge gained through HPE programs alone are not
enough to provide students with the strong foundation they need to lead lives that are physically,
emotionally, socially and mentally healthy.
Health in our schools must extend beyond the curriculum and the classroom to the entire
school setting. Establishing physical and social environments, formal and informal learning and
leadership opportunities, and rules and day-to-day practices that support and encourage healthy
behaviours are all critical factors.

The optimal outcomes can be categorized into three general areas:

1. Student outcomes
2. Programmatic and organizational outcomes
3. Community outcomes

Student Outcomes

Students will assume personal responsibility for avoiding social, emotional, and physical
health-compromising behaviors and for engaging in health-promoting behaviors. Students' health
needs—preventative, emergency, acute, and chronic—will be addressed to allow students to
reach the highest possible level of educational achievement and personal health. Particular
attention will be given to the health component of Individual Education Plans of students with
special health care needs who require special education and related services.
Programmatic and Organizational Outcomes

The relationship between health status and educational achievement will be evident in the
policies and programs of the school. The school's health emphasis will be integrated across all
activities. Linkages among program components, disciplines, and participating agencies will be
clearly defined and regularly evaluated. Individual and group health problems will be identified and
managed with appropriate prevention, assessment, intervention or referral, and follow-up
measures. Services will be organized to provide appropriate and timely responses to emergency,
acute, and chronic health problems. The school's education and health programs will
be continually re-examined and reformed as necessary to enhance student health, performance,
and achievement.

Community Outcomes

The community will be actively involved in determining the design of a school health
program and in supporting and reinforcing the goals of the program. This design will include
assurance that schools are safe, with an environment conducive to learning and health promotion,
and that policies and procedures are in place to enhance the use of schools as a
community resource for health. All health-related programs delivered by the school
and by community members through the schools will enhance the health status of the
students and result in an improvement of the health and quality of life of the community.
By developing healthy school environments, we can set students up for success
in the classroom and beyond.

BENEFITS OF COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAM

A coordinated approach to school health effectively aligns health and education efforts and
leads to improved physical, mental and developmental outcomes for students. Research studies
over the past decade has consistently concluded that student health status and
student achievement are directly connected and, in fact, that student health is one of the most
significant influences on learning and achievement.

What are the benefits of healthy school?

 Enhanced physical, mental and social health of the whole school community
 Improved academic achievement for students
 Decreased behavioural issues in classroom and schoolyard
 Healthier positive attitudes
 Enhanced student engagement
 Better school attendance
 More parent involvement in school activities
 Higher staff morale and productivity in a healthier, more productive workplace
 Improved home, school and community partnerships
 Complements your school improvement plans
 Facilitates implementation of Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandums (e.g.
Daily Physical Activity, School Food and Beverage, Concussion Policy)
What is comprehensive School Health program?

A comprehensive School Health program is an organized set of policies,

procedures, and activities designed to protect and promote the health and well-being of students
and staff which has traditionally included health services, healthful school environment,
and health education. The health and well-being of children and youth must be a fundamental
value of society. Urgent health and social problems have underscored the need for
collaboration among families, schools, agencies, communities and governments in
taking a comprehensive approach to school-based health promotion.(Health is Academic,
1998).
A Comprehensive school health approach includes a broad spectrum of activities
and services which take place in schools and their surrounding communities that enable children
and youth to enhance their health, develop to their fullest potential and establish productive and
satisfying relationships in their present and future lives. The goals of a comprehensive approach
are to:
 Promote health and wellness
 Prevent specific diseases, disorders and injury
 Prevent high risk social behaviors
 Promote positive health and safety behaviors
 Help support those who are already exhibiting special health care needs.

The Eight components of the Comprehensive School Health Program

 School Environment
 Health Education
 Health Services
 Physical Education
 Counseling, Guidance and Mental health
 School food and nutrition services
 Worksite Health Promotion
 Parents/Community Involvement

1. School Environment
 The physical and aesthetic surroundings and the psychosocial climate and culture of
the school.
 Factors that influence the physical environment include the school building
and the area surrounding it, any biological or chemical agents that are
detrimental to health, and such physical conditions as temperature, noise, and
lighting. P
 Psychological environment includes the physical, emotional, and social
conditions that affect the well-being of students and staff.
2. Health Education
 A planned, sequential, K-12 curriculum that addresses the physical, mental,
emotional, and social dimensions of health.
 Designed to motivate and assist students to maintain and improve their
health, prevent disease, and reduce health-related risk behaviors.
 Allows students to develop and demonstrate increasingly
sophisticated health-related knowledge, attitudes, skills, and practices.
 Includes a variety of topics, such as personal health, family
health, community health, consumer health, environmental health,
sexuality education, mental and emotional health, injury prevention
and safety, nutrition, prevention and control of disease, and substance use
and abuse.
  Qualified, trained teachers provide health education.
3. Health Services
 Services provided for students to appraise, protect, and promote health.
 Designed to ensure access or referral to primary health care services or both.
 Fosters appropriate use of primary health care services.
 Prevents and controls communicable disease and other health problems.
 Provides emergency care for illness or injury.
 Promotes and provides optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school
facility and school environment.
 Provides educational and counseling opportunities for promoting and
maintaining individual, family, and community health.
 Qualified professionals (such as physicians, nurses, dentists, health
educators, and other allied health personnel) provide these services.