Chapter 6 The School Health Program

Coordinated School Health Program – 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. The eight components to this concept include health education, physical education, health services, nutrition services, counseling, psychological and social services, health school environment, health promotion for staff, family/community involvement.

School is a place that all must pass through - impact on the health of children, families, and community

CSHP improves the access to health services, educate about pressing health issues, and provide a safe and healthy environment

Foundations for a CSHP are:
1. supportive school administration
2. well-organized school health council
3. written school health policies

Issues that face school health advocates:
1. lack of support for coordinated school health
2. Controversal topics
3. Implementation of school-based health centers
4. violence in school

All in all, this chapter discussed the importance of a CSHP and the benefits that the students will encounter.

We have gotten along in schools so far without coordinated school health, why do we need it now? Time is at a premium - let the parents be responsible for their kids health.

Group response:
My team and I feel that we need a coordinated school health program more then ever now because of the many different health issues youth are encountering. Many of these issues, obesity, substance abuse, can be totally avoidable and preventable. The reason for their occurence is the lack of information people have about their health and what substances and nutrition can do to your good for the better or worse.
We also felt that teaching health should not be left up to the parents because many parents are unaware of this knowledge too. We think parents and teachers need to do both their parts. Teachers provide the information and the parents make sure that the child is taking part in the healthy decisions being taught at school. No matter what, you can’t leave it up to one or the other on their own, it’s a team project.