School Health Component
Promoting healthy and safe behaviors
among students is an important part of
the fundamental mission of schools,
which is to provide young people with
the knowledge and skills they need to
become healthy and productive adults
school health
The school health index (SHI) is based on CDC's
research-based guidelines for school health programs,
which identify the policies and practices most likely to
be effective in reducing youth health risk behaviors.
The SHI is structured around CDC’s model of
coordinated school health (CSH). This model
highlights the importance of involving and
coordinating the efforts of all eight interactive
components to maintain the well-being of young
people.
Habits and practices related to health and safety are
influenced by the entire school environment. That’s
why the SHI has eight different modules (component)
that correspond to the eight components of coordinated
school health
School health component
1. School Health and Safety Policies and Environment
Instructions
2. Health Education
3. Physical Education
4. Nutrition Services
5. School Health Services
6. School Counseling, Psychological, and Social Services
7. Health Promotion for Staff
8. Family and Community Involvement
School Health and Safety Policies and
Environment Instructions
Environment Instructions
school health committee or team that meets and
oversees school health and safety policies and
programs
Written school health and safety policies
Communicate health and safety policies to students,
parents, staff members, and visitors
Positive school climate
Overcome barriers to learning
School Health and Safety Policies and
Environment Instructions
Prevent harassment and bullying
Active supervision
Written crisis response plan
Safe physical environment
Maintain safe physical environment
Access to free drinking water
Prohibit tobacco use among students, school staff
members, and visitors
Health Education
Health Education
health education instruction in all grades
Sequential health education curriculum
Active learning strategies
Culturally-appropriate activities and examples
Assignments encourage student interaction with
family and community
Professional development of health education
teacher in health education
Health Education
Essential topics to be covered:
prevent unintentional injuries and violence
Essential topics on physical activity
Essential topics on healthy eating
Essential topics on preventing tobacco use
Essential topics on asthma awareness
Physical Education
The total actual hour's is150 minutes of physical
education per week
Adequate teacher/student ratio
Recourses such as written physical education
curriculum, internet resources, and a plan for
assessing student performance
Students active at least 50% of the time during
physical education class sessions
Physical Education
Individualized physical activity and fitness plans
Health-related physical fitness
Promote participation in the community physical
activities
Address special health care needs
Playgrounds meet safety standards
Professional development for teachers
Promotion or support of walking and bicycling to
school
Nutrition Services
School offer school meals (breakfast and lunch
programs) that is fully accessible to all students
Variety of offerings in school meals such as,
fruits ,whole grain-rich food items and food that
address the cultural practices
Healthy food purchasing and preparation practices
Promote healthy food and beverage choices
Nutrition Services
Adequate time to eat school meals (at least 20 minutes
for lunch if no breakfast)
school nutrition services staff be trained at food safety,
nutrition standards updates in school meals, food
sensitivities and allergies
Clean, safe, pleasant cafeteria
Preparedness for food emergencies such as severe food
allergy reactions and choking
Farm to School activities
School Health Services
School Health Services
Health services provided by a full-time school nurse
Health and safety promotion for students and families
Collaborate with other school staff members to develop
plans to address student health problems
Identify and track students with chronic health
conditions
collecting student health information prior to school
entry
School Health Services
Consulting school health physician
Collection of information on unintentional injuries
and violence
Emergency response plans
Case management for students with asthma
Food allergy management plan
School Counseling, Psychological, and
Social Services
School Counseling, Psychological, and
Social Services
These services provided by a full-time counselor ,
social worker, and psychologist
Health and safety promotion and treatment to
promote the emotional, behavioral, and mental
health
Identify and track students with emotional,
behavioral, and mental health needs
Establish referral system
Identify and refer students involved in violence
Health Promotion for Staff
Health education for staff members
Health assessments for staff members (provide
accessible and free or low-cost health assessments at
least once a year)
Promote staff member participation in health
promotion programs
Stress management programs for staff
Breastfeeding policy
Training for staff members on conflict resolution
Health Promotion for Staff
Training for staff members on first aid and CPR
Programs for staff members on physical activity/fitness
Programs for staff members on healthy eating/weight
management
Modeling healthy eating and physical activity behaviors
Programs for staff members on tobacco-use cessation
Programs for staff members on asthma management
Family and Community Involvement
Family and Community Involvement
Communication with families to participate in school
health programs
Effective parenting strategies such as Praising and
rewarding desirable behavior
Family and community involvement in school
decision making
Family and community volunteers to enrich school
health and safety programs
Family and Community Involvement
Family involvement and reinforcement in learning
at home
Family and community access to school facilities
outside school hours to participate in or conduct health
promotion and education programs
Student and family involvement in the school meal
programs and other foods and beverages sold,
served and offered on school campus.
Writ your Recommendation
What are the strengths and the weaknesses of each
school’s health component?
For each of the weaknesses identified, list several
recommended actions to improve this component.
