Health Education in the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Program

Abstract

This article describes the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities Program, focusing on its Health Education and Promotion component. It explores how each school-based health center in this innovative federal program had its own approach to health education that was unique to its environment and needs, by looking at a subset of the 26 programs.

Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities sites were required to do a comprehensive needs assessment before applying for grant funding, and they then had to develop a plan for health education and promotion that would target those areas of need about which they had the greatest concern. This attention to defining priorities resulted in a rich variety of health education plans and activities. While one urban community might see educating students about violence and its prevention as the most urgent health education need, another community might see basic hygiene issues as most concerning, and another might see nutrition education as the most pressing need.

Because all Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities sites have worked carefully with both in-school and community partners, there have been several creative collaborations that have enhanced the delivery of health education and promotion services. Also, because grantees understood that health education and promotion can occur in the classroom, in the health center, and in the community, education on certain topics such as asthma has used all three resources.

School-based health centers have, with their welcoming attitude and accessibility, opened up opportunities to educate not only students, but also parents, schools, and the wider community in healthy lifestyles.