Integrated learning and health: A call for increasing coordination efforts

Abstract

This commentary reinforces a call to recognize the need for substantive collaboration, communication, and cooperation across education and health sectors. Themes throughout the body of articles contained in the special issue are discussed as strengthening knowledge about the benefits to integration of education and health domains in prevention and intervention. A brief review of coordinated school health efforts in the United States is provided, with discussion related to increasing the roles of student services personnel in leading coordination. Finally, recommendations are made to move the conclusions provided in the issue around the what for potential foci of prevention and intervention to greater focus on the how in integration and sustained implementation in diverse contexts and across broad systems.

Keywords::

• coordinated school health
• learning
• health
• social determinants of health

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sandra M. Chafouleas

Sandra M. Chafouleas is professor in the Department of Educational Psychology in the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut. She serves (with Polifroni) as the co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH) under the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention at the University of Connecticut. Prior to joining the university, she worked as a school psychologist and school administrator across a variety of settings. Her work has focused on school-based behavior assessment and intervention and school mental health.

E. Carol Polifroni

E. Carol Polifroni is professor of nursing and director of the Office of Public Engagement at the University of Connecticut. She serves (with Chafouleas) as the co-director of the Collaboratory on School and Child Health (CSCH) under the Center for Health, Intervention, and Prevention at the University of Connecticut. Her work has focused on interdisciplinary connections and enhanced diversity of the nursing profession and development of tomorrow's nursing educators.