Health at School

WHAT IS HEALTH AT SCHOOL?

Health at School is a free program provided by the OKC-County Health Department to schools in Oklahoma County. Health at School is a multi-disciplinary team made up of health promotion specialists, community health workers, and social services specialists.

We are partnered with specific schools for three years at a time, and provide education, coordination, consultation and support to increase health and wellness at each school. We are currently partnered with the entire Millwood School District, and eight Oklahoma City Public Schools: Arthur Elementary, Coolidge Elementary, Green Pastures Elementary, Greystone Elementary, Parmelee Elementary, Prairie Queen Elementary, Taft Middle School, and Wheeler Elementary.

WHAT DOES HEALTH AT SCHOOL DO?

Health at School utilizes the CDC’s (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community Model (WSCC) model to assist schools in creating and maintaining a healthier school environment.

The WSCC is made up of ten inter-connected components that work together to increase health.

  • Health Education
  • Nutrition Environment and Services
  • Employee Wellness
  • Social and Emotional School Climate
  • Physical Environment
  • Health Services
  • Counseling, Psychological, Social Services
  • Community Involvement
  • Family Engagement
  • Physical Education and Physical Activity

WHAT IS HEALTH AT SCHOOL?

Schools are in a unique position to influence and improve the health of our youth. Ninety-five percent of young people spend six hours or more a day in school. This translates into 13 critical years of their physical, social, psychological, and intellectual development.

The academic success of youth is strongly linked to their health. Science has shown that healthier students have a greater ability to concentrate, lower absenteeism, better productivity, fewer discipline problems, higher test scores, and better classroom participation.

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adolescent and School Health. Healthy Youth! Coordinated School Health. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 7 December 2010. Web. 23 May 2011.

Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition. Healthy Oklahoma Schools Manual. Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. May 2011. Web. 10 June 2011.

MORE INFORMATION

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