School Health is Community Health:
The Role of Health Educators in Promoting School Health

The undergraduate and graduate degree in health education builds a strong foundation in recognizing the impact that health has on quality of life; and as a result, community health educators can play an influential role in supporting school, family, and community, efforts to promote a lifetime of health-enhancing habits and skills in children. By training, community health educators are primed to address the complex issues associated with the avoidance of chronic disease risks. They are natural allies in helping to emphasize the link between health status and academic performance in children.

Through a variety of positions and areas, community health educators are involved supporting school health and fostering healthy eating, physical activity, and the avoidance of tobacco use among youth. The following information provides specific examples of how SOPHE members are at the forefront, addressing challenging issues that affect youth and school health.

Individual Level

• Assist schools in conducting assessments like the School Health Index to identify strengths or weaknesses in the provision of coordinated school health programs.
• Assist children and families in adopting behavioral health plans

Community & School District Level

• Participate on school health advisory councils;
• Assist in the planning of local wellness policies;
• Work as K-12 health education teachers;
• Work as School Health coordinators at state and local health and education agencies;
• Develop classroom health education materials for school districts;
• Lead and direct community based health and youth serving organizations aimed at supporting youth in adopting healthy lifestyles.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs that take place in community based health and youth serving organizations.

University Level

• Prepare community health education students’ through undergraduate and graduate course work that focuses on or encompasses child, adolescent, and school health.
• Establish partnerships with area schools and community organizations to:
  • conduct research on child health behavior, health status, and academic performance;
  • create service learning opportunities for community health and public health education students that occur in schools and state and local health and education agencies; and
  • partner with schools and communities to improve the health of students through a variety health activities and programs.

National & Federal Level

• Lead and direct national programs whose mission supports and promotes school health
• Assist policymakers in making effectives policies that address the health of children and adolescents.
• Advocate for funding and programs that support and sustain Coordinated School Health Programs
• Fund and support state and local initiatives aimed at building and sustaining school and health programs for youth, communities, families.