Washington, D.C. – The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) announced today that it has adopted a Resolution in Support of Healthy School Hours.
The resolution, which was passed by the SOPHE Board of Trustees in January, is a “Call for SOPHE to support advocacy efforts for healthy school hours to improve the mental and physical health of adolescents.”
It directly supports SOPHE’s vision of “a healthy world through health education” and focuses on the dangers of sleep deficiency in adolescents, pointing out that it could lead to poorer mental health, substance abuse, obesity, cardiovascular problems, and higher risk of injuries.
“The SOPHE Board of Trustees strongly supports healthy school hours,” SOPHE President Dr. Leonard Jack, Jr. said. “The data shows that later start times leads to more sleep, better physical and mental health, and better academic performance.”
The resolution calls for the following actions:
- Encourage health education specialists and professionals to advocate and educate on the importance of this issue.
- Sponsor webinars and other professional development opportunities regarding the benefits of healthy school hours.
- Advocate for state and local legislation that promotes high school and middle school start times no earlier than 8:30 a.m.
- Join Start School Later, Inc. as a coalition partner and encourage SOPHE chapters to engage with Start School Later chapters in their state or region.
- Share this resolution with health and education organizations, including the Coalition of National Health Education Organizations, to encourage collaborative advocacy in support of healthy school hours.
“This resolution not only directly supports our vision, but also our mission to support leaders in health education and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities,” SOPHE CEO Dr. William Datema said. “It encourages public health specialists and professionals to educate key stakeholders about the importance of sleep and the positive health and academic impacts of a later start time.”
SOPHE remains dedicated to promoting and advancing the expertise and impact of health education. As a membership organization, SOPHE works with its members and partners to impact health through the skills and capacities of health education and health promotion.
################
About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit association that supports leaders in public health, health education and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities across the globe. SOPHE members work in health care settings, communities, organizations, schools, universities, worksites, and in local, state and federal government agencies. For more information visit www.sophe.org
