During recess, health mentors led children in active group games. Simple take-home messages were emphasized, and each lesson was accompanied by a colorful health newsletter sent home to parents, highlighting key points. We designated this shortened intervention KiPOW! The medical student co-leader of the District Southeast CCBHC Learning Community event of Columbia KiPOW!
Resources and ideas for implementing regular, physical activity breaks are available through USDA and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. School-aged children and adolescents should participate in 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity every day. (See more on the NYC FITNESSGRAM web-based application here (requires NYCPS login) on the Wellness Hub (requires NYCPS login); see more on height and weight measurements in Chancellor’s Regulation A-701) Parents and caregivers can access their student’s annual NYC FITNESSGRAM report on the NYC Schools Account. NYCPS actively notifies the public about the content of or any updates to the wellness policy annually, at a minimum. NYCPS also uses these mechanisms to inform the community about the availability of the annual report including the triennial report.
Participation in a School-Based Wellness Initiative Associated With Improved K-12 Student Body Mass Index Trends
When students know their health is prioritized, they feel more supported.Mental health is equally critical. School-based health programs offer a myriad of advantages that extend beyond the classroom walls. We fund programs with an equity lens—prioritizing communities historically marginalized in healthcare and education. SBHSN operates a competitive grant process open to public and public charter schools serving students in grades 6–12. They can also track changes in students’ health behaviors, like increased physical activity or improved dietary choices.
Comprehensive Health Education
Defining clear objectives ensures the program stays on track. If they see the benefits in numbers, they’ll be more likely to support the initiative. This section collects any data citations, data availability statements, or supplementary materials included in this article. The authority had no role in the design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data or in writing the manuscript. We want to thank all facilitators who participated in this study for their cooperation and Vered Shiraz from Haifa University for providing the statistical consultation. Other studies assessing outcomes among adolescents also reported maintained results in the long term 42,43,44,45.
- Further, SWT alluded to specific strategies and practices adopted by their local Extension officer that greatly facilitated programming across the school.
- Staying informed about campus wellness resources and actively promoting their use among faculty, staff, and students is a foundational step.
- Improving capacity for health promotion
- Wellness programs in schools go beyond promoting physical health; they have a direct and positive correlation with academic success.
- It is important to consider the methods of data collection within D&I science, as researchers must strike a balance between collecting high-quality implementation data without over-burdening school sites 57, 58, thus self-report data may present the most feasible method for obtaining rich information from stakeholders.
Supporting School Employees During the COVID-19 Pandemic
For purposes of this review, SBHCs are defined as clinics that provide health services to students in pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12. Because SBHCs improve educational and health-related outcomes in disadvantaged students, they can be effective in advancing health equity. Most of the 46 studies included in the review evaluated onsite clinics serving urban, low-income, and racial or ethnic minority high school students. For this to happen, it’s imperative that students are provided with supportive and engaging school environments where they feel accepted and valued. Health and wellness education must be both accessible and meaningful to students regardless of age, gender, race, ability, socioeconomic status and/or religion. Through the consistent implementation of health and wellness promoting policies, the quality of a school’s overall environment can be maintained.
This immersion provides a structured, evidence-based path to restoring balance, empowering you to make sustainable lifestyle changes that nurture both the body and mind for long-term good health. By clicking the button below, you agree to receive communications via Email/Call/WhatsApp/SMS from Harvard Medical School & Emeritus about this program and other relevant programs. For questions about the School-Based Wellness Center Grant Program, please email us at
