SBCSS News and Press Releases

Coordinated Health Leadership Institute Available To County Schools

2008-11-19

SAN BERNARDINO - School districts throughout San Bernardino County will have the opportunity to take part in the Coordinated School Health Leadership Institute, which would help streamline comprehensive coverage of health issues for all students and decrease disparities among high-risk students.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell will attend a meeting with county district superintendents on Nov. 20 in San Bernardino to unveil how the Health Leadership Institute will work.

"We look forward to this opportunity to encourage and assist our districts in finding strategies to decrease the health disparities for our students and provide the best opportunity to reach their academic potential and be healthy productive members of our community," O'Connell wrote in a letter to the district superintendents.

Under the Coordinated School Health Leadership Institute, county districts would apply to be accepted into the program with the goal of being able to provide better coordinated student health programs. The model includes the following components: health education; physical education; school health services; psychological and counseling services; nutrition services; employee health promotion; environmental health and safety; and family and community involvement.

"This is a win-win situation for our schools, families and all students who attend public schools in San Bernardino County," County Superintendent Gary Thomas said. "This should improve the well-being of students, which in turn, will help them in their academic achievement."

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools is partnering with the California Department of Education and the American Cancer Society to provide the training for the Coordinated School Health Leadership Institute. Trainings are scheduled to begin in March.

There is evidence that shows the positive impact of one or more components of the coordinated school health program on student health and learning outcomes. School administrators report (McKenzie and Richmond, 1998) that coordinating health initiatives resulted in: reduced absenteeism; fewer classroom behavior problems; improved academic performance; greater interest in healthy diets; increased participation in fitness activities; delayed onset of certain health risk behaviors; less smoking among students and staff; and lower rates of teen pregnancy.