Addressing Health Related Barriers to Learning

OSPI Counseling Summer Institute

June 27, 2013

Learning Objectives Participants will be able to:

• Describe the connection between health risk behaviors and academic achievement.

• Increase awareness of tools to support school and district health efforts.

• Identify opportunities, resources, and next steps to address health related barriers to learning.

DiscussionIntroduce yourself to the person next to you.

• Share a key health issue faced by students in your community that impacts learning.

• Share a strategy used in your school to support health and wellness.

Key Findings of the Report

• Health and education are linked

• Every health risk can affect academic success

• Interventions can narrow disparities

• Health interventions can improve learning and health

Research Review: School-based Health Interventions and Academic Achievement

Healthy Students Learn Better

Every Health Risk Makes a Difference

Race/Ethnicity and Achievement

Relationship of Resources and Reach

Fewer resources More resources

Universal reach Selective reach

Effective School-based Interventions

• Social / emotional skill building

• Parent/ teacher communication skills

• Increased physical activity

• School breakfast programs

• Chronic disease management

• School-based health centers

• Handwashing

A Coordinated Approach – School Health Advisory Council

WA State Coordinated School Health

Model

Key Ingredients for Success

• Convene a health committee

• Conduct an assessment / Review data

• Develop / Implement a plan

• Evaluate results / Continuously improve

• Create policies to support school health

• Identify sufficient resources to succeed

Tools to Assess School Health

School Level – School Health Indexhttp://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/

District Level – Healthy Schools Report Cardhttp://www.healthyschoolcommunities.org/hsrc/pages/reportcard/index.aspx

Resources to Support School Health

Funding Tools and Resourceshttp://healthyschools.ospi.k12.wa.us/waschool/data_tools/funding.html

 

GRANT FINDING TOOLS The following tools maintain a current list of state and national funding opportunities available to support school health. 

Health In Schools Grant Finder - A tool from the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools which identifies multiple grants currently available to support elements of Coordinated School Health.  

Health in Schools Grant Finder -Grants with Rolling Deadlines - A second grant finding tool from the Center for Health and Health Care in Schools to identify school health grants with rolling deadlines.

WA Grant Finder A tool from SPARX that helps identify state-specific grants for your Physical Education, After school, Early childhood or Coordinated School Health program. Grants can be used for curriculum, teacher training, or equipment.  Simply select Washington and it will list all current, related grants available in the data base.

Sarah ButzineStudent Support

Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)Sarah.butzine@k12.wa.us

360-725-6039