Use the School Health Index (SHI) to Assess School Health Environment
The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. It is easy to use and completely confidential.
The SHI has two activities that are to be completed by school teams:
1. Eight self-assessment modules: The self-assessment process involves members of the school community who come together to discuss what the school is already doing to promote good health and to identify strengths and weaknesses. The SHI allows staff to assess the extent to which the school implements the types of policies and practices recommended by CDC in its research-based guidelines for school health and safety policies and programs.
2. Planning for improvement process: After the self-assessment process is completed, staff are asked to identify recommended actions the school can take to improve its performance in areas that received low scores. The SHI then guides them through a simple process for prioritizing the various recommendations.
For more information
click here or contact
Kari Senger, Co-Director, Coordinated School Health.
New CDC Resource: Staff Development Program on Fostering School Connectedness
The Fostering School Connectedness Staff Development Program is designed to:
• Introduce teachers and other school staff members to the concept of school connectedness
• Generate enthusiasm and interest in improving school connectedness
• Initiate implementation of a school connectedness action plan, using ideas from school
Connectedness: Strategies for Increasing Protective Factors among Youth.
This guide provides step-by-step procedures, activities, materials, resources, and presentations (with speaker narrative and notes) for implementing two staff development programs – a 45-minute
basic overview of school connectedness, or a 2-hour
program to develop action plans for improving school connectedness.
Read more about
CDC’s school connectedness resources and access this staff development guide and related presentations.
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