school health councils how to get action at the local level dr. maura rossman, medical consultant...
TRANSCRIPT
SCHOOLHEALTH COUNCILSHow to Get Action at the Local Level
Dr. Maura Rossman, Medical ConsultantBaltimore City Health Department
Joseph Leake, Health Education Staff AssociateBaltimore City Public School System
WHAT IS A SCHOOL HEALTH COUNCIL?
• An advisory body comprised of faculty and staff from the coordinated school health program– Health educators; physical educators; administrators; school
nurses; counselors; food and pupil service personnel, sanitarians
• Additional members– Parents; students; members of community health agencies; faith
community; business; medical professionals
• Members should be committed to the health of children and youth and representative of the population
WHAT IS A SCHOOL HEALTHCOUNCIL? (cont.)
• A conduit between the school and the community, facilitating awareness of the overall school program and ensuring that it reflects the values and needs of the community it serves.– Generally consisting of about 20 people– meets throughout the school year
WHAT DO SCHOOL HEALTH COUNCILS DO?
• Provide support for health-related• activities of the CSHP to reduce
the six CDC risk behaviors• Conduct assessments to determine
– Student health needs and interests
– Availability of health personnel and resources
– Current program offerings
– Parental concerns regarding student health
• Identify a school health coordinator
WHAT DO SCHOOL HEALTH COUNCILS DO? (cont.)
• Promote adoption of health-enhancing school policies
• Make recommendations concerning curriculum• Support school health activities
– Health fairs, informational workshops, staff development workshops
• Develop advocacy activities– Public speaking, letter writing, publicity campaigns
At the most basic level...
an entity that facilitates communication and collaboration among key personnel in each of the eight school health components.
School Health Councils should be ...
School Health Councils should not be ...
… an entity that makes more work for everyone involved. Rather, it should make everyone’s work easier through open communication and appropriate collaboration.
In other words...
school health councils should add “muscle” and not “weight” to coordinated school health efforts in your school system.
Our Background
• The school system and health department have always been two completely separate entities.
• The Health and Education Policy Committee had existed for many years but was primarily concerned with two CSH components - health services and psychological services.
• The Health Education Advisory Board had existed for many years but was only concerned with one CSH component - health education.
Our Development• Key members of the health department and school system
came together and laid out a design for a local school health council.
- The council would have a total of 16 members.
- Eight members would be employees of either the school system or health department representing each component of CSH.
- Eight members would be from the community representing each component of CSH.
- The council would initially be co-chaired by a member of the health department and a member of the school system.
Our Successes• Key CSH personnel are now more aware of each other’s programs, assets, and needs.
• Collaboration on staff development and grant programs has increased among the various offices.
• The Parent and Community Action Board has meshed with our school health council and our health advisory board efforts by providing a permanent parent representative for both groups.
• A CSH advocacy video workshop for use with school staff has been produced and distributed in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins University Center for Adolescent Health.
• Nutrition information table tents have been placed in school cafeterias.
Networking Exchanging information for mutual benefit
Ways of Working Together
Himmelman’s continuum
Networking
Exchanging information and altering activities
Ways of Working Together
Himmelman’s continuum
Coordinating
Networking
Exchanging information, altering activities, and sharing resources
Ways of Working Together
Himmelman’s continuum
Coordinating
Cooperating
Networking
Exchanging information, altering activities, sharing resources, and enhancing each other’s capacity
Ways of Working Together
Himmelman’s continuum
Coordinating
Cooperating
Collaboration
Networking
Ways of Working Together
Himmelman’s continuum
Coordinating
Cooperating
Collaboration
What is needed for
collaboration?
Collaboration Checklist Self assessment
Organizational commitment and communication
Clearly defined vision, goals, and objectives
Clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and operating procedures
Shared decision-making
Shared risks, responsibilities, rewards
Group communication
Collaboration Checklist (cont.)
Mutual respect, tolerance, trust
Diversity and inclusion
Evaluation and assessment
Skilled leadership
Capacity/competence
Conflict resolution
Adequate resources
Early success / celebration
What is needed for change to occur?
Vision
Skills
Incentives
Resources
Action Plan
Change
What happens when pieces are missing?
Skills
Incentives
Resources
Action Plan
Confusion
Vision
What happens when pieces are missing?
Vision
Incentives
Resources
Action Plan
Anxiety
Skills
What happens when pieces are missing?
Vision
Skills
Resources
Action Plan
Slow Change
Incentives
What happens when pieces are missing?
Vision
Skills
Incentives
Action Plan
Frustration
Resources
What happens when pieces are missing?
Vision
Skills
Incentives
Resources
False Starts
Action Plan
T H E
E N D
Credits:• Considering Collaboration, American Cancer Society
(2002), Powerpoint presentation.• Partners For Healthy Children - A discussion of the
Benefits of Comprehensive School Health Education and the School Health Program. American Cancer Society, Pennsylvania Division. Powerpoint presentation.
• Communities Working Collaboratively for a Change, by Arthur Himmelman. Minneapolis: The Himmelman Consulting Group, 1992.
• Developing Effective Coalitions: An Eight-Step Guide by Larry Cohen, Nancy Baer, and Pam Satterwhite; Pleasant Hill, Calif. Contra Costa County Health Services Department of Prevention Program, Spring 1994, p. 4.
• Health Is Academic: A Guide to Coordinated School Health Programs, by Eva Marx, Susan Frelick Wooley, and Daphne Northrop; New York: Teachers College Press, 1998; p. 264.