Health is Academic
John D. Bower, M.D. School Health Network 2
Another component of the Health is Academic initiative is the John D. Bower, M.D. School Health Network 2, which is a three-year endeavor of the MDE and The Bower Foundation to provide in-depth preparation to local school districts for the implementation of a Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) Model. The CSHP is defined as a planned and coordinated school-based program designed to enhance child and adolescent health by providing a framework for school districts and schools to use in organizing and managing school health initiatives. The program consists of the following eight components:
- Healthy school environment: The physical and aesthetic surroundings and the psycho social
climate and culture of the school.
- Health services: Services provided for students to appraise, protect and promote health.
- Health education: A planned, sequential, K-12 curriculum that addresses the physical, mental,
emotional and social dimensions of health.
- Physical education: A planned, sequential K-12 curriculum that provides cognitive content and
learning experiences in a variety of activity areas such as basic movement skills; physical fitness; rhythms and dance; games; team, dual and individual sports; tumbling and gymnastics; and aquatics.
- Counseling, psychological and social services: Services provided to improve students' mental, emotional and social health.
- Nutrition services: Access to a variety of nutritious and appealing meals that accommodate
the health and nutrition needs of all students.
- Family and community involvement: An integrated school, parent and community approach for enhancing the health and well-being of students.
- Health promotion for staff: Opportunities for school staff to improve their health status through
activities such as health assessments, health education and health-related fitness activities.
The MDE and The Bower Foundation envision that the School Health Network will enable participants to
solidify their positions as health coordinators, establish their local school health councils, improve the school health instruction programs for all students, reconfigure the use of existing school resources and nurture
broad-based school and community support for a coordinated school health program.
The following schools were selected, through a competitive grant process, for the John D. Bower, M.D. School Health Network 2. Each school will receive $161,000 to implement a coordinated approach to school health.
Directory for John D. Bower School Health Network 2
Resources:
Bower Network Training Calendar 2008-2011
Office of Healthy Schools Resource Page