In 1920, Charles-Edward Amory Winslow defined public health as “the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals.”
That’s a mouthful—but the focus is to help people live healthy lives. By focusing groups of people, public health can support critical services that promote the health and well-being of particular populations, including children. Public health programs help address the challenges that students experience.
April 1-7 is National Public Health Week, and to begin the celebration, we highlight a few ways public health helps us to provide a safe environment in schools.
- Asthma is a leading cause of school absences. Public health teaches us to look beyond the needs of one student and focus on asthmagens in the building environment.
- Each year as flu season approaches, public health departments work with school nurses and allied health professionals to provide school-based vaccine programs. These clinics can also be opened up to families and community members to expand prevention.
- With childhood obesity identified as a major health problem public health helps schools look at the policies and the programs that can promote physical activity and healthier food choices.
- Because the first job of schools is to provide education and instruction, public health programs can provide support for standards-based health education that build the skills and knowledge students need to avoid risky behaviors such as substance abuse.
Whatever the health issue, public health departments can be there to help schools do a better job. Learn more about how to partner with health departments. Have you worked with your health department? Tell us about it.
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