Healthy Learners in School Program believes that it is important to act before students develop unhealthy habits. It is focused on elementary school students. The program develops and supports health promotion efforts that:

Involve all areas of health which includes physical, emotional and social health;
Aim to prevent injury and disease;
Support healthy decision-making and behaviours which will last into adulthood;
Encourage successful learning.

How does the program work?

Public Health nurses with the Healthy Learners in School program work at the school district level with the District Health Advisory Committee. This committee has representatives from the district, its schools, principals, teachers and parents, as well as communities.

The committee is guided by the following questions:

How healthy are students?
What are the needs?
What are the priorities and actions that will make a difference to students in the district?
What information, programs and services are available that encourage healthy students?
What are the barriers to having healthier students?
What is the district action plan?
Who can do what to help?

What does the program do?

The Public Health Nurse supports the priorities identified by the District Health Authority by:

Sharing updated information on health and wellness needs of students;
Encouraging people to get involved and to take action in decisions and activities that affect their community's health;
Supporting activities which change the focus of health from illness to wellness;
linking to resources in the community to help students, parents and the district;
Encouraging communities to develop programs to meet identified health needs of students;
giving presentations and resources to students, parents and teachers;
supporting teachers who guide students on how and why to make healthy choices (health curriculum);
providing public health expertise to District staff;
encouraging policies and rules that promote healthy and safe environments.

The Healthy Learners in School program does not replace Public Health Services available to students, parents or schools (e.g., communicable disease control, nutrition, sexual health, food and water inspection services, etc.

Contact:

your local School District office, or
your regional Public Health office