School Health

Schools play a critical role in promoting the health of young people and helping them establish lifelong healthy behaviors. Research shows that healthy schools can help improve student’s academic performance and overall health.

Well-Ahead Louisiana works to support healthier schools through partnership development and technical assistance to schools and school districts. Our goal is to ensure all youth have a healthy start to a healthy future.

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School Health 411 

Well-Ahead works with schools and school systems to promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents in schools. The Whole School Whole Community Whole Child (WSCC) model is our framework for addressing health in schools. The WSCC model is student-centered and emphasizes the role of the community in supporting the school and the importance of evidence-based policies and practices. 

 

TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT HEALTHY SCHOOLS

Well-Ahead Louisiana helps schools and school districts take action to positively impact the health of students and school staff.  Supporting a healthy start for our children takes teamwork and coordination from multiple directions.  Explore the options below to find out how you can support healthy futures for kids in your school and community.

School WellSpot Designation

Schools can make a major impact in the health of their students and staff. Our school benchmarks are centered on a campus-wide tobacco-free policy and a school wellness program that includes physical activity and nutrition components for both students and staff. The foundational elements of a good school wellness program are:

  1. Establishing a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)/wellness committee
  2. Completing an assessment of your school health environment 
  3. Creating and implementing a school wellness policy

To learn more about the benchmarks for School WellSpots and to get your school moving Well-Ahead, take the school assessment.

Healthy Schools Collaborative

Discover more ways to promote a healthy start through joining the Healthy Schools Collaborative. The Collaborative meets bi-annually and focuses support collaboration and alignment among education, public health, and school health sectors.  Public health and education serve the same children, often in the same settings. To learn more contact wellahead@la.gov. 

Healthy Eating

Most US children attend school for 6 hours a day and consume as much as half of their daily calories at school. The school nutrition environment and services is part of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

CDC recommends that schools implement policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. A healthy school nutrition environment provides students with nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition, and ways to learn about and practice healthy eating throughout the time children spend on school grounds—including before- and after-school.

Resources

Physical Education and Physical Activity

Schools are in a unique position to help students attain the nationally recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Physical education and physical activity is one component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong physical activity behaviors.

CDC recommends a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all available opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime.This approach is referred to as a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). The goal of CSPAP is to increase physical activity opportunities before, during, and after school and increase students’ overall physical activity and health.

Resources

Healthy Out of School Time

Out of School Time (OST) is a supervised program that young people regularly attend when school is not in session. This can include before- and after- school programs on a school campus or facilities such as academic programs (e.g., reading or math focused programs), specialty programs (e.g., sports teams, STEM, arts enrichment), and multipurpose programs that provide an array of activities (e.g., 21st Century Community Learning Centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs).

Over 10 million US children head to after school programs when the school day ends. Young people who stay for after-school programming spend a large part of their waking hours on the school campus. OST programs provide youth with safety and supervision. Research shows that some OST programs can support student academic achievement and may play a role in reducing health disparities. Additionally, programs that follow evidence-based practices aimed at improving personal and social skills of youths are linked with positive social behaviors. 

Resources 

Geuax Tobacco Free

Lawmakers cleared the air for every student in the state last year by passing Act 351. The legislation prohibits smoking across more than 1,400 schools statewide. Talk about breathing room!  Click here to learn more about implementing a tobacco-free policy at your school. 

 

Healthy Schools Training Krewe

Well-Ahead Louisiana has worked to coordinate professional development and identify resources that can assist schools and school districts in making healthy changes. The Healthy Schools Training Krewe collaboratives with the Louisiana Department of Education, content leaders, and state organizations to deliver professional development. The mission of the group is to enhance the knowledge and skills of those working to create healthier schools by providing professional development to schools and school districts. 


Click here to request a workshop! 

Upcoming Workshops & Trainings

Self-Paced Virtual Learning

Available Workshops & Trainings

School Nutrition

The Krewe provides professional development to schools and school district on the implementing policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. 

  • Local Wellness Policies
  • Smart Snacks
  • Celebrations & Rewards 
  • Food and Beverage Marketing 
  • Water Access
  • Healthy Eating Learning Opportunities
  • Staff Role Modeling
  • Healthy Eating Before and After School
Physical Activity and Physical Education 

The Krewe provided professional development on implementing a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all available opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. 

  • Physical Education 
  • Recess
  • Classroom Physical Activity 
  • Physical Activity Before and After School 
  • Staff Involvement Family 
  • Community Engagement 
Management of Chronic Conditions (Coming in the 2019-2020 School Year)

The healthcare needs of children with chronic illness can be complex and continuous and include both daily management and addressing potential emergencies. Health services in schools are a key component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Ensuring that students have the health services they need in school to manage their chronic condition is important in helping them stay healthy and ready to learn.

Health Education (Coming in the 2019-2020 School Year)

Health education is integral in providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful learners and healthy adults. Health education that provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and experiences needed for lifelong healthy eating and physical activity. 

Trainers

Below is a current listing of content leads for the Healthy Schools Training Krewe. 

Joanna Faerber, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

 

Christina Courtney, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

 

Erica Gilliam, MS

Area of Expertise: School & Employee Wellness, Smarter Lunchrooms, Physical Activity

Location: Bossier City, LA

 

Emily Pineda, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Activity, Out of School time, and School Wellness

Location: New Orleans, LA

 

Stephen Guccione, MA

Area of Expertise: Physical Education, Health, and Wellness

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

 

Stephanie Jodeir, BS

Area of Expertise: Nutrition

Location: New Orleans

 

Dr. Ben Kern, PhD

Area of Expertise: Physical education pedagogy

Location: Lafayette, LA

 

Dr. Chuck Duncan, PhD

Area of Expertise: Physical education pedagogy

Location: Lafayette, LA

 

Joannie Miller, MS

Area of Expertise: ICN Trainer/Consultant, CNP Trainer/Consultant; Smarter Lunchrooms,  School & Employee Wellness

Location: Bogalusa, LA


Jen Duhon, MS, RDN, LDN

Expertise: School Health and Wellness programs, School Nutrition Program, Grant writing, Agriculture promotion, FUTP 60 program

Location: Opelousas, LA


Tina Griffith, MS

Area of Expertise: Health Education and Health Promotion Programs

Location: New Orleans, LA

 

Angela Simonton, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education and Health Education

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

 

K-Lynn McKey, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education and Health Education

Location: Breaux Bridge, LA

 

Kerri Lee, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education

Location: Zachary, LA

Education: B.S. in Kinesiology, M.S. in Kinesiology

 

Andre Dicharry, M.Ed.

Area of Expertise: Physical Education and Physical Activity

Location: Shreveport, LA 


Danielle Guillory, RN, MSN  

Area of Expertise: Management of Chronic Conditions

Location: Calcasieu, LA 

State Associations