Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child
Establishing healthy behaviors during childhood is easier
and more effective than trying to change unhealthy behaviors during adulthood.
Schools play a critical role in promoting the health and safety of young people
and helping them establish lifelong healthy behavior patterns. Research shows a
link between the health outcomes of young people and their academic success. To
have the most positive impact on the health outcomes of young people,
government agencies, community organizations, schools, and other community
members must work together through a collaborative and comprehensive approach.
The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child, or WSCC
model, is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) framework for addressing
health in schools. The WSCC model is student-centered and emphasizes the
role of the community in supporting the school, the connections between health
and academic achievement and the importance of evidence-based school policies
and practices. The WSCC model has 10 components:
- Physical education and physical activity
- Nutrition environment and services
- Health education
- Social and emotional school climate
- Physical environment
- Health services
- Counseling, psychological and social services
- Employee wellness
- Community involvement
- Family engagement
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/wscc/index.htm
Kentucky is one of 16 states that received a cooperative
agreement from the CDC for “Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement
through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Conditions
in Schools.” The strategies of the cooperative agreement include providing
infrastructure development, professional development and training and technical
assistance to schools and districts across the state.