Health and Your Older School Employees
Employees over 50 are extremely valuable. They tend to be more loyal, have more experience and better attendance, be more punctual, have lower job turnover, hold a stronger commitment to quality, maintain a willingness to be mentors to new hires, and use better judgment on the job. That is, except when it comes to their own health.
July 2008
Children of the Wars
Children attending schools on or near military bases must confront challenges and stresses that most children would never dream of. These include long separations from a parent and fears that loved ones may not return. The stress level among military families in this period of extended conflict is substantial, and schools must be ready to assist.
May 2008
Children at Risk: Mental Health
The key to building a strong mental health program is not for schools to assume the mental health care of students, but for schools to provide seamless access to these services, which are best housed within schools and in partnership with community agencies. It is this intersection of community and school efforts that holds the best promise for improving mental health services for youth.
March 2008
Joining the Data Generation
Counselors and other student services areas are often viewed as nonessential positions. But they are essential. And rather than relying on anecdotes such as, "I know I did a good job today because I feel good about the students I saw," counselors have joined the data generation to show the results of their work.
March 2008
PhysTech
For today's students, technology has made life easier and more exciting. At the same time, the Internet, instant messaging, video games, and cellphones have contributed to a generation that is far less active and more obese than ever. So, for schools, the question is how to use the power of technology to drive students toward a healthier life style.
March 2008
Sick Buildings, Sick Students
The link between a student’s physical well-being and his or her academic performance is well documented, and most educators agree that a healthy environment is a key component to successful schools. But too often, “sick schools” —those with everyday environmental problems that affect student health—are overlooked. How widespread is the problem? More than half of U.S. schools have indoor air quality problems in at least some part of their campuses.
June 2007
The Healthy Approach
Twenty years ago, Lloyd Kolbe and Diane Allensworth introduced the theory of coordinated school health, the idea that schools can improve students’ academic performance and overall physical well being by promoting health in a systemic way. Coordinated school health programs show that proper nutrition, exercise, and learning go hand-in-hand.
June 2007
Calming Fears, Creating Partners
The unpredictable and serious nature of physical and mental-health crises on school campuses—from the pandemic flu and school shootings to food allergies and suicide—can leave parents feeling vulnerable and helpless. With research suggesting these incidents are on the rise, schools have a responsibility not only to know how they will respond, but also to tell parents—ahead of time—how schools will respond. Are your schools prepared to handle a crisis? Do parents turn to—not on—you when problems erupt?
June 2007