Page 26 - Demo

26 FY25 Wellness Promotion Policy (WPP) Annual Report Back to MenuOverviewA School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) for each school district was established in the Florida School Health Services Act of 1973. The legislative intent was to involve parents and communities in the health and education of children by providing a means for their input in planning and evaluation of local school health programs. A SHAC is composed of interested parents, school, health, business, and community leaders who serve as problem-solvers and advisors to school districts on health-related issues.The SHAC in Palm Beach County uses a model for reviewing school health programs recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in The School District of Palm Beach County. Known as the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model, this approach focuses on ten (10) WSCC component areas, including: (1) physical education & physical activity, (2) nutrition environment & services, (3) behavioral/mental health, psychological & counseling services, (4) positive & supportive climate, (5) health education, (6) health services, (7) employee wellness, (8) physical environment, (9) family engagement, (10) community involvement. The components, when looked at in a coordinated manner, have been found to be highly effective in addressing the health risk behaviors that contribute significantly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth.The SHAC serves as an active voice for improving the health of school children through advocacy and support for quality, coordinated health services and education programs and policies. Over the decades, the SHAC in Palm Beach County has played an important role in many issues crucial to student health and welfare. In the 1990s, SHAC focused emphasis on health education and school nurse services. It was a strong proponent of a nurse in every public school that was achieved in 1997 when the Health Care District PBC made the commitment to provide funding and joined the local school district and health department as a partner in the school health program.For many years, the SHAC%u2019s goals have been oriented to support efforts focused on nutrition, physical education and health education and included School Board workshops on those topics. The focus shifted to addressing the needs of students with behavioral and mental health concerns when the SHAC board workshop, %u201cWhat Matters Most....Health (in this case, mental health)%u201d was presented on October 10, 2012. An important outcome of this workshop was the revision of school district policies and procedures and the implementation of comprehensive district-wide training regarding students and use of the Baker Act. In July 2016, a SHAC presentation to the school board provided data reinforcing their recommendations for improving mental health supports for students, especially LGBTQ+ youth, and for greater availability of food with increased cultural acceptability and nutritional quality from all sources in the school-related environment. Parents and civic-minded persons with a passion for children%u2019s health and supporting academic success are urged to consider participation in the SHAC. The Council meets monthly during the school year with educational presentations and discussions on a wide range of important school health topics.School Health Advisory CouncilPALM BEACH COUNTYSeth B. Bernstein, Psy.D. SHAC Chair