Page 22 - FY21 Wellness Promotion Policy Annual Report

School Health Advisory Council

PALM BEACH COUNTY

Overview

A School Health Advisory Council (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). Known as 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) Counseling, Psychological & Social Services, (4) Social and Emotional
Climate, (5) Health Education, (6) Health Services, (7) Employee Wellness, (8) Physical Environment, (9) Family
Engagement, (10) Community Involvement. These 10 WSCC 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 Palm Beach County
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’s 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, “What Matters Most….Health (in this case, mental health)” was presented on October 10, 2012. An
important outcome of this workshop was the revision of school district policy procedures and 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 LGBT youth, and for greater availability of food with increased cultural acceptability.

Parents and civic-minded persons with a passion for children’s health and supporting academic success
are urged to consider participation on the SHAC. The Council meets monthly during the school year with
educational presentations and discussions on a wide range of important school health topics.

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