State of Colorado

Live HelpLive Help  |  

Your site name and alt reference go here
 

Many documents on this site are PDF files, which require the use of the free Adobe Reader.  

get Adobe Reader

 

 

BEST PRACTICES: SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICES

Topic Overview

At the national level, the Division of Adolescent and School Health at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion champions the following health promotion strategies for school-age children:

  • Employ models where health activities, messages and services are coordinated among eight school components: comprehensive health education, physical education, health services, nutrition services, health promotion for staff, counseling and psychological services, healthy school environment and parent/community involvement.

  • Institute a planned, and sequential program of health instruction for students in grades K through 12.  Parents, health professionals and other concerned community members are involved in the design of the program.  The curriculum, delivered by trained teachers, addresses a range of categorical health problems at developmentally appropriate ages.  School programs include activities that help young people develop the skills they need to avoid behavior that places their health at risk.

 More than 90 percent of Colorado school districts participate in the School Health Services Program, which began in 1997 (also known as the School Medicaid Reimbursement Program).  Any public school district or Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) can participate, once they have conducted a health needs assessment; sought and received community input; submitted and received approval for a Local Services Plan from the Colorado departments of Education and Health Care Policy and Financing; and received a contract to claim funds.  School districts may receive the federal government’s match (50 percent) of the cost to the district of health services provided to Medicaid-enrolled children.  The state passes the funds to the contracting school district, which then can use the funds for new or expanded health services for any student or group of students.

Background Documents

Students with Chronic Illnesses: Guidance for Families, Schools and Students -National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health

School Health Programs - Current
The Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools

Evidence-Based Programs

TeleKidcare®
University of Kansas Medical Center (April 2003)Best Practices Initiative, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Related Colorado Programs

Related Topics

 

<<Best Practices Home