CDC Healthy Schools Highlights

CDC Announcements

• Health literacy skills start early in life and are part of the process of caring for and educating children, adolescents, and young adults. These resources can help care providers and educators recognize and respond to children’s (and family members’) health information and communication needs.

Over 10 million children in the United States participate in out-of-school time (OST) activities, like after school programs. These supervised programs can also be available before the school day starts and during school breaks. Research shows that some OST programs can support student academic achievement and may play a role in reducing health disparities. Visit our CDC Healthy Schools page on OST to find out how.

• Epilepsy can occur at any age and currently affects about 460,000 children younger than age 18 in the United States. For National Epilepsy Awareness Month, visit BAM! Body and Mind’s epilepsy page to learn about facts, first aid, and how to deal with stigma and bullying.

State Highlights

• The South Dakota Department of Health and partners provide professional development and technical assistance to schools through a project called Good & Healthy South Dakota Schools. This program increased healthy school environments by promoting food service guidelines, nutrition standards, and best practices for physical education and physical activity. Visit South Dakota’s state success story page to learn more.

Non-Governmental Organization Highlights

• The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors has released Healthy School, Healthy Staff, Healthy Students: A Guide to Improving School Employee Wellness. This new resource assists school districts and schools in establishing or enhancing an employee wellness initiative. The guide provides a step-by-step process that districts and schools can use to develop an employee wellness initiative that fits their unique needs. It includes worksheets, templates, and resources as well as real-world examples from school districts that have successfully worked to improve employee wellness.

Students should have access to healthy food choices during the school day and messages that reinforce these choices. CDC recommends that schools offer and promote healthy food and beverage options in all areas of the school. Visit our Multimedia page to add this web badge to your site. It links to childhood nutrition facts, benefits of healthy eating, and information on diet and academic performance.