School Wellness Resources

Creating a healthy school environment is essential for supporting students, teachers, and staff in leading healthier lives. School wellness programs promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being, helping students thrive academically while fostering a culture of health within the entire school community. By prioritizing wellness, schools can improve student engagement, reduce stress, and support lifelong healthy habits.

Why Prioritize Wellness in Schools?

Health and learning go hand in hand. A student’s well-being directly impacts their ability to focus, retain information, and succeed in the classroom. Similarly, a healthy school environment benefits educators and staff, contributing to job satisfaction and overall school performance. Common school-related health concerns include:

  • Stress and anxiety
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Poor nutrition
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Chronic absenteeism

By implementing wellness initiatives, schools can create supportive environments that empower students and staff to reach their full potential.

Explore Our School Wellness Resources

To help you build a healthier school community, we’ve gathered a variety of valuable resources, including toolkits, lesson plans, fact sheets, and best practices. Whether you’re developing a wellness program, supporting student health initiatives, or looking for ways to engage staff and families, you’ll find helpful materials below.

For Administrators & Teachers

Guide

Parent Engagement: Strategies for Involving Parents in School Health

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

This guide offers strategies to actively involve parents in school health initiatives. It provides practical tips for collaboration, communication, and engagement to strengthen parent-school partnerships and support student well-being.

Guide

Promoting Parent Engagement in School Health: A Facilitator's Guide for Staff Development

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

This staff development guide helps teachers and school staff effectively engage parents in school health activities. It provides strategies to build partnerships, communicate health initiatives, and empower parents to support student well-being for a healthier school community.

Guide

Parents for Healthy Schools: A Guide for Getting Parents Involved from K-12

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

This guide helps schools engage parents in creating healthier school environments by providing resources on nutrition, physical activity, chronic disease management, and tobacco-free policies. It empowers parents to support school health initiatives and advocate for student well-being.

Guide

Promoting Parent Engagement - For School Districts & School Administrators

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Fact Sheet

Promoting Parent Engagement - For Teachers & Other School Staff

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Guide

Using Youth Voice to Promote Healthy Schools

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)

The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model is a team approach to learning and health. It focuses on ensuring students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged. Youth play an important role in making wellness programs and policies effective.

Web Link

COVID-19 & School: Keeping Kids Safe

American Academy of Pediatrics

When COVID-19 started, schools closed, and learning changed. We now know students learn best in person, where they also build friendships and get important support.

Fact Sheet

Asthma Factsheet (for Schools)

Nemours Children's Health

Asthma is one of the main reasons that students miss school. There's no cure for asthma, but it can be managed so that kids and teens can live otherwise normal and healthy lives.

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Student Access to Healthy Foods and Beverages at School

Toolkit

School Fundraising Can be Healthy & Profitable

Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)

Many schools rely on fundraising activities to supplement school budgets and pay for equipment, materials, supplies, and events. Unfortunately, many school fundraisers involve the sale of unhealthy foods. Learn how to make healthy fundraising practical and profitable!

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Nutrition Recommendation VS Reality

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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The Buzz on Energy Drinks Infographic

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Food at School Parties

Michael & Susan Dell Center

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MyPlate Guide to School Lunch

USDA

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MyPlate Guide to School Breakfast

USDA

Web Link

Healthy School Environments

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The health of a school's environment can affect the attendance, concentration, performance and health of both students and educators. This website presents information on key topics about establishing and enhancing healthy school environments.

Web Link

Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Stay up to date with stopping big tobacco.

Fact Sheet

E-Cigarette Fact Sheet for School

American Lung Association

This fact sheet from the American Lung Association helps parents understand the dangers of e-cigarettes, how they impact youth health, and ways to talk to their students about vaping prevention.

Fact Sheet

E-Cigarette Risk Fact Sheet

American Lung Association

This risk fact sheet from the American Lung Association highlights the dangers of e-cigarettes, including their potential to harm lung health, increase the risk of addiction, and lead to long-term health problems. It offers crucial information for informed decision-making.

Fact Sheet

Move Your Way Kids Fact Sheet

US Dept. of Health & Human Services

The "Move Your Way" fact sheet provides simple, easy-to-follow tips and guidelines for staying active. It helps students and families understand the importance of physical activity and offers practical ideas for making movement a part of daily life.

EN ESPANOL

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Physical Education Activity Chart

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Physical Activity Recommendation VS Reality Flyer

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Physical Education & Physical Activity

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Recess Footprints Infographic

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Strategies for Recess in Schools

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Healthy Students Do Better in School

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Healthier Students are Better Learners

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Healthy Students Do Better in School

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

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Most Students Need More Sleep

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

For Parents

Fact Sheet

Move Your Way Fact Sheet for Parents

US Health & Human Services

Fact Sheet

Move Your Way Fact Sheet for Parents - Playing Sports

US Health & Human Services

Guide

Ideas for Parents: Healthy School Fundraisers

Centers for disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Schools are a key setting where children and adolescents learn about and have opportunities to practice healthy eating, including fundraisers! Learn how to help support making fundraisers healthy and profitable.

EN ESPANOL

Guide

Ideas for Parents: Smart Snacks in School

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Schools teach kids about healthy eating. Parents can help by advocating for and supporting fundraisers that promote healthy choices for students to keep them healthy!

EN ESPANOL

Guide

Ideas for Parents: Physical Education

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Physical education should be an enjoyable experience for all students. Parents can help by getting involved to help support their child's school in providing physical education!

EN ESPANOL

Guide

Ideas for Parents: Preventing Tobacco

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Some students use e-cigarettes and other tobacco products at school, exposing others to harmful chemicals. Learn how to help prevent tobacco use in schools and what you can do as a parent.

Fact Sheet

E-Cigarette Fact Sheet for Parents

American Lung Association

This fact sheet from the American Lung Association helps parents understand the dangers of e-cigarettes and how they impact youth health.

Fact Sheet

E-Cigarette Fact Sheet for Teens

American Lung Association

Learn the truth about e-cigarettes with this fact sheet from the American Lung Association. Understand the health risks, how vaping affects your body, and why quitting is important for your future well-being.

Research, Data & Statistics

Research Article

School staff experiences on involvement in a co-creation process: a Health CASCADE scoping review and thematic synthesis

National Library of Medicine (NIH)

Making schools healthier takes teamwork! Many people need to help, and schools must adjust plans to fit their needs. This helps health programs work better and keep students safe.

Research Article

Clarifying Misconceptions About School-Based Health Care

Journal of School Health

Misunderstandings about school-based health centers can undervalue their impact on student health. Addressing these misconceptions is key to recognizing their role in improving child health outcomes.

Guide

From Commitment to Action: Creating Healthy and Equitable Schools

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)

Equitable schools give every student the support they need to reach their full potential. Using an equity-based approach helps school leaders consider each child’s needs and promote success.

Guide

Creating School and Community Partnerships

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)

Community engagement happens when schools and communities work together to create solutions. The key is engaging community perspectives from people with diverse backgrounds and identities.

Research Article

Putting Health care Where the Kids Are: US Public Attitudes About School-Based Health Centers

Journal of School Health

School-based health centers (SBHCs) provide important health services for students, but public opinion on them is not well known. This study examines US attitudes on SBHCs and their services, including primary care, mental health, and nutrition counseling.

Research Article

School-Based Healthy Eating Interventions for Adolescents Aged 10–19 Years: An Umbrella Review

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Healthy eating is important, but many teens have poor diets. School-based programs can help students develop better eating habits and improve their overall health.

Research Article

Social Media in School Health Promotion: The Need for Institutional and Professional Development Journal

Oxford: Health Promotion International

Social media affects youth health in many ways. This study explores how school health professionals address both the challenges and opportunities that social media creates for students' well-being.

Research Article

School Health Promotion and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption in Secondary Schools: A Repeated Cross-Sectional Multilevel Study

BMC Public Health Journal

Many teens do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, increasing the risk of chronic disease. The Netherlands’ Healthy School program helps schools promote better nutrition and overall student health.

Research Article

The Future of School Health Education in the United States

Journal of School Health

School health education (SHE) can greatly improve public health, but its development has been unorganized and overlooked. This article explores how expanding SHE can benefit students and communities.

Research Article

The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Kids need at least 60 minutes of exercise daily, but most don’t get enough. Schools, which serve 56 million students, offer a key opportunity for physical activity, despite challenges in making time for it.

Guide

School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Research Article

Mental Health and Suicide Risk Among High School Students and Protective Factors — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2023

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Adolescent mental health and suicide risk are big concerns. The CDC's survey found that having support from family, school, or community helps lower these risks. More research is needed to protect youth.

Guide

Social and Emotional Learning and School Health

Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE)

This guide helps school health staff and teams integrate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. It offers simple tools and resources to improve SEL, student well-being, and academics.

Research Article

Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report, 2011-2021

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2011-2021 shows trends in behaviors like smoking, drinking, and mental health. The report highlights changes over the years and helps us understand what supports young people need to stay healthy and safe.