Coordinate School Health

Mission Statement:

To ensure a healthy Missouri by advocating for healthy children, healthy families, healthy schools and healthy communities.

In May 1994 the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health sponsored the Coordinated School Health Summit where 80 organizations concerned about children's health issues attended and decided to form the Coordinated School Health Coalition under the auspices of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health.

Coordinated school health is a cost-effective way to promote student's health. It involves eight components that are conducive to teaching and learning:

• health instruction that is age-appropriate and sequential, from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade;
• health services, such as prevention, intervention, and referrals to community resources for health care;
• a school environment that is clean, safe and supportive;
• physical education, emphasizing fitness as a lifelong practice;
• nutrition services that offer nutritious and appetizing meals, and help students learn how to select appropriate foods;
• counseling and guidance services to promote psychological and emotional well-being;
• worksite wellness for staff to provide positive role models, reduce absenteeism and cut insurance cost; and
• school community and parent involvement to cooperatively focus attention on student health issues.

For information concerning this program, please contact the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health at fitness@dhss.mo.gov or write to :

Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Health
PO Box 809
Jefferson City, MO 65102