The places where we live, work, play and learn have a big impact on our health. Students spend much of their time at school, making it an ideal setting to teach and model healthy behaviors. School health programs and policies have proven to be one of the most efficient means to prevent or reduce risk behaviors, prevent health problems, and improve academic performance. Schools can reduce how often students are absent, experience behavioral problems, and achieve higher school-wide test scores and grades by implementing strategies to help students stay healthy.
The Vermont Department of Health is committed to advancing the health of Vermont's youth through comprehensive, evidence-based practices to improve nutrition, physical activity, physical education and health education. In collaboration with statewide partners, we promote the use of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. This model can be used by school and community partners to improve population health and academic achievement outcomes through a collaborative approach with schools, communities, children and families.
Schools across the state have been actively working on building sustainable wellness teams to developing and implementing strong programs and policies to help improve the school nutrition and physical environments. Check out some of their success stories