Issues in School-Based Health

The field of School Health has changed dramatically since its inception over a century ago, from an emphasis on mass screening of the school population for infectious disease and sanitation to the current broader vision of comprehensive health, education, and wellness in children and adolescents. This course will explore the potential of schools as vehicles for not only education, but also as untapped resources for child, family, and community health promotion. Class participants will learn about the evolving public health mission and role of schools as an organized network for health education, medical care, and civic involvement. They will explore a myriad of models of school based, school linked, and community centered care for the school aged population. While the emphasis will be on the existing models of School Health available in the local urban New York area, students will also explore alternate school health models in suburban, rural, national, and global settings. An exploration of potential and future directions for the field will be an integral part of the discussion experience. This class is designed for MPH students from all departments and students from Teachers College who are looking to integrate their developing skill sets in the field of School Health.