Overview
Health Education: Health education provides students with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary for making health-promoting decisions, achieving health literacy, adopting health-enhancing behaviors, and promoting the health of others. Comprehensive school health education includes courses of study (curricula) for students in pre-K through grade 12 that address a variety of topics such as alcohol and other drug use and abuse, healthy eating/nutrition, mental and emotional health, personal health and wellness, physical activity, safety and injury prevention, sexual health, tobacco use, and violence prevention. Health education curricula should address the National Health Education Standards (NHES) and incorporate the characteristics of an effective health education curriculum. Health education assists students in living healthier lives. Qualified, trained teachers teach health education.
The Arizona Department of Education has recently revised its K-12 Health Education State Standards. Please visit our media center under the video section to see live sessions from the Standards training.
Resources:
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC's School Health Education Resources (SHER) - Website provides user-friendly access to the myriad of school health education offerings available from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curricula - Reviews of effective programs and curricula and input from experts in the field of health education have identified characteristics of effective health education curricula.
- National Health Education Standards - The National Health Education Standards (NHES)1 are written expectations for what students should know and be able to do by grades 2, 5, 8, and 12 to promote personal, family, and community health. The standards provide a framework for curriculum development and selection, instruction, and student assessment in health education.
Other Resources:
- The American Cancer Society provides basic information and resources about school health for teachers, parents, and other health professionals.
- The American Association for Health Education serves health educators and other professionals who promote the health of all people. AAHE encourages, supports, and assists health professionals concerned with health promotion through education and other systematic strategies
- The Arizona School-Based Health Care Council are the operators, collaborators, and supporters of School-Based Health Centers in Arizona and represent organizations that provide basic, primary health services in more than 90 school sites throughout Arizona. The Council is a tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization incorporated in Arizona.
- The Arizona Public Health Association School Health Section consists of over 35 Arizona Public Health Association members passionate about improving the health and academic outcomes of youth in Arizona. They believe a healthy school environment, where health related activities and policies are coordinated by school and community leaders, is the best way to achieve these outcomes. The Arizona Public Health Association School Health Section also advocates for state and local policies that support safe, healthy youth and families in our schools and community.
Sunwise Poster Contest
The SunWise Program is hosting its 10th annual Be SunWise and Play Sun Smart Poster Contest. Click here for the rules and regulations associated with the contest. Click here for the ADHS Tip Sheet.