Toward a Healthy High Schools Movement: Strategies for Mobilizing Public Health for Educational Reform

Abstract

Although research shows that education and health are closely intertwined, health professionals have difficulty using this evidence to improve health and educational outcomes and reduce inequities. We call for a social movement for healthy high schools in the United States that would improve school achievement and graduation rates; create school environments that promote lifelong individual, family, and community health and prevent chronic illness, violence, and problems of sexual health; and engage youths in creating health-promoting environments. Achieving these goals will require strengthening and better linking often uncoordinated efforts to improve child health and education. Only a broad social movement has the power and vision to mobilize the forces that can transform educational and health systems to better achieve health and educational equity.

Sexual Orientation, Adult Connectedness, Substance Use, and Mental Health Outcomes Among Adolescents: Findings From the 2009 New York City Youth Risk Behavior Survey

“…Public health interventions aimed at improving school climate for LGB adolescents (e.g., Gay–Straight Alliance) could have wide-ranging benefits, including reduction of stigmatization and bullying and promotion of adult–student interactions and student engagement. 22,31,33,56–61 …”

Assessing the Connection Between Health and Education: Identifying Potential Leverage Points for Public Health to Improve School Attendance

“…In recent years, numerous experts and advocacy groups have called for enhancements and integration of school-based mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment programs as key components of a healthy and safe school environment. 25,26 Many existing child psychology interventions that intervene on absenteeism, such as the use of cognitive–behavioral therapy, have been criticized for their lack of focus on broader school and community-based factors that can have great influence on school attendance. 10 Comprehensive school-based mental health approaches (e.g., school-based mental health teams that proactively address individual student concerns while improving the general climate of schools) have shown positive impacts.…”

Measurement properties of the Adolescent Quality of Life Mental Health Scale (AQOL-MHS)

“…Latino youth have among the highest rates of externalizing behavioral difficulties, substance use, sexual risk behaviors, and high school dropout rates in the USA [33–36]. These factors place children at a higher risk for lifetime economic, social, and health disadvantage [37]. A step toward understanding and mitigating existing racial and ethnic service disparities requires measuring outcomes appropriately in these populations.…”