A healthy school is vital to a healthy community. Creating and sustaining a healthy and safe school environment requires the continued commitment and involvement of the school and community to address the ever-changing needs and circumstances affecting our students’ health and safety.
Key to making this relationship effective is communication and dialogue among school personnel, parents, businesses, local health officials, and other community groups. The development of a close alliance among these groups can result in powerful coalitions that build strong support for school health programs that address the health-related needs of students. There are a number of ways that schools can actively engage communities and parents in their collaboration efforts to build support for quality health education and positive student development, including: