Services provided for students to appraise, protect, and promote health. These services are designed to ensure access or referral to primary health care services or both, foster appropriate use of primary health care services, prevent and control communicable disease and other health problems, provide emergency care for illness or injury, promote and provide optimum sanitary conditions for a safe school facility and school environment, and provide educational and counseling opportunities for promoting and maintaining individual, family, and community health. Qualified professionals such as physicians, nurses, dentists, health educators, and other allied health personnel provide these services.

Source:  Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/about/school_health.htm

                      ( Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention )

MASH Recommended Reading 

“Building a Healthier Future Through School Health Programs.” Chapter 9-1. Promising Practices in Chronic Disease Prevention and Control. A Public Health Framework for Action. (2003). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Department of Health and Human Services.

175-page document available in PDF format at www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/promising_practices