The Texas School Health Program envisions a Texas where all children are healthy, ready to learn and prepared to make healthy lifelong choices.
Our mission is to support education and public health partners with impacting school health issues using the “Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child” approach. Evidence shows that when schools address students’ health needs, they can improve student performance and ease financial constraints.
While the Texas School Health Program does not regulate schools, we do provide school health leadership, support, and guidance to Texas school districts. This includes comprehensive school health and safety issues regarding the Whole Child, Whole School and Whole Community by:
-
Maintaining the linkage between the Texas Department of State Health Services and school districts as it relates to health promotion and chronic disease;
-
Engaging in collaborative efforts with internal and external partners and stakeholders;
-
Ensuring infrastructure to provide support to schools;
-
Serving as the central source for resources and tools in support of school health evidence-based programs, practices and policies; and
-
Disseminating timely school health-related information and data.