COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS

Many of the health challenges facing young people today are different from those of past decades. No longer are the major concerns focused on communicable, life-threatening diseases but on lifestyle behaviors. The six behaviors identified by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviors, inadequate physical activity, alcohol and other drug use, sexual behaviors that can result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases, unintended pregnancies, and intentional and unintentional injuries.

The following is a working description of the eight components of a coordinated school health program from the CDC, and adopted by the California Department of Education.