Whole Child Health

Whole Child Health

Whole Child Health refers to the physical, mental and social and emotional well-being essential for students to achieve positive outcomes in their academic, professional and personal lives.  Everyday life experiences can impact the abilities of all students.  Research from the CDC Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study indicates that almost two-thirds of study participants reported at least one ACE, such as trauma, stress, hunger, environmental conditions, etc., and more than one in five reported three or more ACEs. These experiences can have lasting effects and present barriers to the well-being of the whole child. The Center for Safe Schools provides resources, information and best practices on how to accurately identify and support an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, and overall well-being for success in academics, life and career.  

Key components of Whole Child Health include:

  • School climate
  • Social and emotional Learning
  • Mental health
  • Trauma-informed practices
  • Bully prevention
  • Restorative justice
  • Substance abuse
  • Family/Community factors

Resources

State of Mental Health in America - 2019
Mental Health America

LGBTQ+ Mental Health: Insights from MHA Screening
Mental Health America

Mind the Workplace Report - 2019
Mental Health America

School Health Guidelines
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Healthy Schools, Healthy Kids
Environmental Protection Agency

Child and Adult Care Food Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service

Data

Child Nutrition Tables
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Webinars

Trauma-Informed Schools are Safe Schools