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SESSION: D6 |
| ROOM |
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| DATE |
Thursday, June 18, 2015 |
| TIME |
2:00pm-3:15pm |
| ABSTRACT CATEGORY |
Systems |
ABSTRACT TITLE |
Strengthening and Sustaining School Health Initiatives: Our Framework, Toolkit, and Success Factors
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ABSTRACT SUMMARY |
What are the success factors in creating and sustaining effective School Health Initiatives? Explore our Healthy Schools and Communities framework and new online multi-media toolkit, with seven foundational elements essential for the growth, impact and sustainability of school health initiatives. In Alameda County, we have built a system with 27 school health centers, behavioral health in 18 districts, community schools, youth centers, and cross-sector initiatives working towards health and educational equity. Apply our lessons learned to your own efforts.
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ABSTRACT DESCRIPTION |
Since 1996, the Center for Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) has worked to improve health and education outcomes for Alameda County youth through partnership with schools, school districts, service providers, health advocates, policymakers, community partners, youth, and families. CHSC has developed a Healthy Schools and Communities framework to guide our efforts and support the fields of health and education. While every school and community we work in is unique, we have identified seven foundational elements, or “roots” that are essential for the growth, impact, and long-term stability of school heath initiatives over time. In May 2015, we will be launching an online toolkit based on our 18 years of experience, and organized around these roots. The proposed workshop will share the framework and related best practices, tools, and resources for starting, strengthening, and sustaining school health initiatives.
The workshop will first “make the case” for how health and education inequities are inextricably linked and must be addressed in integrated efforts. We will debut the headline “Making the Case” video for our new toolkit as a jumping off point for small and full group discussion. The video can be used to help launch and build support for participants’ own school health initiatives.
We will then share the framework, and explore the seven roots, going in depth on transformative leadership, dynamic partnerships, and smart financing:
1. Transformational Leadership: Thinking and Acting Beyond Boundaries. Systems change happens when leaders at all levels think and act across boundaries, challenge assumptions and status quo, and work creatively to solve problems and move forward a health and education equity agenda.
2. Dynamic Partnerships: Deep Collaboration Creates Deeper Impact. When partners come together around shared vision, goals, and outcomes, their collective impact is greater than individual organizations acting alone.
3. Smart Financing: Sustainability Starts on Day One. Talking explicitly and often about financing is key to growth and sustainability. Smart financing encompasses a vast array of strategies that leverage resources across sectors, build shared investments, and secure long-term commitments.
4. Capacity Building: Strong Organizations, Strong People. Investing in the capacity of individuals and organizations strengthens their ability to manage change and fulfill their missions.
5. Equity Lens: Every Child Gets What They Need to Thrive. As long as factors such as race, class, and neighborhood impact health and education outcomes, initiatives must question how every program and policy decision will reduce inequities.
6. Quality Practice: Doing and Sharing What Works. At the end of the day, success depends on doing what works. Implementing and scaling up high quality practices requires the cultivation of local wisdom combined with relevant evidence-based practices.
7. Results Focus: The Destination Defines the Journey. Successful initiatives define clear results and goals that drive all action.
We will use videos, case studies, lessons learned, tools and templates to engage participants in understanding the roots and applying them to their own efforts, drilling down in 2-3 roots. Finally, participants will leave oriented to the vast array of tools and resources available in the online toolkit.
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PRESENTER(S) |
NAME: Tracey Schear MSW, LCSW ORGANIZATION: Alameda County Health Care Services Agency
NAME: Jamie Harris EdM ORGANIZATION: Center for Healthy Schools and Communities, Alameda County Health Care Services Agency
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AUDIENCE |
ADMINISTRATORS: Y |
PRIMARY HEALTH: Y |
MENTALHEALTH: Y |
ORGANIZATIONAL: Y |
PUBLIC HEALTH: Y |
EDUCATION: Y |
YOUTH: N |
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