Healthy Schools Program

Healthy learners are better learners
A healthy school involves the whole school community, including administrators, teachers, families, students and community partners working together to build a healthy environment. A healthy school promotes the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the whole school community. It is a healthy setting for living, learning, working and playing.

York Region Public Health provides support on a variety of health topics. Utilizing a comprehensive school health approach, we are committed to working with schools to promote health and well-being through our Healthy Schools Program.

York Region engages school staff, parents and students in identifying health issues that impact the school community and work together to develop a comprehensive plan to address them. We provide consultations, resources, links to community organizations, referrals to public health services and educational workshops, presentations and displays.

Steps to becoming a healthier school

To get started, talk to your school administration about becoming a healthy school. You can call Access York 1-877-464-9675, TTY: 1-866-512-6228 to connect with your school’s Public Health Nurse who can guide you through the necessary steps.

Step 1: Form a Healthy Schools Committee

Identify an existing committee or form a new one made up of parents, students and staff who can meet regularly.

Step 2: Identify strengths and needs

Survey your school to identify your school’s strengths and needs. Based on the survey results, identify the priority health topic. Please see the Healthy Schools Committee Member Handbook for sample needs assessment surveys.

Step 3: Develop and carry out an action plan

Develop an action plan to address your chosen health topic. The plan will outline the activities to be implemented in the school. To maximize your success, engage students throughout the entire process.

Address all five Foundations for a Healthy School to ensure your school is covering your priority health topic comprehensively.

Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning
School and classroom leadership
Social and physical environments
Student Engagement
Home, school and community partnerships

Step 4: Evaluate and celebrate achievements

Review, evaluate and celebrate your healthy school activities and successes.

Note: Communication with the whole school community is necessary throughout all four steps. Please consult the Healthy Schools Committee Member Handbook for sample communication strategies and tools.

Healthy Schools Grant

Not available for the 2021-2022 school year.

York Region is committed to helping schools promote youth engagement, resiliency and developmental assets. All schools in York Region are eligible to apply for a health promotion grant at the beginning of the school year. The grant supports student-led healthy schools initiatives that use a comprehensive approach. If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact [email protected].

To receive an Action Plan template or if you are looking for additional ideas to comprehensively address health at your school, please contact your York Region Public Health Nurse or call Access York 1-877-464-9675, TTY: 1-866-512-6228 .

Healthy Schools Program Resources

Healthy Schools Committee Member Handbook
The purpose of the Healthy Schools Committee Member Handbook is to assist schools in creating a healthy school environment by providing strategies, tips and tools that focus on a comprehensive approach to school health. The Healthy Schools Committee Member Handbook will guide you through the four-step process to help you along your Healthy Schools journey.
Healthy Schools Brochure
The Healthy Schools Brochure provides an overview of the Healthy Schools Program, what the benefits are to becoming a healthy school, how to get started with the Healthy Schools process, and how York Region Public Health can support schools.
Healthy Start to School brochure
The Healthy Start to School Brochure provides a few ideas to make starting school healthy and rewarding.
Healthy Schools Needs Assessment Brochure
The Healthy Schools Needs Assessment brochure is a tool for secondary school students and teachers to help identify school strengths and needs.

Parent Newsletter Inserts

York Region provides schools with up-to-date information on a variety of health topics. Each month, schools have the option to choose one or more inserts to place in their school newsletter or on their website. A school can choose an insert by the topic that matches their priority health topic.

Curriculum Support Health Resources

Curriculum Support Health Resources are available to elementary and secondary schools to help enhance and supplement current programs on a variety of health topics. The following resources can assist teachers and staff by directing and guiding them to available resources. Key resources have been collected, organized and formatted to be accessible and user-friendly for staff.

Elementary