1: Engage and connect

Relationships are at the heart of school health.

This step is about building relationships with others who are change-makers, advocates, and champions for school health.

Whether you're just getting started or are well on your way to a healthy school, great things happen when people engage and connect—ideas flow, plans take shape, and resources are shared.

Here are some common approaches for engaging and connecting in school health. Most translate well into virtual formats during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• School health action teams and clubs
• School authority health champion networks and wellness committees
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) or virtual roundtables for teachers
• Student, family, or community advisory panels
• Wisdom circles

School health connections are often solidified by a common purpose. This may be rooted in informal conversations, then developed into more formal values, vision, or mission statements over time. 

Check out our recommended resources below for more information.