Health for Success, Bermuda's Comprehensive School Health Programme, is an inter-agency partnership co-ordinated by the Ministries of Education and Health and Social Services, in cooperation with 12 different Government Departments. What is Health for Success? Health for Success is an initiative which operates around a framework of policies, programmes, activities and services that are designed to enhance students' educational achievement and wellness through 12 different components. It is a practical framework for students, parents/families, educators, health workers, community organisations, and policy makers to make connections and coordinate activities which enhance health and learning. Health for Success is about making connections between health and learning and between students, families, schools and communities. It's an expansion of the traditional elements of school health -- namely, physical education, health education and health services it includes all areas of the school programme that can enhance the well-being of students and staff. Why is it Necessary? Health for Success is based on the rationale that healthy students are more likely to succeed. When we speak about health we are not just talking about freedom from sickness we are talking about all aspects of health -- the physical, emotional, social, spiritual and intellectual dimensions of health and wellness. Students today face many challenges throughout their school years. They may face complex social problems, lack adequate nutrition or their living conditions may be less than ideal. One or all of these have the potential to impact seriously on a student's health and therefore a student's ability to learn. The Health for Success initiative encourages everyone to work together for the purpose of promoting healthful behaviours and lifestyles in order to strengthen teaching and learning. Who is involved? Health and education are very much interrelated. Students, educators, parents/families, health workers, community organisations and Government should collaborate to coordinate their activities. The Departments of Health and Education saw the need to be more collaborative as they believe that far more can be achieved by working together than can be achieved by working separately. Consequently, the Health for Success committee was formed in 1994. The committee is made up of individuals from twelve different Government departments who work together on this ongoing initiative. The Components Health for Success is a framework of policies, programmes, activities and services designed to enhance the students' educational achievement and health status through these twelve components: Instruction (instruction in health education and integrated across family studies, physical education, science, social studies, learning support, Lions Quest Life Skills and REACH; related staff development and materials of instruction) Activity programmes (fitness activities, intramurals, athletics, clubs, music, dance, etc.) Student services (guidance, psychological, health, integration of social work and other services) Food and nutrition services Healthful school environment (Learning through Landscapes, school safety committees, etc.) Involvement of students (peer leadership; student councils and community service programmes, etc.) Involvement of staff (employee wellness and employee assistance programmes) Involvement of families (PTA activities and other home/school collaborative efforts) Involvement of the community Policies Monitoring and assessment Organisational culture The Role of the Health for Success Committee The schools in Bermuda already have basic Health for Success ingredients such as Lions Quest Life Skills, Learning through Landscapes, the Police REACH programme, healthful nutrition policies, school improvement plans, etc.

The role of the committee is to help schools gain support for strengthening programmes and services that they determine will address their individual needs for school improvement. In support of this, we have conducted workshops, focus groups of students and staff and determined the extent to which the Health for Success components already exist in Bermuda's schools.

Health for Success is not "a set programme''.

For more infromation, contact the Department of Health at 236-0224 ext. 355 HEALTH HTH