The MSDH School Health Program works to make all Mississippi children healthy, ready to learn, and prepared to make lifelong healthy choices.
To advance that goal, we provide leadership and support to communities to help them meet the needs of their schoolchildren for health services and health education. We follow a coordinated approach among families, health care workers, the media, religious and community organizations, and young people themselves.
- Student Health Statistics
The Youth Risk Behavior Survey System periodically assesses the health behaviors of middle- and high-school students.
Partners
MSDH works in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Education's Office of Healthy Schools and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Healthy Youth Division in a coordinated school health initiative that connects the essential aspects of school, health and community.
- Causes of Childhood Obesity (CDC)
- Children's Food Environment State Indicator Report, 2011 (PDF)
- Report: Childhood Obesity in Mississippi (PDF)
- Data Sheet: Mississippi Childhood Obesity (PDF)
- Childhood Obesity and Schools (National School Boards Association)
- Tips for Parents — Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight (CDC)
- Children's BMI Tool for Schools (CDC)
- Children's Percentile BMI Calculator for Child and Teen (CDC)
from the Center for Mississippi Health Policy:
In many communities, schools offer a variety of recreational facilities — from playgrounds to gymnasiums — where safe places to play and exercise might not otherwise exist. Joint use agreements create a partnership between schools and residents in a community to share spaces such as playgrounds, athletic fields, pools, and gymnasiums outside of school hours. They can also be used to make community facilities available to schools.
Joint use lets costs and responsibilities be shared, while increasing the opportunities for physical activity for everyone involved.
- Shared Use Agreements: A Best Practices Toolkit
From MSDH and the state Office of Healthy Schools (PDF) - A Toolkit for Increasing Physical Activity through Joint Use Agreements
Public Health Law & Policy (PDF) - More about joint use agreements
Mississippi Office of Healthy Schools
Physical Activity Resources
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents
Public Health Law & Policy (PDF) - LetsMove.gov: Physical Activity
School Health
- School Health Index
The SHI is an easy-to-use, confidential assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. - Health Education Curriculum Analysis
A tool to help schools analyze and improve their health education curricula, based on national standards. - Physical Education Curriculum Analysis
A customizable tool based on local and national standards to help schools analyze and develop their written physical education curricula. - Parents Speak Up
A national campaign to encourage parents of pre-teens to talk to their children about sexuality. - Make Breastfeeding Part of Your School's Wellness Plan
Fact sheet on the benefits of breastfeeding, and how schools can accommodate it. - More school health resources
from the CDC
Personal Health
- MSDH Nutrition pages
Information and resources for individuals, teachers and health professionals - LetsMove.gov
- National Action for Healthy Kids
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation
- More youth health resources from the CDC
Data & Statistics
- Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
Alcohol, tobacco, drugs and other risky behaviors among Mississippi youth - Teen Pregnancy at a Glance
Latest statistics and information from the CDC - More data & statistics
from the CDC
Organizations
Tools for Grant Writing
- Mapping and Analyzing Learning Supports (PDF)
- A Unifying Framework to Promote Healthy Development (PDF)
Finding Grants
Community & School Health Program
Mississippi State Department of Health
P.O. Box 1700
Jackson, MS 39215-1700
Phone: 601-576-7781
