Enhancing wellness in a high school: a community partnership

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Nursing Education
• Adolescent Wellness

Background:

• High school students frequently exhibit high-risk behaviors exceeding national averages.
• Existing wellness programs may not adequately address the needs of this demographic.
• Community-school partnerships can bridge gaps in health service delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the wellness needs of high school students with high-risk behaviors.
• To establish and evaluate a community partnership between a school district and a university nursing program.
• To assess the effectiveness of university-provided wellness programs in a high school setting.

Main Methods:

• A collaborative partnership was formed between a county school district and West Virginia University School of Nursing.
• Wellness programs were developed and delivered by school nurses, nursing faculty, and nursing students.
• University departments beyond the School of Nursing provided supplementary support.

Main Results:

• The wellness programs received positive evaluations from the school community.
• There was high demand for the services offered, indicating unmet needs.
• The partnership successfully delivered wellness interventions to students, faculty, and staff.

Conclusions:

• The community partnership effectively met the wellness needs of high school students.
• The collaboration demonstrated the value of university-nursing school engagement in school wellness.
• Positive outcomes suggest the program's success and potential for sustainability.