A complementary ecological model of the coordinated school health program

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Child Development
• Health Education

Background:

• The Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) has evolved over 20 years.
• An ecological perspective, considering multiple environmental influences, is crucial for understanding health behaviors.
• Existing CSHP frameworks require updating to reflect current understanding of ecological influences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a complementary ecological model for the Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP).
• To reflect 20 years of evolved changes and integrate ecological principles into CSHP.
• To provide an enhanced conceptual framework for CSHP practice, evaluation, and research.

Main Methods:

• Consultation of public health and child development theories.
• Integration of concepts from various ecological and CSHP models.
• Development of a visual model with concentric rings representing environmental and governance factors.

Main Results:

• A novel ecological model for CSHP was formulated.
• The model features 6 core program/service components within an inner circle.
• Four concentric rings represent the healthy school environment, CSHP structures, district governance, and family/community involvement.

Conclusions:

• The proposed ecological model serves as an additional conceptual approach to CSHP.
• It is intended to aid in CSHP practice, evaluation, and research.
• The model is particularly beneficial for practitioners and researchers with existing CSHP knowledge.