Brokering Student Well-Being: Understanding the Work of School Health Administrators

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Administration
• Educational Leadership

Background:

• School health programs (SHPs) are crucial for student well-being, yet face inadequate funding in California.
• Limited research exists on the operational roles and challenges of school health administrators (SHAs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the job pathways, responsibilities, and work strategies of SHAs in California.
• To understand contextual factors, particularly limited funding, influencing SHA work.
• To explore how SHAs effectively manage SHPs under resource constraints.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study employing in-depth, semistructured interviews.
• Conducted interviews with 30 participants: SHAs, their staff, supervisors, and deputy SHAs.
• Focused on exploring job roles, influencing factors, and work completion strategies.

Main Results:

• District hierarchies tend to marginalize SHAs within the educational system.
• SHAs actively employ brokering strategies to navigate marginalization and achieve program goals.
• Key strategies include raising awareness, cultivating influential allies, and adapting to working conditions.

Conclusions:

• SHAs demonstrate resilience and strategic acumen in overcoming structural disempowerment.
• Effective brokering strategies are vital for securing political support for SHPs and school nurses.
• Addressing structural barriers is essential for strengthening school health services.