Foundations of School and Community Health Education

It is imperative for society to recognize the important and beneficial effects of health-promoting environments. Two factors central to this approach to health education are: (1) An emphasis placed on developing lifelong, positive health-related attitudes and behaviors; and (2) support of school personnel, parents, school board members, community leaders, and health and social service agencies and providers. When these elements are in place, children and youth and adults can be helped to develop a lifelong commitment to their own health and well being. Health education is considered to be a discipline, a profession, a process, and an outcome. As a discipline, health education has roots established in medicine, public health, the social and behavioral sciences, and education.