The academic success of our youth is strongly linked with their health. The Ferguson-Florissant School District recognizes along with leading national education organizations the close relationship between health and education, as well as the need to foster health and well-being within the educational environment for all students. The healthy development of children and adolescents is influenced by many societal institutions. School health programs and policies has proven to be one of the most efficient means to prevent or reduce risk behaviors and prevent serious health problems among students. 5   School Health has four interrelated goals shown below:

1. Improve health knowledge, attitudes, and skills

2. Improve health behaviors and health outcomes

3. Improve educational outcomes

4. Improve social outcomes

These goals are most effectively and efficiently achieved when all the goals are addressed simultaneously through a coordinated approach that includes school teachers, health and counseling services, district nutrition services, administration, parents, students and community members. Research has shown that strong school wellness councils that guide the implementation of systemic health programs and policies can reduce the prevalence of health risk behaviors among young people and have a positive effect on academic performance.

To establish healthy school environments that support learning and the adoption of health-enhancing behaviors by all within the school and community, the Ferguson-Florissant School District revised the District Wellness Policy and included a District Wellness Policy and Procedures Manual that includes information on the Wellness Policy procedures, implementation, and evaluation. To learn more about FFSD wellness visit: https://www.fergflor.org/Page/3703 and https://www.fergflor.org/Page/3807

To learn more about local wellness policies and the link between learning and health visit:

CDC Health and Academics: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/

CDC Health and Academics Data & Statistics: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/health_and_academics/data.htm

Alliance for A Healthier Generation: Healthy Kids Learn Better: https://www.healthiergeneration.org/about_childhood_obesity/wellness_stories/healthy_kids_learn_better/

CDC: Health and Academic Achievement: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/health-academic-achievement.pdf

Center for Research Strategies LLC: https://www.cde.state.co.us/sites/default/files/documents/healthandwellness/download/healthachievement.pdf

CDC Local Wellness Policies: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/npao/wellness.htm