Key Concepts in Health PromotingSchools Communities

Facilitated by: Steve Manske, EdD, Rebecca Bassett Gunter, PhD

Workshop with: Shaping the Future Conference, Kananaskis, ABJanuary, 2012

Purpose of This Session

• Health promoting schools do so by supporting individual wellness thus leading to improved learning outcomes. How can we enhance?

• This session will engage participants to identify pitfalls and strengths around how we talk about promoting healthy school communities

• Participants will offer input to enhance impact of a communication tool (“concept paper”).

Reason for the Session

• Priority raised at National Roundtable, 2010• Two national bodies (each with provincial /

territorial members) who focus on the topic• Task 1: Headline

– Write down the headline or lead-in sentence that describes your ultimate success

– Share with two others who bring a different perspective (health or education; practice or policy or research)

– Post results 3

Debrief

• Share examples with the group• Grouping of headlines

– Process vs. outcome oriented– Terminology used for key concepts– Components suggested by headlines

• Learnings?

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Do we need consensus?

• Language and jargon can complicate not facilitate• Problems with communication and comprehension lead

to reduced communication and collaboration• Need to increase collaboration since we need to move

the system toward a common goal• Various terms/frameworks etc., complicate evaluation• Reduces duplicate efforts in a time of limited resources• Ensure sensitivity to each others’ terminology

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Task 2: Terminology

• Using “Post-it” notes, with just one idea per note, write your preferred terminology for “how school communities can support health and well-being in the school community”

• in your group of 3, describe why you made this choice (1 minute max per person).

• Come to consensus.• Post your consensus terminology. • Review with the full group.

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Systems for Promoting Healthy School Communities

Where to from here?

• Develop a “concept paper” that will:– Review history of terms and frameworks– Review recent sources of information on current

terms & frameworks– Attempt to bridge terms and concepts so

educators and others “get” how they can support healthy school communities

• Develop a process to build support for paper• Use the paper to expand impact of healthy

school communities8

Steering Committee

Policy Practice Research

Education PE School Health Coord.

Canadian Principal Association

Brock UGrant MacEwan U

Educ & Health JCSHAB School Health Coord.

ON Healthy School CoalitionPHE CanadaEver Active

Health NB School Health Coord.

U SaskatchewanU Waterloo

Secretariat Propel Centre for Pop Health Impact

9Does this inspire confidence?

Concept Paper: Further Plans

• Input opportunities– Advisory Meeting (March)– PHE Conference

• Production: 25-, 3- and 1-page versions• Promotion

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Task 3: Advice

• In what format and through what forums are most suited share communication products for educators and other decision-makers?

• Ensuring education perspective is included: What recommendations do you have for educators who conceptualize well and get excited about geeky things like terminology?

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Appreciation to all

• As usual at this conference I’ve learned more than I’ve contributed.

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Thank You!

Steve Manskemanske@uwaterloo.caKeep the spirit alive

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