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​Get more involved with OHSC
From research and advocacy to communications and conference planning, the OHSC needs a few more hands to help keep our organization going. If you would like to get more involved in our work, please complete the form below and let us know how you would like to help.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at onthsc@gmail.com
​Link: Application Form 
​A report from the IUHPE explores the potential development of an accreditation system and how it could "support capacity building and increase the level of expertise of the Canadian health promotion workforce."    Read the full report .... 
International Union for Health Promotion and Education ( IUHPE) 

Advancing Health Promotion in Canada 
COVID-19 Resources  

WE GOT THIS

Episode 1: Talking With Your Kids About the Pandemic
Link to : Episode 1
 
Episode 2:  Managing Fear  
Link to: Episode 2 
​The Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition (OHSC) is an Ontario-wide, broad-based coalition, with volunteer members from health, education, social services, not for profit organizations, small businesses, and parent and student organizations.

Vision: Every child and young person in Ontario will be educated in a healthy school.[1]
 
Mission:  In partnership with key stakeholders who are committed to promoting the health and learning of the children and youth of Ontario, the Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition( OHSC)  works to:

  • raise awareness of the benefits and need for healthy schools
  • build the knowledge base and capacity for implementation of a healthy schools approach
  • promote inter-ministerial coordination to support healthy schools
  • influence policy development and the provision of adequate public funding for healthy schools
  • provide a forum to share healthy schools initiatives and best practices across health, education and related sectors.
 
Membership: Membership is open to all individuals and organizations committed to promoting healthy schools in Ontario. This is an evolving group. We will continue to welcome any interested individuals or organizations who wish to support our vision, mission and values.  The OHSC was formed in December 2000.

[1] A healthy school is one that promotes the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the whole school community.  It constantly strengthens its capacity as a healthy setting for living, learning and working. See the document “Definition of a Healthy School and a Healthy Schools Approach” for further elaboration of this concept.
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The Global Recess Alliance
A newly formed group of scholars, health professionals, and education leaders, argues that attention to recess during school reopening is essential. Recess is the only unstructured time in the school day that provides space for children’s physical, social and emotional development, which are essential for well-being and learning. When schools reopen, children will need space to heal from their collective trauma. 

Recess Planning for School Re-opening
Dr. Lauren McNamara, a member of the Ontario Healthy Schools Coalition, is a key figure in the development of the Global Recess Alliance. This recently formed group of scholars, health professionals, and education leaders, argues that attention to recess during school reopening is essential. Recess is the only unstructured time in the school day that provides space for children’s physical, social and emotional development, which are essential for well-being and learning. When schools reopen, children will need space to heal from their collective trauma. 
Lauren and others have shared their expertise to provide answers and concrete strategies for a recess that not only works under the current circumstances, but paves the way for a fundamental shift in the way schools approach recess.

Read and share ...  Statement on Recess
​Learn More: Kids will need recess more than ever ​... 

Children Count Pilot Study... The purpose was to look at the feasibility of coordinated monitoring and assessment of child and youth health to address local data gaps that meet the needs of boards of education and local public health units.

Supporting student achievement and improving overall quality of life for children and youth is a priority shared across multiple sectors, including health and education. In 2017, the Children Count Pilot Study Project Team set out to explore the feasibility of coordinated monitoring and assessment of child and youth health, utilizing the school climate survey, to address local health data gaps. Six school board and public health unit pairings piloted the Healthy Living Module as part of the school board’s school climate survey in the 2018/19 academic year  Read the Study ....
Enabling children and youth to reach their full potential, achieve academic success, and improve their overall quality of life, is a priority shared across multiple sectors, including health and education.

​This toolkit is organized into 8 sections. Each section includes tools to support your partnership, SCS/ HLM implementation and analysis, and data use. While this toolkit may be useful to various stakeholders in the community, the tools and resources in this toolkit are designed for education professionals and school boards as the primary audience.  Link to the ToolKit ....
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