School Health Promotion in Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador in Profile[1]

The youngest of Canada’s provinces,Newfoundland and Labrador ranks 7th in size, at just over 405,000 square kilometers. The province is physically divided into 2 major units, the much larger being the mainland territory of Labrador. An island in the Atlantic Ocean, Newfoundland is the easternmost Canadian jurisdiction. Labrador is adjacent to Quebec and is separated from Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle. A small percentage of the population is aboriginal. Explored by the Vikings and Europeans, the population is predominantly European of British origin, with pockets of Acadians mostly found on the West Coast.

There are 76,700 students from kindergarten through grade 12 in 294 schools, organized in 5 school districts, four Anglophone and one Francophone. Physical Education and Health Education is mandatory for grades K-9 with 1 year of physical education required in the three year senior high program (grades 10-12). School districts have program specialists or itinerant teachers dedicated to physical and health education program support.

School Councils, advisory in nature, develop, encourage and promote policies, practices and activities to enhance the quality of school programs and the levels of student achievement in the school. They may have from 8 to 15 members, including the school principal, parents, teachers, community representatives and student representatives in senior high schools.

The health and community services system is made up of four Regional Health Authorities that oversee the delivery of services in each of the four regions in the province: Eastern, Central, Western and Labrador. The Department of Health and Community Services provides funding as well as policy direction, monitoring and support forregional programs and services. Each school district is aligned with a health regionand they work together to facilitate the planning and delivery of health services and programs to school age children and youth.

Provincial Wellness Plan

In 2002, the Provincial Wellness Advisory Council was established to provide advice and guidance to the Minister of Health and Community Services on the development and implementation of a provincial wellness strategy. Supported by the Department of Health and Community Services, the Council is comprised of a broad range of government departments, professional associations and community groups. Six Regional Wellness Coalitions are also in place to facilitate, initiate, promote and support community-based action based on the priority areas recommended by the Council.

Healthy Students Healthy Schools

In 2004, the Department of Health and Community Services and the Department Education partnered in the development and implementation of the provincial Healthy Students Healthy Schoolsinitiative. This initiativebuilds on the work of the School Districts, Regional Health Authorities, Regional Wellness Coalitions and other school health related community groups and organizations. The initiative aims to create,supportand promote healthy living school environments for children and youth and to foster healthy lifestyles that will continue throughout life.

Using a comprehensive school health approach, the initial focus of Healthy Students Healthy Schoolsis on the development of policies, programs and services that support healthy eating, physical activity and living smoke-free as well as to support parents, educators and the school community to address these issues. As the initiative is further developed, other areas to be addressed will include mental health, injury prevention, immunizations, social behaviours, school structures and environments and support to vulnerable populations.

Implementation

In Newfoundland and Labrador a Provincial Healthy Students Healthy Schools Committee is in place to provide a vehicle to coordinate school health promotion efforts across the province. The Committee is co-chaired by the Department of Health and Community Services and the Department of Education and is made up of the Directors of Health Promotion from each Regional Health Authority, a Program Specialist from each School District, five School Health Promotion Liaison Consultantsand other health and education consultants as required.The overall implementation of the provincial initiative is the responsibility of the two co-chairs:aWellness Consultant, Health Promotion and Wellness Division. Department of Health and Community Services and a Program Development Specialist, Curriculum and Learning Resources Division, Department of Education. The Department of Education Program Development Specialist also chairs the Physical Education, Sport and Physical Activity Working Group that reports to the JSHC Management Committee.

School Health Promotion Liaison Consultants, funded by both the Department of Health and Community Services and the Department of Education, and placed in school district offices, reinforce the connection between health and education at the regional level. The School Health Promotion Liaison Consultants help to strengthen partnerships, build capacity and facilitate action for wellness in the schools districts. The positions report to both theRegional Health Authority and the School District and work on school health promotion initiatives with the relevant consultants in both sectors.

A number of resources support implementation, including:

  • School Food Guidelinesset a nutritional standard for all foods sold or served at schools. Based on Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating, the guidelineslist foods in the 4 food groups,divide them into “Serve Most/Serve Moderately” categories, and include a list of foods that are not recommended to be served or sold at school. Also included is information on the importance of serving size, reading labels, suitable snack and vending machine foods, ideas for more fruits and vegetables on the menu, lower fat food preparation methods and food safety. A Healthy Eating Resource Manual accompanies the Guidelines and includes menu ideas, fundraising alternatives and suggestions on ways to introduce students to new healthy food choices. School Districts developed their healthy eating policies, which will be in full implementation by September 2008, based on these School Food Guidelines.
  • 100% Smoke-Free School Ground Policies are in place in all schools across the province. These policies aim to prevent youth from starting to smoke as well as to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.
  • The Living Healthy Commotionsare school based events celebrating school achievements in wellness. They also serve as a kick-off to new initiatives around healthy eating, being active, and living smoke-free. The Commotions are a joint project of the Departments of Education and Health and Community Services, the School Health Promotion Liaison Consultants, the School Districts, the Regional Health Authorities, and all the schools across the province.
  • The Clean, Cover and Containcampaign is intended to prevent the spread of colds and influenza during the peak respiratory infection season. The campaign is supported by posters distributed to all schools to emphasize that the three principles of personal hygiene (clean, cover and contain) will help to keep them healthy and prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses.
  • The school health provincial website, LivingHealthySchools.com, keeps partners and participants informed about the initiatives students, teachers, families and communities are implementing to help make schools healthier places to learn. The website contains information about new and ongoing programs focusing on healthy eating, active living,living smoke-free, environmental health, addictions awareness, and safe & caring school programs. The site features resources and links to the health promotion information and education tools available.
  • To help create healthy school environments, small grants are available to schoolsthrough the Regional Health Authorities and the Regional Wellness Coalitions. Provincial Wellness Grants are also available through the Department of Health and Community Services to help move the school health agenda forward through research, program and resource development and program field-testing.

Challenges and Successes

The Healthy Students Healthy Schools initiative has been well received in our province. It’s a timely initiative that has served to strengthen partnerships both provincially and regionally in a coordinated approach. The challenges we face include the School Health Promotion Liaison Consultant positions being temporary, securing adequate cafeteria equipment and workspace, finding the best ways to support caterers and food suppliers as they adapt to the new school food guidelines and addressing the handwashing/lunch storage issues in schools.

The School Needs Assessment, which was completed by all schools across the province, has proven worthwhile as we now have information on schools infrastructure, foods they offer and the services available in their community from a healthy eating and active living perspective. We have used this information to secure funds and begin to address the cafeteria equipment needs in our schools.

Workshops with frontline catering staff from all school districts have been valuable from a learning, sharing and partnership perspective. During the workshops, the frontline workers had an opportunity to meet with a Regional Nutritionist and School Health Promotion Liaison Consultant to discuss the new school food guidelines, ask questions, share healthy food preparation tips and learn more about their role in implementing the new healthy eating policies. Aprons with our Healthy Students Healthy Schools logo “Living Healthy” were provided as a “thank you” to the frontline catering staff. The workshops have made staff feel part of, and more comfortablewith the new policy implementation process.

Evaluation of Healthy Students Healthy Schools

The Healthy Students Healthy Schools initiative iscurrently beingreviewed as part of an external evaluation of the Provincial Wellness Plan. The model and impact of the role of School Health Promotion Liaison Consultant in our school health initiative is currently being evaluated through a research grant received by MemorialUniversity. Our provincial and regional school health initiatives (i.e. Living Healthy Commotions, Principals Workshops, Caterers Workshops, PD days, provincial meetings, pilot programs etc.) are evaluated on an ongoing basis.

Benefits to JCSH Membership

The Joint Consortium for School Health supports efforts in Newfoundland and Labrador. The existence of the Consortium helps to validate and strengthen the school health work underway in this province. The exchange of knowledge and experience, the overall capacity building and opportunity for shared agendas are key benefits of participation. The Consortium provides an opportunity to contribute to and draw from environmental scans and literature reviews as well as participate in a network of school health professionals.

October 2007.

For additional information, contact Mark Jones at

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[1]Sources: Statistics Canada, Land and Freshwater Area, by Province and Territory, Population by province and territory; Newfoundland & Labrador Statistics Agency accessed on September 4, 2007 at ; Department of Education, Annual Report 2005-06, at ; Department of Health and Social services website at The Canadian Encyclopaedia,