As VCHIP aims to improve the health of Vermont’s children, we recognize and celebrate the role that school administrators, educators and, school-based health professionals play in supporting the health of children, through the provision of healthy school environments, nutritious meals, health education, physical education and activity, health services and more. Many VCHIP projects and affiliated clinicians have already identified this opportunity and have built strong partnerships with schools and school-based professionals.
Our work in the coming year will include inventorying current partnerships between VCHIP projects, physician practices and schools across the state; conducting landscape analysis of best practices in academic and pediatric partnerships to advance school health; and interviewing key health, educational and community stakeholders in Vermont on the role(s) that VCHIP can most effectively play to advance the health of children through the lens of schools. By the end of the fiscal year, we aim to finalize a strategic vision and plan for VCHIP’s school health portfolio moving forward.