School Health Index
A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide

A: Potential key school representatives are:

• Students
• Administrators (e.g., principals, superintendents, directors of special education or instruction)
• Health coordinators
• Health education teachers
• Teachers from a variety of levels and disciplines
• Counseling, psychological, and social services providers
• Health service providers (e.g., nurses, school clinic staff)
• Nutrition services staff
• School site health promotion staff
• Related committees (e.g., school improvement team, health curriculum committee)
• Other school staff (e.g., custodians, bus drivers, media specialists, classroom aides)

A: Potential key community representatives are:

• School board members
• Parents (e.g., representatives of parent-teacher-student groups)
• Faith communities
• Businesses (e.g., Chambers of Commerce, Rotary Clubs, major employers, agriculture and industry)
• Voluntary health organizations (e.g., American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, American Heart Association)
• Youth-serving organizations (e.g., Boys and Girls Clubs, Scouts)
• Health care (e.g., hospitals, clinics, public health, physicians, nurse practitioners)
• Mental health (e.g., counseling centers, substance abuse counselors, social workers)
• Social services (e.g., welfare, housing)
• Local and county government
• Recreation (e.g., parks and recreation departments, YMCAs, health clubs)
• Law enforcement (e.g., community policing, school safety officers)
• Pre-school programs (e.g., Head Start, nursery schools)
• Elderly (e.g., senior citizens centers)
• Media

A: The SHI coordinator is the facilitator of the SHI process. Potential coordinators can be:

• Retired health educators
• Community-based dietitians
• Professors at local colleges
• Graduate students
• Volunteers at community-based health organizations

A: The SHI coordinator should be:

• A skilled group facilitator who can keep meeting participants on task while making them feel good about their participation.
• An excellent listener who does not attempt to impose his or her own opinions on the group.
• An individual who is highly respected by all participants and by the school administration.