Family and Community Involvement

"Schools have a wealth of potential for ensuring the future well-being of young people. You can't educate a child who isn't healthy, and you can't keep a child healthy who isn't educated."

-- M. Jocelyn Elders, MD

 

The above quotation from our former U.S. Surgeon General is a profound statement about the responsibility schools have to our nations' children. This responsibility, albeit enormous, pales in comparison to the responsibility of the parent. Raising healthy, educated children requires that we form a partnership that allows parents, schools, and communities to work together and support each other so we can do the best that we can for our young people.

This page provides resources and stories of ways parents, community, and schools can work together. It also provides resources for parents that will help them raise healthy children and learn ways they can partner with school and community.

Resources for Parents

Kids Health for Parents - Doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Information includes articles on nutrition and fitness based on child's age.

Game On - An all-inclusive fun event for students, parents, teachers, administrators, and others to celebrate coming back to school. Events integrate nutrition, physical activity, and learning through a series of activity stations that will stimulate minds and bodies.

Kidnetic - Site that communicates healthy eating and active living information in meaningful and relevant ways to kids aged 9-12 and their families. It is intended to encourage kids and their families to begin the process of behavior change toward healthy lifestyles.

Low Income Nutritional Support - Homepage for WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, that serves to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk, by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care.

National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy - The National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy seeks to improve the lives and future prospects of children and families and, in particular, to help ensure that children are born into stable, two-parent families who are committed and ready for the demanding task of raising the next generation.

Talk Early & Talk Often ©, MI Parent Resources - The nationally recognized Talk Early & Talk Often© parent education initiative aimed at helping parents of middle school youth talk with their child about abstinence and sexuality continues to be offered to parents in the school, community, healthcare, or church setting.

Kids Health - What should you expect as your child grows? Learn how to understand and deal with your child's changing body and mind from infancy through the teen years.

Schools and Parents... Working Together