Services for Elementary Schools

2016 / 2017Programs & To assist you in getting the information and resources you need, public healthServices professionals are available through Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520.for Elementary SchoolsThe Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is pleased to Personal Healthyprovide the following programs and services in partnership Safety Growthwith elementary schools and school boards in SimcoeCounty and the District of Muskoka. Physical Substance Mental Activity Use HealthHealthy Healthy Dental Health ConnectionSchools Eating Screening Health Connection is a free confidential health information and advice service for residents and visitors to Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka. Available by phone, email, Facebook and Twitter, Health Connection is staffed by public health nurses and inspectors who can help you. CLICK TO TURN PAGE 

Healthy Schools We offer:We work with schools to ll School Outreach Visits to discuss school increase school health health-related strengths, needs and issues. using the Ministry ofEducation’s Foundations ll Action Planning to address identified health issues. for a Healthy School as a guide. ll Support to Schools involving staff, students, and parents. We can assist schools to address issues, connect with other health unit and community services, apply for healthy schools funding opportunities, and more.

Healthy Eating We support schools Programs and Services include: Dental Health with planning andimplementing activities to ll Eat Well to Excel (Simcoe County), ll Dental Screening (for students in support healthy eating Student Nutrition Programs selected grades). (Muskoka): dietitians are available to consult with school ll Preventive Clinics: services staff or volunteers about their including fluorides, pit and fissure programs. sealants and scaling. Parent/ guardian consent is needed prior to ll Bright Bites: Boost school treatment. nutrition, receive recognition, one bite at a time. ll Coverage for Dental Care: for children identified with urgent ll School Food and Beverage dental conditions or whose families Policy: support with implement- meet financial eligibility require- ation. ments. ll Food Safety Education: for ll Oral Health Education: “Alex the parents, staff & students at Alligator” teaches students the school functions, including inter- importance of tooth brushing and active home kitchen display and good oral hygiene. handouts.

We work with students, staff Physical Activity and parents on physical activity initiatives such as ll P.A.L.S. & Healthy P.A.L.S. programs: encourage students to participate in fun and safe increasing physical literacy, playground activities. School staff are trained to daily physical activity (DPA) supervise the program and junior and interme-and the creation of naturalized diate students are trained to act as playground activity leaders. outdoor play spaces.

Substance Use, Addictions and Related Behaviours Information, resources ll Race against Drugs is a community based drug and alcoholand supports are available Respect Action Courage Excellence awareness program for Grade 5 students. Students move related to topics such through a series of interactive pit stops to learn key messages as tobacco, alcohol about the importance of a drug and alcohol free lifestyle. and substance misuse ll Truth & Consequences: Drug & Alcohol Awareness Conference prevention. available as an event or teachers van choose to use lesson plans (available online). ll100% SMOKE-FREE 100% Smoke-Free School Grounds Requirement: the GROUNDS Smoke-Free Ontario Act requires that school property is 100% smoke-free 24 hours a day 7 days a week, year round. This applies to all students, staff, and visitors. The health unit provides signage to post on school property and by offers infor- mation and resources that can be used to communicate with the school community. Tobacco Enforcement Officers inspect schools to check for compliance with the law.

Promoting positive mental Mental Health health by increasing protective factors ll Can You Feel It? Stress Workshop (grades 6-8): helps students build the necessary life skills to manage andresiliency among students, cope with the stress in their everyday lives. (available while decreasing risk online) factors, inequities, and discrimination. ll Roots of Empathy: students learn about healthy rela- tationships, emotional literacy and empathy through observing and interacting with a newborn baby.

Personal Safety and Injury Prevention We can help schools ll Information and resources are ll Infectious Disease: the health promote safety and available on topics such as: unit investigates reportableprevent injury and illness sun safety, pedestrian safety, diseases and outbreaks ofamong students, staff and vehicle safety (e.g. booster seats, illness in schools, offer is health the school community. safe transportation), and sport/ education and follow up with staff, recreation safety (e.g. playground students and families who may safety, helmet and bike safety, and be affected. Information is also wheeled activities). available on infection prevention and control, student and staff ll Idling Reduction: schools can exclusion periods, cleaning and request our support to raise disinfecting, personal protection awareness of adverse health and hand hygiene. effects and environmental impacts of idling through initiatives like the “Turn It Off” Campaign. Resources are also available to help teachers incorporate climate change and idling reduction into their lessons. ll Rabies Prevention: information is available for use in the classroom or at school events. Schools can request for health unit staff to visit with a rabies display and student activity book.

We partner with schools to Healthy Growth andpromote healthy messaging Developmentrelated to parenting, humandevelopment, sexual health ll Parenting Education: including Triple P Positive Parenting Program for families with children between the and immunization. ages of 0 and 16. ll Immunization Records: the health unit is required by law to collect and assess immunization records of all students. ll School Immunization Clinics: offered for Gr.7 students (Hepatitis B and Meningococcal A, C, W, Y conjugate vaccines) and Gr. 8 female students (Human Papilloma- virus vaccine). ll Sexual Health Curriculum: consultation and resources are available.