The Arkansas School Health Services work is a partnership between the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH), the Arkansas Department of Education -Division of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE), and other statewide partners. By working together, we are able to help schools start and keep health and wellness activities that build a safe and healthy school setting so students can learn and be at their best. The health and education model we use is the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model (WSCC). This model puts the student at the center and stresses the importance of communities supporting schools. The Office of School Health Services at ADH provides professional development, technical assistance, training, and resources to support the goals of districts across the state so they can better meet the health and safety needs of students and so students are better able to succeed. The professional development, technical assistance, training, and resources provided by our team focus on helping schools meet state and federal school health mandates and implementing healthy school practices. The topics covered include mandates, data, Health & Safety and Physical Education Standards, and the components of the WSCC model seen below.
The Arkansas Department of Health’s Child and Adolescent Health – School Health Program includes:
- Obesity prevention/Act 1220 of 2003
- Arkansas State School Nurse Consultant
- School-Based Health Centers
- Coordinated School Health
These programs all work collaboratively within the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model, which is an expansion of the Coordinated School Health (CSH) framework and includes the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education, Arkansas Educational Services Cooperatives, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, amongst many other partners. Coordinated School Health/ WSCC is a planned, organized set of health-related programs, policies, and services coordinated at both the district and individual school levels. It emphasizes a unified and collaborative approach to learning and health.
The Student Exposure to Health Care Experiences and Careers Resource Guide is the joint effort of members of the health and education sectors who first came together at the 2018 Rural Health Summit at the Winthrop Rockefeller Institute. The guide includes information and contacts for educational programs operating throughout Arkansas that provide healthcare-related experiences and career exposure for students of all ages.
School Health Annual Reports: 2021 | 2020 | 2019
Act 1220 Coordination and State School Health and Wellness Coordinator
Act 1220 of 2003 created the role of what is known as the Act 1220 Coordinator or State School Health and Wellness Coordinator. The Act 1220 Coordinator (State School Health and Wellness Coordinator) helps schools meet the state and federal rules for school health and wellness. The main goal is to lower obesity by supporting best practices in foodservice, nutrition, physical, and health education in schools. Click here for additional information on State Health and Wellness. Additionally, Act 1220 of 2003 created the Child Health Advisory Committee (CHAC) to address childhood obesity and develop statewide nutrition and physical activity standards. View additional information on CHAC.
Coordinated School Health
Coordinated School Health involves combining classroom education while supporting health. By combining these, we can help improve children’s ability to learn and grow. Coordinated School Health uses the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child, or WSCC (whisk) Model. The WSCC model puts the child in the center of the school and community. Click here for more information and to visit the Arkansas Coordinated School Health webpage.
School-Based Health Centers
School-Based Health Centers (SBHC) provide basic physical, mental, dental, or other services as needed. The health center provides more services than a school nurse and is not intended to replace the school nurse. The School-Based health center is required to have a working relationship with the main doctor of a child. Families can apply for ARKids and local resources connected to the health center for students and families convenience. The goal is for the center to act as a resource center for wellness and prevention. The program is a partnership between the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Arkansas Department of Health (ADH). View additional School-Based Health Center information.
Arkansas State School Nurse Consultant
The Arkansas State Nurse Consultant provides support and resources to Arkansas public school nurses. Additionally, the Arkansas state Nurse Consultant provides training, coordinates data collection and interpretation, and assists in the State BMI Project. View additional information on School Nursing.
School Nurse Data: 2022 | 2020 | 2013 | 2009 | 2007
Community Health Nurse Specialists & Community Health Promotion Specialists
The Community Health Nurse Specialist (CHNS) and Community Health Promotion Specialist (CHPS) were created through steps taken in response to Act 1220 of 2003 to focus on reducing tobacco/nicotine use and increasing healthy eating and moving. The CHPS and CHNS’ work has changed into working with schools and communities to improve the health of our children and communities. CHPS/CHNS has offices in educational cooperatives around the state. View a list of the topics, CHPS/CHNS can provide presentations on. CHNS supports school nurses, Act 1220 of 2003 coordination, and the Coordinated School Health Program across the state. View additional information on CHPS/CHNS and the Arkansas State School Nurse Consultant.
Resources Organizations
- Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education
- Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ARCOP)
- Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI)
- Arkansas Children’s Hospital –Community Outreach
- Arkansas School-Based Health Alliance
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Suicide Prevention and Education
Other Resources
- School Wellness FAQs
- Wellness Committee Requirements Checklist
- Recess Pilot Impact Report
- Staying Active at Home: Activities for Parents and Students
- Child Health Advisory Committee (meetings and minutes)
- BMI Toolkit For Nurses
- Healthy Family Refrigerator Curriculum
- Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Arkansas Center for Health Improvement School BMI information
- Arkansas School Wellness Committee Toolkit
- Obesity Data Deck
- CDC: Virtual Healthy School
Contact Us
4815 W. Markham, Slot 63
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 501-280-4061
Fax: 501-683-5602
