Health Protection in Schools

Health protection in schools includes three main service areas:

1. Environmental HealthEnvironmental Health provides the following services in schools: 

• School inspections - Environmental Health Officers routinely inspect schools every three years. Permitted cafeterias and hot lunch programs are inspected at least once a year. We also review building plans for new schools and proposals for major renovations to existing schools.
• Education -We provide information and give classroom presentations on environmental health topics. Health Protection staff also work with the school public health nurse to distribute resources such as hand washing kits, needle and condom kits.
  
• Foodsafe™ - We issue Foodsafe™ Level One Certificates to high school students who have successfully completed the basic food safety course.

Contact Environmental HealthTel: 604-675-3800 or Email: environmental.health@vch.ca

2. Tobacco Control

Tobacco Control provides the following services in schools: 

• Tobacco reduction - We help teachers plan, implement and evaluate prevention, advocacy, education and cessation strategies for their schools and classrooms including:
• Tobacco enforcement - We protect young people by reducing their access and exposure to tobacco products through retailer education, routine inspections, administrative and enforcement checks to ensure that retailers are complying with the law.

Contact Tobacco ControlContact us if you know about a retailer selling tobacco to youth under the age of 19 or if you know a student who is looking for part-time employment as a minor test shopper.
Tel: 604-675-3800  Email: smokefree@vch.ca

3.  Community Care Facilities Licensing

We inspect child care facilities are inspected at least once per year and indoor and outdoor spaces at facilities to monitor the health, safety and well being of the children in care.

We also investigate all complaints, serious incidents and allegation of abuse and take appropriate action to ensure the health and safety of those in care is not in jeopardy.

Contact Community Care Facilities Licensing  Tel: 604-675-3800 Email: communitycare.licensing@vch.ca.

Learn more about Health Protection services for schools 

Download Section 17 of the School Health Manual:

Section 17 - Health Protection