School health promotion resources
To support schools and school administrators in promoting the health and well-being of students, Vancouver Coastal Health offers and supports a variety of evidence-based and practical resources within the topic areas of physical health, healthy sexuality, mental well-being and substance use.
About the VCH Health Promotion Program
VCH is committed to working with schools to implement strategies that promote whole-school well-being using the Comprehensive School Health Framework. Schools and school districts are invited to connect with local Public Health Nurses, Public Health Dietitians, and Community Health Specialists to collaborate on school health promotion initiatives based on individual school and school district priorities.
To support schools and school administrators in promoting the health and well-being of students, we offer and support a variety of evidence-based and practical resources within four topic areas:
Physical Health
The Physical Health Program, offered by VCH Public Health Nurses, is a partnership with educators to integrate physical activity and literacy, healthy eating and sleep habits into grade 1 to 3 classrooms. Public health dietitians, community health specialists, and policy leads also offer support for school districts in fostering environments and policies that promote physical health.
Resources to support the PHE Curriculum
Slide decks for the four lesson plans can be found linked below, in addition to the Teacher Manual with full instructions and additional activities. Parent and caregiver handouts are also available.
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Lesson 1 - Setting the Stage: Children’s Physical Health in B.C.
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Lesson 2 - Movement Makes Us Happy and Healthy
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Lesson 3 - Mindful Eating and Listening to Body Signals
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Lesson 4 - Rest and Reset
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Physical Activity and Physical Literacy Parent Handout
A VCH resource for parents and caregivers for children in grades 1 to 3.
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The Rainbow Brain Handout
A VCH resource for parents and caregivers for children in grades 1 to 3.
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Eating Well Parent Handout
A VCH resource for parents and caregivers for children in grades 1 to 3.
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Sleep and Screens Parent Handout
A VCH resource for parents and caregivers for children in grades 1 to 3.
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Healthy Sexuality
Our Healthy Sexuality Program, offered by Public Health Nurses, supports educators to deliver comprehensive sexuality education from the Grades 8-10 Physical and Health Education Curriculum.
Healthy Sexuality Program resources
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Lesson Plans and Teaching Resources
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Healthy Sexuality Program Infographic
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Sexual Health - Getting started
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Reproductive Systems and Pregnancy Prevention
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Sexually Transmitted and Blood Borne Infections (STBBIs)
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Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI)
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Mental Wellness
VCH resources schools can share with families to support children’s mental wellness.
Mental wellness resources for schools
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Mental Health
An overview of mental health and wellness for parents/caregivers. It covers what is mental health, when and how to seek support for children, how to talk about mental health as a family, and how to foster children’s positive mental well-being.
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Social and Emotional Learning
Understanding SEL and ways parents/caregivers can strengthen children’s social emotional development.
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Body image
Ways parents/caregivers can support their children to develop a healthy relationship with food and body
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Screen use for parents (0 to 4 years)
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Screen Use for Parents (5 to 12 Years)
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Screen Use for Parents (13 to 17 Years)
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Substance Use Prevention
Substance use prevention resources for schools
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Youth vaping
Education and prevention resources for schools, youth, and families.
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Real Drug Education for Teens from Interior Health
Evidence-based drug education lesson plans and educator guide.
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Lesson Plans: iMinds
Cross-curricular lesson plans on drug literacy and healthy choices that support well-being. For Gr 4-12.
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PreVenture
Evidence-based mental health promotion and substance use prevention program for youth.
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The ABCs of Youth Substance Use
McCreary Centre Society. Lists options for age-based substance use school programs that align with PHE Curriculum.
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Kelty substance use and youth
Information for adults on substance use in youth. Includes how to talk to youth about substance use.
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Youth substance use services and resources
VCH and community youth substance use services.
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Foundry
In person and virtual youth mental health and substance use health care service for youth across B.C.
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School health data sources
The sources below provide health data information about your schools and district and can be used to inform your programs.
- BC COVID-19 Survey on Population, Action and Knowledge (SPEAK) – The results look at risk perception and the broader impacts of COVID-19 which include social, economic, physical health, mental wellness and community resiliency.
- Middle Years Development Instrument (MDI) – The data sheds light on the thoughts, feelings and experiences of children in grade 4 to grade 8. It can be used to inform policy and practice in your school community.
- Adolescent Health Survey – The survey provides an evidence base of health behaviour trends, emerging issues, and risk and protective factors for healthy development.
- Youth Development Instrument (YDI) - Schools can use their data reports to identify and address issues amongst youth as well as to promote positive youth development. This is particularly important given recent YDI data indicating the pandemic’s continued impact on youths’ well-being, especially mental wellness. Find examples of YDI resports for 22 participating districts from previous years.
