Healthy schools
VCH Public Health supports whole-school health and well-being and offers schools a range of health services, including student immunizations and health screening, training to manage student medical conditions, communicable disease and environmental health guidance, health information, and health promotion activities to promote the health of school-aged children.
This section provides schools in the Vancouver Coastal Health region with information about available public health services and resources.
If you have questions, concerns or feedback, please contact your Vancouver Public Health Nurse or any of the Public Health team members supporting you.
Public Health resources for schools
Environmental health resources
VCH Public Health resources on extreme heat, wildfire smoke, traffic pollution, ventilation, and air quality for public schools and childcare facilities to help maintain and improve air quality during events like wildfires and heat waves.
Healthy eating at school
VCH Public Health tips and resources to help you support healthy eating at your school.
Healthy Sexuality Program
The VCH Public Health Healthy Sexuality Program supports educators to deliver comprehensive sexuality education from the Grades 8 to 10 Physical and Health Education Curriculum.
Managing medical conditions in schools
Public Health Nurses, Paediatric Community Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists, and Physiotherapists are available to support school staff training for children with health conditions and medical care needs. Our goal is to support schools to safely manage student health conditions at school.
Mental wellness resources
VCH resources schools can share with families to help children develop stronger mental health and well-being.
Physical Health Program
The VCH Public Health Physical Health Program is a partnership with educators to integrate physical activity and literacy, healthy eating and sleep habits into grade 1 to 3 classrooms.
Youth vaping
Resources about vaping and free supports for youth, schools, and families.
How to prevent the spread of germs in schools
Learn more tips about how to prevent the spread of illness in your school community.
VCH Public Health services available to your school
VCH Public Health teams are here to help! We have a variety of experienced health professionals ready to join together with teachers, administrators and school staff to help support the health of school-aged children and youth.
Click on the + to learn how each team can support you and your school.
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Public Health Nursing
- Support school staff to safely manage medical conditions at school via medical emergency response training, hands-on skills practice (upon request), and consultation on safe school practices.
- Immunization clinics
- Consultation to school staff on communicable disease, general health concerns, and student health concerns.
- Partner with schools on school health promotion initiatives.
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Audiology
- Audiology clinics provide hearing assessments, hearing screening programs, counselling, hearing aid fittings, and follow-up services for children from birth until their 19th birthday.
- Provide school-based hearing screening for Kindergarten students, and full audiology assessment for students who do not pass K hearing screening.
- Work closely with Hearing Resource Teachers to support students with hearing needs and equipment in the classroom.
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Community Health Promotion Grants
If your school, school district, parent advisory council, or a student group sponsored by your school is considering a one-time-only project that aims to address an upstream determinant of health and wellness of your students and/or school community, you may be eligible to apply for one of our one-time-only health promotion small grant programs.
Visit www.vch.ca/grants to learn more about VCH’s health promotion project grants and check back regularly or sign up for notifications about future calls for grant applications.
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Dental Health
- Provides dental screening to kindergarten students in alignment with provincial surveillance efforts to monitor trends in early childhood dental health. Provincial dental screening, typically conducted every three years, is currently on hold and under review. FInd the most recent public health Dental Survey report.
- Delivers oral health education and provides preventative services that promote lifelong healthy habits and help reduce the risk of tooth decay in young children.
- Supporting families to access free or low-cost dental care and dental benefits, including helping connect them to the new Canadian Dental Care Plan and other benefits if cost is a barrier.
Visit VCH Dental Health for more information.
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Environmental Health Officers
Environmental Health Officers provide regular school inspections every three years on behalf of the School Medical Officer. Inspections support the School District in creating and sustaining healthy schools and focus on public health concerns such as communicable disease prevention, safe drinking water, food safety, and general maintenance and sanitation.
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Medical Health Officer (MHO)
MHOs are public health trained physicians with responsibilities under the Public Health Act, the School Act and other legislation. MHOs work closely with school districts as School Medical Officers to support health and wellness of students through the comprehensive school health framework including healthy school policies, healthy environments and school health promotion. MHOs also provide direction to communicable disease control activities and support public health staff in the delivery of health programs in schools.
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Pediatric Teams
- Provides nursing support services, occupational therapy, and physical therapy consultation services for school-age children with complex medical conditions.
- Provides educational in-services for school staff and input into Education Plans and school-based meetings to support inclusion in the school community.
Please contact your local Pediatric Team for OT and PT services available in your community. Please contact your local Nursing support services team for nursing support
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Public Health Dietitians and Community Health Specialists
- Public Health Dietitians and Community Health Specialists can collaborate with school districts to support school health promotion initiatives to best meet your school & school district needs using the Comprehensive School Health Framework.
- Public Health Dietitians and Community Health Specialists provide district-level support, including workshops to enhance staff knowledge and skills in student nutrition, physical activity, screen use, sleep and mental wellness promotion. For more information, please contact your School District leads and visit Supporting Healthy Eating at School.
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Tobacco and Vapour Reduction Coordinators
- Provides training for educators (e.g., Professional Development Days)
- Provides education sessions for students and parents
- Provides easy-to-use resources and teaching tools/toolkits
For more information, contact smokefree@vch.ca and visit www.vch.ca/youth-vaping
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