Coalition of National Health Education Organizations

Click on a link above for a synopsis of each organization and link to the organizations web site.

Member Organizations

American School Health Association
American School Health Association
4340 East West Highway
Suite 403
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301.652.8072
Fax: 301.652.8077
Email: info@ashaweb.org

Year Established: 1927

Organization Description:

A membership organization for professionals working in schools who are committed to safeguarding the health of
school-aged children and youth
A multidisciplinary organization of administrators, counselors, health educators, physical educators, school food service
personnel, school psychologists and social workers, school nurses and school physicians
The Association advocates high- quality school health programs

Statement of Purpose:

Mission
The mission of the American School Health Association is to build the capacity of its members to plan, develop, coordinate,
implement, evaluate, and advocate for effective school health strategies that contribute to optimal health and academic
outcomes for all children and youth.

Vision
The American School Health Association envisions healthy students who learn and achieve in safe and healthy environments
nurtured by caring adults functioning within coordinated school and community support systems.

Goals
To provide leadership and realize this mission, ASHA has identified the following goals for the Association:

Interdisciplinary Collaboration. Promote interdisciplinary collaboration among those who work to improve health and
academic outcomes for all children and youth.
Advocacy. Build capacity to advocate effectively for coordinated school health and related school and community
support systems.
Professional Development. Offer professional development opportunities that build members' leadership skills and
capacity to plan, develop, coordinate, implement, evaluate, and advocate for effective school health strategies.
Research. Provide opportunities to support, exchange, and disseminate research that contributes to the implementation
of evidence-based school health strategies.
Resources. Acquire, utilize, and maintain human, fiscal, and material resources that support the mission of the American
School Health Association.

Core Beliefs
The Association maintains the following Core Beliefs.

Health and learning are directly linked and are essential to the development of healthy, resilient citizens.
Schools are uniquely positioned to help children and youth acquire life-long, health-promoting knowledge, skills,
attitudes, and behaviors.
The most effective and efficient means of promoting healthy citizens is through a coordinated, school health approach.
Those working in school health settings should be highly qualified and practice evidence-based health and education
strategies.
Schools should be safe, nurturing environments that facilitate learning for all.

Size of Membership: 1,500

Publications:

Journal of School Health, published 12 times a year in both electronic and hard copy formats.
Pulse, newsletter published bi-monthly.
A variety of publications and resource materials are available concerning school health problems and program planning.

Projects:

Sample of materials available: a review of evaluated programs in school health; guides for establishing school health
councils, for sexuality education, and for developing medicine education for students; suggestions for ways physicians
and schools can work together; an adolescent immunization education toolkit with DVD and CD and posters; a book
on the role everyone in a school can play in preventing unwanted adolescent pregnancies; a curriculum supplement on
HIV and AIDS for grades k-1, 2-3, 4-5, and 6; and a DVD with Pat Cooper on making school health programs work.
National guidelines for protecting and disclosing confidential student health records, in compliance with HIPAA and
FERPA.
Sets of articles from past issues of the Journal of School Health arranged by topic.
Advocacy resources including position statements (resolutions), an advocacy guide, advocacy materials, and a book
and training on ways to promote school health programs to school administrators and other school staff.
Collaboration with other national organizations and federal agencies to facilitate planning and implementation of various
aspects of coordinated school health programs.
Field research on factors involved in successful coordination of school health programs and on the effectiveness of peer
groups in influencing school tobacco policies.
Technical assistance to local school districts in coordination of school health programs, curriculum development, needs
assessment, evaluation, program planning, health services, and community and family linkages.
Online professional development courses that offer CHES continuing education contact hours.

Meetings:
An annual meeting is held annually in the fall at various locations around the United States. In addition, regional meetings are
held.

Next meetings:

Staff:
Julie Greenfield, CMP
Conference Planner
301/652-8072, ext. 121
jgreenfield@ashaweb.org

Heather W. Gibbons
Communications Consultant
816/679-1460
heatherwgibbons@mac.com

Delegate:
Mark A. Temple, Ph.D., CHES
Campus Box 5220, Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-5220
(309) 438-2324; FAX (309) 438-2450
E-mail: matempl@ilstu.edu

Alternate Delegate:
Jeffrey K. Clark, HSD, FASHA