Healthy Schools

Island Health works as a partner with schools, school districts and communities for student health and well-being. Medical Health Officers serve School Boards under the BC School Act.

How can Island Health support your school?

The Healthy School Team can help your school:

• identify health priorities or topics to focus on
• provide links to community resources and services
• support connections with community partners
• share and interpret health information
• find resources and grants to support healthy school projects

Contact the Healthy School Team in your area for further information. 

Anaphylaxis

Allergy Aware Resources for School Communities

Body Image and Media Literacy

Learn More

Common Childhood Diseases

Quick Guide to Common Childhood Diseases - BCCDC

HealthLinkBC File Search

Covid-19

COVID-19 - BCCDC 
COVID-19 safe schools - Ministry of Education  
K-12 Schools and COVID-19 - BCCDC

Dental Health

Island Health Dental Program 
BC Healthy Kids Program 
Canada Child Dental Benefit for children under 12
First Nations Health Authority Dental Benefit 

Diabetes/Glucagon

Glucagon Administration in the School Setting

Knowing how and when to administer glucagon to students with Type 1 diabetes is essential for any new and returning school staff who support these students. This 18-minute video, created by our colleagues in Fraser Health, describes the why, what, when and how to support students with/who are at risk of severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). At the end of the session, learners will be able to:

•    State and recognize the causes of low blood sugar
•    Respond to low blood sugar in a student with Type 1 diabetes
•    Administer glucagon by injection or nasal spray

Eating Disorders

National Eating Disorder Information Centre that provides phone/chat support, educator/student/family resources & programming - NEDIC

Jessie's Legacy provides eating disorder prevention education, resources & support for BC youth, families, educators and professionals

Learn more

Epilepsy 

BC Epilepsy Society- Partners in Teaching  
Center For Epilepsy & Seizure Education in BC 
Epilepsy - HealthLinkBC 

Food and Nutrition

Canadian Food & Nutrition Resources for Educators (K-12)

Free calls/emails to Dietitians (811) - HealthLink BC

Food and Nutrition Information and Handouts - HealthLink BC

Hand Hygiene

Hand Hygiene - BCCDC 
Keeping children safe handwashing video & more - BCCDC 
Handwashing - HealthLinkBC 
Wash your hands video for kids - Do Bugs Need Drugs

Immunization & Vaccines

Immunizations - Island Health 
Kids Boost Immunity Curriculum Resources Gr 4-12 
School Immunization Schedules & Factsheets - HealthLinkBC

Kindergarten Preparation

Preschool Age Children (0-5 years old)

Support the Transition to Kindergarten - Province of BC

Helping your Kindergartener with Separation Anxiety - Anxiety Canada

Kindergarten Information for Teachers - Province of BC

Early years development instrument - Human Early Years Partnership with UBC

Lice Management

Head Lice

Mental and Emotional Health

Mental Health & Wellbeing Literacy: Resources for Schools

Physical Activity/Literacy

Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines - CSEP

Physical Activity & Literacy in BC Schools - Free lesson plans, pro D & more (K-12) - School PAPL

PLAYBuilder - fun physical activity & games for the gym, classroom & outdoors (K-7) - School PAPL

Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council - ISPARC

Sexual Health

Island Health Youth Clinics

Healthy Sexuality

Teaching Sexual Health

School Newsletter Inserts

Island Health provides newsletter inserts that schools can include in communications to their school community.

Contact your local health unit for copies of newsletter inserts related to communicable diseases.

Sleep

Getting a Good Night's Sleep - Anxiety Canada
Sleeping Well - Kelty Mental Health 
Sleep Recharges You: Educator Resources - American Sleep Education

Substance Use (including Vaping and Smoking)

Youth & Family Substance Use Resources

Overdose Prevention Services

The ABCs of Youth Substance Use

Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research/Helping Schools 

Vaping and Smoking Resources for Schools