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
• support student and staff health and wellbeing
• explore and collaborate on healthy schools plans

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 and Glucagon

• Diabetes in Schools: includes general information on type 1 and type 2 diabetes, glucagon administration, low blood sugar and planning – Province of BC
• Nursing Support Services: support for school staff caring for children with diabetes – BCCH NSS
• Basqimi (nasal glucagon) administration - Basqimi
• Diabetes at School: resource for caregivers and schools to help children with type 1 diabetes

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

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
School Food Programs – connect with healthy schools staff at your public health unit

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 and 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

Nursing Support Services

Complex Healthcare Needs/Nursing Support Services 

Physical Activity and 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

Seizure Care

BC Epilepsy Society- Partners in Teaching  
Center For Epilepsy & Seizure Education in BC
Epilepsy - HealthLinkBC
Nursing Support Services: support seizure care in the school setting – BCCH NSS

Sexual Health/Maturation

Island Health Youth Clinics
Healthy Sexuality
Teaching Sexual Health - lesson plans & tools for teachers (Gr 4-12) and parent resources

School Newsletter Inserts

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

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

Websites

• Resources and evidence to support health, well being and achievement in children and youth at schools – Joint Consortium for School Health
• Programs and resources for school health, including comprehensive school health tools and teach food first - Healthy Schools BC
• Curated and contributed curriculum based content from educators and contributors - ShareEdBC