A new health resource should be available in all 155 Jefferson County Public Schools by the end of the year.The program HealthTeacher concentrates on improving healthy outcomes for students, and also provides resources that extend beyond the classroom.“We think it helps both advance the core standards but also introduce the health and wellness curriculum throughout JCPS,” said Lynnie Meyer, executive director of the Children’s Hospital Foundation.The three-year initiative is being funded by the Humana Foundation and the Children’s Hospital Foundation—each of which are donating $100,000 per year.HealthTeacher is an evidence-based program that’s already in thousands of schools around the country. It’s an interactive tool teachers can use to integrate health education into their curriculum. It’s also compatible with the state’s new standards.Meyer said physical education and health teachers will be the first to use the program, but HealthTeacher offers resources for several subjects.“There’s information on bullying, and obesity and depression and there’s a family news letter that presents at-home information and ways to reinforce health habits at home,” she said.Teachers won’t be required to use the program, but Meyer hopes it will result in positive health outcomes for Jefferson County children.
