Ways SHAC Supports Student Health
FitnessGram
The Physical Fitness Assessment Initiative (PFAI) is a program designed to gather physical fitness data from Texas students for analysis to determine the relationship or correlation between student academic achievement, attendance, obesity, disciplinary problems, and school meal programs.
Food Service Program
The Council works to ensure that school food service programs offer healthy menus and that health-related activity are conducted; conducts focus groups with parents, teachers, administrators, and students; examines existing school services relative to need; assesses the physical and psychological environment of the school. Visit the Student Nutrition web page for more information.
Community Agencies
The Council works with district personnel in the areas of curriculum selection, school nurse procedures, development of food service programs, promotion of physical fitness and policy making. Below is more information on the areas the Health Advisory Council provides support:
In response to national and state concern about the impact of bullying on students, recent Texas legislation has addressed the need for districts to develop anti-bullying policies and interventions. The Texas Legislature directed the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), in collaboration with the Texas Education Agency, to further provide and annually update a list of best practice-based early mental health intervention and suicide prevention programs for implementation in general education settings.
Suicide in Texas is a serious public health concern—and one that might be addressed successfully through a coordinated and comprehensive approach aimed at prevention.