Student and parent engagement are important factors in promoting student achievement and well-being. There is tremendous value when schools can engage students and families in Healthy Schools initiatives. They bring a unique perspective and can offer creative solutions. Students, parents and caregivers can have a significant and positive impact for schools.

Student Engagement

Student engagement is about empowering young people and creating a safe, caring and supportive environment where they can address and make decisions about issues that affect them personally and/or that they believe to be important. Actively engaging students can help to build a sense of belonging at school, school connectedness, strengthen healthy relationships, and empower students to participate in and lead academic and non-academic activities.

The Healthy Schools approach encourages student voice by actively engaging students in identifying and addressing health issues within their schools. Giving students a strong voice on your Healthy Schools Committee and other existing committees provides them with the opportunity to be both leaders and role models within their school community. It also recognizes the valuable role that students play in addressing the issues that affect them.

Parent and Family Engagement

When parents and caregivers are involved in their children's education, everyone benefits. Having opportunities to connect with the school and communicate regularly with their child’s educator is important to foster positive relationships. We support schools to actively engage parents and caregivers in identifying strengths and priorities (e.g. through Healthy School surveys), and encourage their involvement in Healthy School committees and/or health and well-being initiatives. Our School Health program also offers:

• Parent and caregiver presentations: public health nurses offer customized presentations for parents and caregivers based on the Strong Minds, Strong Kids: Psychology Canada Kids Have Stress Too! ® and Stress Lessons ® programs, for elementary and secondary schools that are implementing these evidence-based programs to students in the classroom.
• Newsletter inserts for you to use to share parenting and health messages with families.
• Individualized support for families, through our Health Connection phone line.

To learn more about parent programs offered and ways to engage with parents and caregivers, contact your School Health public health nurse or the School Health program.