Our Regional Advisory CSHT meets 3 times a year, and includes representatives from all 3 counties.  Currently we have about 22 members.  Members range from our schools to health departments to the tribe and everywhere in between.  As an advisory we look at regional school health and safety data, provide program sharing and collaboration, receive state updates, and advise on the use of regional and state funding programs and grants.  The advisory is facilitated by Lisa Jo Gagliardi, your Regional School Health Coordinator. 

AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL

It is important to have a District Coordinated School Health Team (CSHT).  To form a CSHT, you could either create a new team, or invite members of your wellness committee, or evolve your wellness committee.  It is important to invite area agencies, parents, community members, etc…  A CSHT should report to, or be a workgroup of the school’s School Improvement Team.

AT THE BUILDING LEVEL

If your district is large, it is important to have a CSHT at each building.  Of course, for our smaller districts a Building/District team may be more doable and practical.  

WHO SHOULD BE ON A CSHT?

Many people can serve, and should serve, on your CSHT.  Here is a short list put forth by MDE:

• ­  School Administrators
• ­  Teachers (NOT just health and PE teachers!)
• Parents
• ­  Food Service Directors
• ­  Physical/Medical Health Services (school nurses, school health center staff, local Doctor, etc…)
• ­  Mental Health Services (includes professionals you may have in the school, as well as outside agencies)
• Community Partner Agencies 

-In addition, here is a list of some of the community agencies that send representatives at the regional level-

­  Chippewa County Health Department

­  Sault Tribe-STAY Project

­  Sault Tribe-Strategic Alliance for Health Project

­  LSSU Health Center

­  State Police

­  Great Lakes Recovery Centers

­  United Way Volunteer Center

HOW DO WE GET STARTED

To start, find your champions in and out of the school.  Someone needs to be the leader, or facilitator of this group.  They are responsible for getting out agendas, and sending out meeting notes. They should serve on the Regional Advisory CSHT, as a liaison, so that you have representation at the regional level. 

• ­ Decide on a place and time for meetings
• ­ Invite your Regional School Health Coordinator to the first meeting
• ­ Create an agenda
• ­ At the meeting discuss some of the goals for the 1^st year for the group 

• ­ Complete, or revisit the HSAT (Healthy School Action Tool)
• ­ Inventory school and community resources
• Do a Student-level data analysis from the MIPHY
• Do a School-level data analysis from the HSAT
• ­ Contribute to the School Improvement Team and Plan.  What goals should be included in the SIP?  Is there funding that supports Coordinated School Health Program needs?
• Create action goals based on HSAT result
• ­ Look at local funding opportunities, grants
• ­ Welcome collaboration with community partners, ensuring it is in line with regionally adopted curriculum (i.e. not taking the place of Michigan Model for instance)
• ­ Ensure that programs and projects will be in line with the best practices and evidence-based (contact Regional School Health Coordinator for guidance)
• Make sure to not only partner with your community and agencies, but also the ISD, which has resources and expertise that can be very helpfulJ