Introduction to the course
The purpose of this course is to provide conceptual and methodological tools that facilitate the implementation of the Health-promoting Schools (HPS) strategy in educational institutions at all levels (pre-school, primary, and secondary). It is part of the efforts made by the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) to promote this strategy in our Region for more than two decades.
The HPS strategy promotes the leading role of educational institutions in this area and involves planned, systematic, participatory, multidimensional, and coordinated work with other community institutions (health services, local governments, and other organizations) to promote the health and well-being of all its members.
There is clear evidence demonstrating the benefits of implementing the HPS initiative to improve both comprehensive health outcomes (physical, mental, and social) and learning outcomes in the educational community.
Implementation experiences at the global level and in the Region of the Americas have made it possible to identify criteria/standards that educational establishments must meet to be considered health-promoting schools, and to address this issue with a comprehensive approach. These criteria help guide educational establishments in progressive and continuous HPS construction processes.
This course builds on these experiences and evidence to provide quality, up-to-date training that encourages the implementation of this strategy in every corner of the Americas, to promote the comprehensive development and well-being of children and adolescents and their communities.
The contents of the course are based on “Making Every School in the Region of the Americas a Health-promoting School. Implementation guide for schools,” PAHO 2023.
Purpose
Acquire knowledge that facilitates the implementation of the Health-promoting Schools strategy in educational institutions at all levels (pre-school, primary, and secondary) with a comprehensive approach, in accordance with WHO-UNESCO global standards and indicators, and within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals 2019-2030.
Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
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Understand the fundamentals of the Health-promoting Schools strategy.
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Identify the concept, characteristics, and components of health-promoting schools.
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Acquire methodological tools that facilitate the implementation of the Health-promoting Schools strategy in a critical and contextualized manner in each educational establishment.
Target audience
The course is aimed at:
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All staff working in educational institutions at the pre-school, primary, and secondary levels: management teams, teachers, school psychologists, support and administrative staff, etc.
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Professional and technical staff from different sectors (education, health, social development, etc.) who carry out health-related activities in educational institutions at the pre-school, primary, and secondary educational levels.
Course format
Self-learning course, free, open to the public, and with no time limits for completion.
Course duration
Twenty (20) hours.
The course is open access. Since it is a self-learning course, participants can decide the times they will dedicate to completing it.