School Health

Child health and education are intricately linked. Leading health institutions—including the National Academy of Medicine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and American Academy of Pediatrics—have recognized that educational outcomes such as kindergarten readiness, school attendance, academic performance, and high school graduation are powerful indicators of a child’s health and well-being. Conceptual models such as the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework underscore the importance of a holistic, integrated approach to child health. Despite this, health and education systems often function in silos, missing critical opportunities for collaboration.

Academic pediatricians are uniquely positioned to lead coordinated efforts that bridge these gaps. From diagnosing and managing conditions that affect learning to delivering care in school-based and school-linked settings and engaging in cross-sector scholarship and advocacy, our field is central to advancing health and academic success so that children can thrive.

Goals
1. Collaboration/ Community: Provide mentorship and networking opportunities to APA members at all career stages to collaborate, share resources, and disseminate best practices
2. Education: Develop high-quality educational programming to facilitate learning and dialogue among APA members regarding key topics at the intersection of education and health
3. Scholarship: Establish a cross-sector research agenda to promote evidence-based practices and innovations that improve health and educational outcomes
4. Advocacy: Create and support efforts to advance evidence-informed policies that create healthier, more equitable learning environments and communities