1. Design a feedback form for a teacher that reads, "Your student was seen in the health room today for…and the results were…You might want to be aware of…. " Following confidentiality guidelines, give teachers the information that they need to know.
2. Attend staff meetings and give a report on activities at your center.
3. Sponsor a short "health bulletin column" for the school newspaper or Instructional Television system. Sponsor parent communication articles.
4. Make sure a description of your services is in the student handbook.
5. Provide a bi-annual report that includes a return to class rate, average monthly visits, common diagnoses and types of services. Tracking this information over time is the most valuable service you can provide for a school!
6. Prepare quick, one-page description of your program for dissemination to staff and parents.

1. Consider setting up an advisory council that involves all levels of stakeholders in the program – students, teachers, non-instructional staff, parents, administrators and other community partners. Never leave the door closed and unattended.
2. Consider asking school staff to complete a customer satisfaction survey.
3. Include a "teacher perception of change in behavior" as part of your evaluation plan for student outcomes

1. Tie your evaluation to school needs! Help schools make the connection between comprehensive school health programs and student achievement.
2. Look for ways to directly tie your activities to School Improvement Plans and required classroom curriculum. The counselor’s curriculum, physical education requirements and health requirements are a good place to start. If you include mental health activities, you are also covering some of the language arts requirements – especially in the area of the use of effective language.
3. Ask to participate in "interdisciplinary staffings" for children with special needs, especially those being served in exceptional student education programs under IDEA.
4. If one of your goals is dropout retrieval, let the schools know how school-based and school-linked services are beginning to include children and youth not in school.

1. Promote a staff wellness program. This doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Offer free blood pressure checks two times per month. Sponsor a guest speaker on stress. Offer your expertise on any hot topic in the school.
2. Offer to meet with grade levels to answer questions about their student needs.
3. Volunteer for school events.
4. Sponsor a student club.
5. Provide a parent education program.
6. Offer monthly tips designed specifically for the staff in the form of a newsletter on healthy diets, weight control, stress, children’s issues, etc.

1. Look for opportunities to participate in "cross-training" with school personnel. The more they get to know you, the more understanding of your role they will have.
2. Attend professional development away from the campus, but bring those ideas home and share them! This is lower that criticism of, "Why you are never in the office…"
3. Remember that most staff members are also parents. If you can provide additional information relevant to their own children, they will be eternally grateful.

1. Pick a topic that you and the school feel passionate about and create a mutual mission. Could you work together on violence prevention, increasing parent involvement, working with children that have asthma, designing alternative strategies for ADHD students, etc.? Choose something to move forward on together.
2. Ask the school to include customer satisfaction and the provision of health services in their annual parent survey. Ask parents if they perceive that health services impact classroom performance

1. Ask the Principal to explain his/her responsibilities under "site management." When you understand this, you will understand why you need to keep the Principal totally informed of any activities and services you provide. TRUST IS CRITICAL!! School culture is almost like the military. There is a distinct chain of command. It is really hard to ask for forgiveness once a deed is done.
2. Ask an independent arbitrator to assist with developing any agreements that you perceive as barriers. For example, a local Health Department may assist with developing a cooperative agreement to cover any confidentiality issues.
3. Respect school property! Schools have very limited resources. It is so sad when an argument over copy paper or a disagreement on use of the telephones leads to a lack of services to students! You may need to develop a facility use agreement if this is an issue.

Be a Gold-Digger

If you want to cement a place in the hearts of a school, help them find additional resources to meet their student needs. There is always a perception that "those people" (you) have more than your share of resources. You may even have a copy machine!

1. Look for opportunities to assist with grant writing or fund raising.
2. Identify additional community resources that can assist school.
3. Recruit mentors from your colleagues to work with students.
4. Make a "donation" of supplies from your budget to assist with a special project.