PARENT RESOURCES

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Key health and academic issues for children and teens
Children and teens today face a number of challenges to their health, academic achievement, and overall well-being. NC Healthy Schools is particularly concerned with behaviors that contribute to unintentional injuries and violence (including bullying); tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; sexual risk behaviors; unhealthy eating; and physical inactivity. For updated facts on these and other risk behaviors among NC youth, click here.

How parents can get involved

• Talk with your child’s teachers to stay updated on the health topics your child is learning about. Many of the lessons can be reinforced in the home. Your child might even have ideas for healthy changes your family can make.
• Join your school's parent-teacher organization and advocate for health issues. Parent-teacher organizations around the state have gotten involved in curriculum issues, healthy fund raisers, and improvements to walking trails and playgrounds, among other activities.
• Find out about the work of your school district’s School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) and ask how you can help. A SHAC is made up of a variety of individuals interested in student health, such as school nurses, administrators, healthful living teachers, and parents and community members. For more information, click here.

Parent Opinion Survey results

• 2003
  (pdf, 1.1mb)


• 2009
  (pdf, 366kb)

Additional resources for parents:

• Children with Special Healthcare Needs
• Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Families
• Immunizations Required for School
• Kindergarten Health Assessment
• NC Pediatric Society
• NC School Community Health Alliance (association of school-based and school-linked health centers)