HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53
(By Delegate Perdue)
Requesting the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education
Accountability and the Legislative Oversight Commission on
Health and Human Resources work with entities within state
government of West Virginia to explore options to improve
school health and healthy lifestyles.
Whereas, West Virginia schools should identify the needs and
gaps of school health by using the School Health Index Assessment
and pursue a coordinated approach to school health as described in
this report; and
Whereas, The Office of Healthy Schools in the Department of
Education should provide technical assistance and support to help
schools conduct the assessment and achieve a coordinated school
health system; and
Whereas, A point of coordination and accountability should be
established for all types of screens at both the county and state
level answering key questions such as the number of children
screened, types of screens performed and children who needed
referrals and further services; and
Whereas, Each county school system should seek to establish a school health system which includes coordination between school
health nurses, school-based health centers, local medical, dental
and mental health services and public health resources; and
Whereas, The principles of prevention, medical home, and
chronic disease management should be a part of every school system;
and
Whereas, The West Virginia Department of Education, the Bureau
for Public Health, the Bureau for Behavioral Health and the Healthy
Lifestyles Coalition should work together to assess the physical,
social and emotional environment of schools; and
Whereas, All county boards of education should promote staff
wellness programs that encourage health-promoting behaviors among
staff in order to improve productivity and model healthy behaviors;
and
Whereas, It is the responsibility of government, education,
public health, behavioral health, communities and private
practitioners to build an environment which addresses the needs of
healthy lifestyles, including, but not limited to, education and
school health; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislative Oversight Commission on Education
Accountability and the Legislative Oversight Commission on Health
and Human Resources study the means to create a school health
system for the twenty-first century; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Legislative Oversight Commission on
Education Accountability and the Legislative Oversight Commission
on Health and Human Resources report to the regular session of the
Legislature, 2008, on findings, conclusions and recommendations,
together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates
forward a certified copy of this Resolution to the West Virginia
Department of Education, the Bureau of Public Health, the Bureau
for Behavioral Health, the Healthy Lifestyles Coalition, the West
Virginia School-Based Health Assembly, and the West Virginia
Association of School Nurses.