School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts
SCHOOL HEALTH ADVISORY COUNCIL
A GUIDE FOR TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICTS
This guide is for school district personnel
and community members to assist them in developing
and sustaining local school health advisory councils.
Revised January 2022
Table of Contents
Resources........................................................................................................................................i
About this Guide...........................................................................................................................1
Acknowledgement .......................................................................................................................1
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................2
Background....................................................................................................................................3
Roles of School Health Advisory Councils ................................................................................4
Starting or Reviving a School Health Advisory Council ..........................................................6
Qualities of School Health Advisory Council Members .........................................................6
School Health Advisory Council Members ...............................................................................8
School Health Advisory Council Bylaws..................................................................................10
Strategic Planning Process........................................................................................................13
Effective School Health Advisory Council Meetings.............................................................15
School Health Advisory Council Self-Assessment .................................................................18
Writing School Health Advisory Council Success Stories.....................................................18
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................19
Appendix......................................................................................................................................19
Tools .............................................................................................................................................23
Texas Legislation: School Health Advisory Council...............................................................24
Creating SMART +C Objectives
3
...............................................................................................29
Example SMART +C Objective ..................................................................................................30
SMART +C Objective Template ................................................................................................30
Sample SHAC Meeting Agenda ................................................................................................31
Sample Letter of Invitation
4
.....................................................................................................33
Sample Thank You Letter for Joining the SHAC
5
...................................................................34
Creating a SHAC Success Story .................................................................................................35
Worksheets .................................................................................................................................38
References...................................................................................................................................46
About the DSHS School Health Program ................................................................................48
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts
Resources
Action for Healthy Kids
actionforhealthykids.org
Alliance for Healthier Generation
schools.healthiergeneration.org
American Academy of Pediatrics
Council on School Health
services.aap.org/en/community/aap-
councils/council-on-school-health
American School Health Association
ashaweb.org
CDC: School Health Index
cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/index.htm
CDC: School Health
cdc.gov/healthyyouth/schoolhealth
Let’s Move Initiative
letsmove.obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/crea
te-school-health-advisory-council
National Parent Teach Association
www.pta.org
SHAPE (Society of Health
and Physical Educators) America
shapeamerica.org
Texas Action for Healthy Kids
actionforhealthykids.org/texas-news-and-
resources/
Texas Department of Agriculture:
Square Meals
squaremeals.org
Texas Education Agency: Health
tea.texas.gov/academics/subject-
areas/health-and-physical-education/health-
education
Texas Education Agency:
Physical Education
tea.texas.gov/academics/subject-
areas/health-and-physical-education/physical-
education
Texas School Health
Advisory Committee
dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth/shadvise/
Texas School Health Program
dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth/
Texas Parent Teacher Association
txpta.org
Texas Youth Risk Behavior
Surveillance System (YRBS)
dshs.texas.gov/chs/yrbs/
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance
System (YRBSS)
cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts
About this Guide
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts helps school district
personnel and community members understand the basics of local school health
advisory councils (SHACs) and their importance in creating a healthy school
environment.
Acknowledgement
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) expresses its gratitude to the
American Cancer Society for allowing DSHS to adapt the original guide for Texas.
Texas Department of State Health Services. (2022, January 13).
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts.
Retrieved from
dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth/sdhac.shtm.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 1
Introduction
Healthier Students are Better Learners
Teaching children and young people how to live a healthy lifestyle is a good way to
help them grow into healthy adults. Many studies show that a healthy active child is
more likely to be successful in school and have healthy habits their entire life (CDC,
2011; Basch, 2011). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) states, “six
types of health risk behaviors contribute to the leading causes of death, disability and
social problems in the United States: (1) tobacco use; (2) unhealthy eating; (3)
inadequate physical activity; (4) alcohol and other drug use; (5) sexual behaviors that
may result in HIV infection, other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended
pregnancy; and (6) violence.”
These six health behaviors have a direct impact on student academics and attendance
and schools are an important place to increase understanding, form attitudes and
develop skills that affect lifelong healthy behaviors. Additional research shows that
schools can deal with the health needs of students and still meet performance goals
and lessen financial costs (Action for Healthy Kids, 2013).
While schools are an important place to make a difference in the long-term health risks
of its students, they cannot deal with these complex problems on their own. Schools,
parents and community members can join forces to support the knowledge and skills
young people need to be healthy. One way for everyone to come together is through
the local school health advisory council (SHAC). Local SHACs provide a way to get
involved with school health-related issues.
Texas law (
Texas Education Code, Section 28.004) requires the establishment of a SHAC for
every school district. A SHAC is a school district created advisory group, consisting of
members from different areas of the community and school district. The job of the
SHAC is to make sure that the school district’s school health programs reflect local
community values.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 2
Background
Senate Bill 1, 74th Legislature, Regular Session, 1995, amended Chapter 28 of the
Texas Education Code (TEC) by adding Section 28.004. This section requires the
establishment of a local health education advisory council.
Since 2001, the Texas legislature has passed bills to amend this chapter of the TEC.
Under TEC Section 28.004, local school health education councils are now known as
local SHACs and their duties have expanded to include recommending policies,
procedures, curriculum, and strategies for health education appropriate for specific
grade levels.
This guide aims to assist school district personnel and community members in
continuing to meet the requirements of the TEC Section 28.004 for developing and
sustaining local SHACs. It reflects changes from the Regular and 2nd Special Sessions of
the 87th Legislature.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 3
Roles of School Health Advisory Councils
A SHAC has many roles. At minimum, Texas SHACs must do the job outlined in the TEC
Section 28.004. The most effective SHACs create recommendations that speak to the
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach to health and learning
(CDC, 2020). SHACs may have the following roles:
Program Planning
SHACs work together with schools to carefully plan school health programming and the
impact on student health. Sharing teaching methods, working through obstacles and
helping with assessment activities may be a part of a SHAC’s work. Talking over health
issues, selecting programs and having training time for members are also ways to use a
SHAC’s time. The most effective SHACs create recommendations that speak to the
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child approach to health and learning.
Promotion
SHACs assist in promoting school health. School health promotion allows the school
district and community to see what the SHAC has to offer. Shining a spotlight on the
work of a SHAC is one way to promote school health. This work also includes
promoting school health coordination within the school district and in the community.
The benefits can range from receiving more resources to building better understanding
between the school and community.
Fiscal Impact
One of the main roles of any SHAC is to make school health recommendations to the
school board. The SHAC should work with school personnel to figure out if a school
health recommendation will bring any cost to the school district. Helping the school
district raise money for suggested programs and preparing grant requests are some of
the ways a SHAC can offset costs.
Collaboration with District and State Agencies
SHACs work with school district and state agency personnel in many ways. Sometimes
they work together to recommend health programs, locate health services, create food
service programs, share federal and state funds, and make policy.
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Liaise with District School Board
Texas SHACs must give a written report to their school board every year (TEC Section
28.004). This report is a way to create a better understanding of SHAC’s value and
bring SHAC activities recognition from the school board.
It is important that SHACs review and recommend policies, procedures, strategies and
curriculum options with care. Recommendations to the school board should include:
(1) an understanding of the community’s values, (2) evidence of effectiveness, (3)
consideration of the fiscal impact to the district and (4) the school-community’s needs.
As stated in the TEC Section 28.004, school districts must consider SHAC
recommendations before changing the district's health education curriculum or
instruction. Statute specifies that SHACs must recommend curriculum material for the
following physical and mental health topics: obesity prevention, cardiovascular
disease, Type 2 diabetes, suicide, opioid addiction and abuse, human sexuality, child
abuse, family violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking.
Changes in the Regular and 2nd Special Sessions of the 87th Legislature require a
school board adopting curriculum in human sexuality instruction (defined as
instruction including reproductive health), child abuse, family violence, dating violence,
and sex trafficking to seek the advice and recommendations of the local SHAC. In the
course of developing recommendations, the SHAC must hold at least two public
meetings on curriculum materials. The SHAC must provide their recommendations at a
public meeting of the school board.
Evaluation, Accountability and Quality Control
SHACs may take part in many evaluations, accountability and quality control projects.
Evaluation Projects: If the district wants to teach new health education lessons,
the SHAC can bring together groups of parents, teachers, students and principals
for input.
Accountability Projects: If the district has decided to increase healthy eating and
physical activity during the school day, the SHAC can review the wellness policy
and suggest opportunities to promote healthy eating and physical activity.
Quality Control Projects: If the district has an influx of funding dedicated to
school health, the SHAC can review the budget and make recommendations to
help make sure the money is wisely spent.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 5
Starting or Reviving a School Health Advisory Council
There are a few important action steps to take when starting or reviving a SHAC.
Read and review. The district may have policies and procedures for advisory councils or
groups similar to the SHAC. In addition to reviewing district polies and procedures,
reading and understanding current Texas laws about SHACs is important.
Seek guidance. SHAC laws and procedures can sometimes be confusing, especially in
the beginning. The School Health Program website provides resources about starting,
running and maintaining a SHAC. In addition, the Texas School Health Advisory
Committee (TSHAC) provides resources, recommendations, and tools to help SHACs
succeed. The Friday Beat newsletter provides weekly updates in school health training,
funding sources and resources.
Get together. Community, school and parent involvement is important for a successful
SHAC. It is best to find people the community finds trustworthy.
Build awareness and support. Write a short proposal on the need to establish a SHAC.
Think about including some of the broader roles of the SHAC that go beyond the
minimum requirements of Texas law. Make sure that the proposal always
complements the district’s needs.
Establish relationships.
Gain administrative and school board support of the school
district for the SHAC. This is a key step to setting the foundation for a successful
working relationship.
Qualities of School Health Advisory Council Members
One of the most desired qualities SHAC members should have is the commitment for
quality school health programs. Other qualities of SHAC members should include:
Demonstrated Interest in Youth
People who show an interest in youth are good nominees for SHAC membership.
Consider checking with local church youth groups, human services agencies, civic clubs,
parent teacher associations, or youth-related business projects to find members.
Awareness of the Community
An effective SHAC must have members who are aware of their community. People who
have lived in the community a long time are more familiar with the local culture,
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 6
politics, geography and economic aspects. This knowledge makes them important to
decision making and may help the SHAC achieve its goals more easily. On the other
hand, a new person in the community may bring different experiences and a fresh
viewpoint. More importantly, the key to building community awareness within SHAC is
to select people that are active and truly reflect the diversity of the community.
Professional Ability
SHAC members should have a commitment for quality school health programs. They
should be able to work within the group to offer suggestions, give insight and conduct
themselves appropriately within the bylaws and the procedures put out by the SHAC.
Commitment of Time
Being a SHAC member requires
commitment of time. Always talk
about the amount of time needed with
the person you are trying to recruit to
make sure he or she has the time for
the SHAC. Occasionally, you can adjust
this rule because the person may add
to the SHAC’s credibility or have
specific expertise that will help the
SHAC.
Diverse Representation
A diverse, multi-sector SHAC
membership can enrich the level of discussion, which can bring forth better decision-
making (Goldman & Peters, 2010) and acceptance of the proposed activities. Age, sex,
race, ethnicity, income, geography, culture, career type, or religion define parts of the
community. Also, think about searching for members in the key parts of the
community (i.e., schools, churches, businesses, media and government). Finding
would-be members from various groups will ensure that the SHAC serves the entire
community.
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Credibility of Individual Members
Choosing members with a wide range of characteristics helps to enhance the SHAC’s
credibility. Some characteristics to consider include honesty, trustworthiness,
dependability, commitment and ethical behavior.
Sources of SHAC Members (as stated in TEC Section 28.004)
• Parents of students in the district who are not employed by the district (majority
of the members-required by law)
• District Students
• Public School Teachers
• Public School Administrators
• Health Care Professionals
• Business Community Members
• Law Enforcement Personnel
• Senior Citizens
• Clergy Members
• Nonprofit Health Organizations
• Local Domestic Violence Programs
Other Sources of SHAC Members
• Media (e.g., local newspapers, local radio/TV stations and local print media)
• Social Service Agencies
• Public Health Agencies
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Civic and Service Organizations
• Colleges and Universities
• Youth Groups
• Professional Societies
• Housing Authorities
• Before and After School Organizations
• Other Faith Community Leaders
School Health Advisory Council Members
In Texas, a district school board must appoint at least five members to the SHAC (TEC
Section 28.004). The law also requires that a parent member serve as the chair or co-
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 8
chair of the SHAC. Primarily, there are three methods for selecting SHAC members:
appointment, election, or volunteer. SHACs may use only one method or mix and
match the methods.
Appointment
Most Texas SHACs consist of individuals appointed by school board members to
represent them in making recommendations on school health programs.
Election
Voters, school board members, or school administrators elect members to some
SHACs. Election membership selection is not common in Texas.
Volunteers
Some SHACs consist of people who volunteer to serve on the SHAC.
Most Texas SHACs use the appointment method along with one of the other methods.
The most successful SHACs take time to plan and implement a recruitment process.
These SHACs use a small group to find and select people that (1) have the desired
qualities of membership, (2) come from various parts of the community and (3) reflect
the diversity of the community.
The following are common considerations:
• Set membership categories and the overall SHAC size early in the process and
write them in the bylaws. SHACs typically have ten to twenty members.
• Assign a diverse group of three to five individuals to find and pick potential
members for each membership category.
• Assign new members staggered term lengths of 1, 2, or 3 years to maintain a
balance of new and tenured members. This ensures the SHAC will have stability
and consistency in its operations.
• Explain the SHAC purpose, setup, membership rules and time commitment to
likely members before asking them to join.
The superintendent and/or school board should send selection letters to new
members. It should also include the SHAC’s name, the membership period, the name
of the school district contact person and the name of the SHAC chair and/or co-chair.
Finally, the letter should inform the person about the next steps (e.g., the date, time
and place of the first SHAC meeting). See Tools for a sample letter.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 9
School Health Advisory Council Bylaws
During early planning, it is important to lay out how a SHAC will operate. Consider how
to form the SHAC and how it will work. Setting the foundation early will give members
clear ways to move forward and keep an identity that best fits the SHAC.
Bylaws
According to Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised (RONR), bylaws are the rules a
group makes that controls its setup and how it works. Bylaws reduce confusion among
members because they spell out how to carry out the SHAC’s business. They should
review bylaws annually, and all members should know about them.
At minimum, SHAC bylaws should include:
• The formal name of the SHAC, which usually contains the school district’s name
(e.g., Liverpool ISD School Health Advisory Council).
• A purpose statement that expresses the advisory spirit of the SHAC and includes
the definition of school health.
• The legal purpose as written in state law (TEC Section 28.004) and in district
policy to help the SHAC keep its focus.
Membership
Write bylaws defining the composition of the SHAC. Spell out membership criteria,
number of members, selection method, membership period, attendance rules and
voting rights. Also, address member termination, resignation, and how to fill an
incomplete term. Describe the role of ex-officio (non-voting) members in this section
too. Most SHACs assign a school board member this designation and state they do not
have voting rights.
Officers
Describe the duties of officers, their titles and their term of office. Also, detail how
officers come into office, their removal and what happens when they resign. In Texas,
the chair and/or co-chair must be a parent of a student enrolled in the school district
and cannot be an employee of the school district (TEC Section 28.004). Generally,
officers also include a secretary, past chair, chair-elect and co-chair elect.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 10
Meetings and Meeting Minutes
In this section, state the frequency of meetings. Keep in mind that Texas SHACs must
meet at least four times each year (TEC Section 28.004). Before each meeting, the
SHAC must post notice of the date, hour, place, and subject of the meeting on a
bulletin board in the central administrative office of each campus in the school district
and the district’s Internet website, if applicable. Post these notices at least 72 hours
before the meeting begins.
SHAC’s by-laws should state who can call a special meeting and how to call the
meeting. Also, give ways for setting the agenda, notification of meetings, and sharing
the agenda and minutes. Per TEC Section 28.004, SHACs must prepare and maintain
meeting minutes and state the subject and content of each consideration, including
each vote, order, decision, or other action taken by the council during the meeting.
SHACs must also make an audio or video recording of the meeting. SHACs must submit
both the minutes and the recordings to the district no later than the tenth day after
the meeting. As soon as practical after receipt of the minutes and audio or video
recording, the school district must post the minutes and recordings on the district’s
website, if applicable.
Recent changes in TEC Section 28.004 require SHACs to hold two public meetings on
the curriculum material related to human sexuality instruction, child abuse, family
violence, dating violence, and sex trafficking before adopting recommendations. SHACs
must also provide the adopted recommendations to the school board at a public
meeting of the board.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 11
Reporting
As mentioned previously, Texas law (TEC Section 28.004) requires SHACs to submit to
their school board, at least annually, a written report that includes:
• Any SHAC recommendation concerning the school district’s health education
curriculum and instruction or related matters that the SHAC has not previously
submitted to the school board;
• Any suggested modification to a SHAC recommendation previously submitted to
the school board;
• A detailed explanation of the SHAC’s activities during the period between the
date of the current report and the date of the last written report; and
• Any recommendations made by the physical activity and fitness planning
subcommittee.
Committees
Many SHACs appoint committees to carry out specific actions. In the bylaws, be sure to
give the names of all permanent committees and short descriptions of their purpose
and membership requirements. Also, describe the process for forming special
committees.
Parliamentary Authority
Parliamentary authority contains the rules for running SHAC meetings, conducting
business, and resolving operating issues. Adopting parliamentary authority (e.g.,
Ranking Rules of Order) into bylaws is the simplest and easiest way to give binding
rules of order to a SHAC.
Be sure the statement of adoption defines any rules that override the parliamentary
authority. “Ranking Rules of Order” is the official name. For example, if RONR is the
parliamentary authority; it is binding only to the extent that it is not in conflict with the
SHAC bylaws and Texas law. The Ranking Rules of Order would be Texas law, SHAC
bylaws, and then RONR.
Amendments
In this section, state the procedures to amend the bylaws. If using RONR, previous
notice and two-thirds vote is required to amend bylaws (Robert, Evans, Honemann, &
Balch, 2004). After amending a bylaw, date and give copies to all members and
appropriate school personnel.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 12
Voting Procedures
A voting procedure determines how members cast their vote on issues. In this section,
describe the voting process and the quorum required at regular meetings. In most
cases, when majority of the members attend there will be a quorum. Some SHACs
require that a quorum must be present, and a majority must vote to adopt a motion.
Communication
The communication section of the bylaws should clearly state the reporting procedures
with people inside and outside of the SHAC. Consider including who needs to receive
reports from the SHAC. Then specify the required process to develop and deliver them.
State how the community will stay informed about SHAC activities. TSHAC
recommends that SHACs create a council email address to ensure communication
continuity through membership changes and increase connection with TSHAC, the
School Health Program and other district or community partners. The district staff
person overseeing the SHAC should operate the email address and share any relevant
information with the SHAC. An example of a council email address
is DistrictNameSHAC@DistrictDomain.org.
Strategic Planning Process
SHACs and other groups often use the strategic planning process to decide what they
want to do and how to do it. Vision, Mission, Objectives, Strategies, and Action Plans
(VMOSA) is the process that most groups use for strategic planning (Kansas, 2013).
Once the VMOSA process is complete, a SHAC will be able to focus its energy and
ensure that members are working toward the same goals. The strategic plan also will
help the SHAC assess and adjust direction in response to the changing environment.
The following is a brief overview of what to include in the VMOSA process:
Vision (The dream)
Some SHACs have written statements about their school district’s philosophy as it
relates to the principles of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model
(WSCC) in ideal conditions. By developing a vision statement, a SHAC makes clear its
collective view on what school health means to the school community. It also offers
the SHAC a framework to use when making policy recommendations. SHAC members
can ask themselves: Does this new policy, practice or program fit into our philosophy
of school health?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 13
Writing a vision statement can be a challenge. The following are qualities that most
SHAC vision statements have in common:
• Clarity: The community and the SHAC can easily understand.
• Shareable: The community and the SHAC freely share the vision.
• Broad: The vision is broad enough to include a variety of local views.
• Inspiring: The vision inspires everyone involved in the school community and the
SHAC.
• Brevity: The vision is easy to communicate; for example, one sentence.
An example of a vision statement that meets the qualities mentioned above is: “The
Liverpool ISD SHAC envisions health and education for all children.”
Mission (The what and the why)
The mission statement describes what the SHAC is going to do and why the SHAC is
going to do it. The mission statement should provide the ideal outcome of the SHAC’s
efforts in coordinating school health. In addition, it should align with the mission of the
school district and be more action-oriented than the vision statement.
An example of a mission statement as described above is:
“The mission of the Liverpool ISD SHAC is to build a healthy school community through
a WSCC approach that ensures all children will graduate with the knowledge and skills
to maintain a healthy lifestyle.”
Objectives (How much of what will be accomplished by when?)
Objectives provide a practical way for SHACs to describe carrying out the mission. The
best objectives share common qualities. These qualities are “S.M.A.R.T +C” (Specific,
Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time bound, plus Challenging). See Creating
“SMART +C” Objectives later in this guide.
• Specific: How much of what is to be achieved, by when and for whom?
• Measurable: Is the information concerning the objective quantifiable?
• Achievable: Can the SHAC do it in the proposed time frame with the resources
and support available?
• Relevant: Will this objective affect the SHAC’s desired vision and mission?
• Time bound: When will this objective be complete?
• +Challenging: Does this objective stretch the SHAC to set its aims on significant
improvements that are important to the school community?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 14
An example of an objective that meets the characteristics described above is: “By
September 1, 20--, a Texas Education Agency (TEA) approved coordinated school
health program will be utilized by 100% of the schools in the district.”
Strategies (The how)
The strategies developed by a SHAC describe how it will reach its objectives. Well
written strategies focus the SHAC’s efforts and outline how to do things. The following
are criteria the best strategies possess:
• Give overall direction by providing a path to achieve the objective.
• Align resources and opportunities by taking advantage of available resources,
assets and current opportunities.
• Minimize resistance and barriers by attracting supporters and deterring
opponents.
• Reach those affected by linking to the targeted school population.
• Advance the mission by making a difference on the SHAC’s mission and
objectives.
Action Plans (The specifics)
The action plan provides specifics to how a SHAC will use its strategies to accomplish
its objectives. In other words, it provides the details to the SHAC’s work. Action plans
state what will be done: by whom, by when, at what cost and who should know the
outcome. The following are criteria that good action plans possess:
Evidence of commitment from the school administration and school board. Is there
buy-in and participation of leadership in the action plan?
Comprehensive in identifying all the action steps or changes sought by the SHAC.
Concrete when it comes to identifying who will do what and by when.
Reflective of current work, considering newly emerging opportunities and barriers.
View an example of a work plan at:
dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth/tshac/files/2012-2013_Work_Plan_Final.xls
Effective School Health Advisory Council Meetings
Texas law requires SHACs to meet four times each year (TEC Section 28.004). Effective
meeting management is essential for the SHAC to get work done during this time. The
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 15
meeting chair or co-chair should think about the following things for well-organized
and focused meetings:
Regular Meeting Schedule
There should be a yearly calendar of dates, times and locations for meetings. It is
helpful to have a consistent meeting date for members and others to save each date.
For example, the Texas School Health Advisory Committee’s (TSHAC) regular meetings
occur on Mondays at 10:00 a.m. in the planned month.
Agenda
Think about creating the agenda with other SHAC members. Two weeks before the
meeting, send a draft agenda to members asking for more agenda topics. Set a due
date for all suggestions at least one week before the meeting. This ensures enough
time to include the suggestions in the final agenda. Then, one week before the
meeting, send a final agenda along with the minutes of the last meeting. Members
should be able to understand the agenda with ease. For every agenda item, clearly list
the type of needed action, the expected output and the time estimates. See Tools for a
template agenda.
This is also the time to consider inviting people who are not a part of the SHAC to the
meeting. It is important to be purposeful with meeting invitations. Consider individuals
who:
• Have knowledge that can contribute to completing the SHAC’s meeting
objectives;
• Have the responsibility for implementing the decisions made at the SHAC
meeting or
• Represent a group affected by the decisions made at the SHAC meeting.
Email and Phone Communication
Two days prior to the meeting, email and/or call members as a reminder. Start an
email list and phone tree to quickly communicate and give procedures for dealing with
bad weather. Make sure to designate a main phone number for members to call for
information.
Refreshments and Childcare
More people attend meetings when there are refreshments and childcare. Offering
both makes the SHAC more inviting to everyone. Light snacks and drinks get people to
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 16
mingle and feel more comfortable at the meeting. However, most school districts do
not have funding for refreshments and/or childcare. SHACs usually find another source
to provide these things. Be sure to remind SHAC members if asked to provide
refreshments and/or childcare at the beginning of the year. Also, be sure to include on
the agenda if refreshments and/or childcare are available.
Resources
At the meeting, be sure to have adequate copies of the agenda, minutes, supplies and
other information for each member. It is helpful to have flip-charts, markers and sticky
notes available.
Punctuality
Meetings should start and end on time. Waiting for latecomers before starting a
meeting or allowing discussion to drift past a specific time promotes continuation of
these behaviors. The SHAC may need to set a new meeting time if people arrive late or
do not attend.
Environment and Atmosphere
Hold the SHAC meeting in a comfortable room with seating that allows members to
easily see and hear each other. Semi-circular or U-shaped seating arrangements work
well to encourage collaboration (Fulton-Calkins & Stulz, 2009). The SHAC chair and/or
co-chair should always warmly greet members as they arrive and introduce them to
one another. They should take time to involve all members in discussions and
acknowledge them for their contributions. It is also important that the SHAC chair
and/or co-chair periodically summarize the discussion for the group to ensure
everyone is on the same page.
Follow-up
Before moving onto a new topic in a meeting, be sure to assign a SHAC member tasks
that need follow-up or finishing. At the end of the meeting, the SHAC chair and/or co-
chair should review the items for follow-up. Also, save enough time to set agenda
topics for the next meeting.
As mentioned previously, SHACs must:
• Prepare and maintain minutes of each meeting that include the subject and
content of each deliberation and each vote, order, decision, or other action
taken by the council during the meeting; and
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 17
• Make a video or audio recording of the meeting.
SHACs must submit both the meeting minutes and recordings to the school district
board no later than the tenth day after the meeting.
School Health Advisory Council Self-Assessment
It is important for a SHAC to periodically assess how well it works. SHAC members
should ask themselves if the SHAC is doing its job. Is it meeting its objectives? If the
SHAC is meeting its objectives, then to what level will they be complete by the target
date?
The SHAC should use the results of the self-assessment to identify recommended
actions it should take to make itself better.
See appendix for a tool created by the Texas School Health Advisory Committee to
help SHACs do a self-assessment
2
.
Writing School Health Advisory Council Success Stories
What is a Success Story? Why Do School Health Advisory Councils Need Success
Stories?
Success stories are simple descriptions of the progress, lessons learned or triumphs of
the SHAC. They help the SHAC raise its profile and credibility by showcasing its value
and impact. The key to getting support from district decision makers and the school
community is through promotion of the SHAC’s work. In addition, success stories are
important because they also provide a way to share ‘best practices’ with other SHACs
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008).
Success Story Formats for School Health Advisory Councils
• Elevator Story – This is a 10-second (or less) story told in a moment of
opportunity. For example, use this type of format when there is a chance
meeting with a superintendent or a school board member. It should grab his/her
attention and briefly highlight the SHAC’s most recent shining accomplishment.
• One Pager – This is the most common format for a success story. It is easy to
create when the right information is available. One-pagers are most successful
when they are short and to the point. They allow the reader to connect to the
story and include how the reader can make contact.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 18
Common Characteristics of the Success Stories
Success stories:
• Describe outcomes that have value to district decision-makers and the
community.
• Contain gripping and noteworthy facts that grab the reader’s attention.
• Relay who benefits from the success.
• Answer the question, “So what?”
• Get across the SHAC’s role in achieving the outcome.
• Are easy to read and convey.
See Tools for a Creating a SHAC Success Story.
Conclusion
Although SHACs are similar in their general purpose and functioning, no two SHACs are
alike. People from all walks of life make up SHACs. This is perhaps the most important
element of a SHAC. It is diversity that guarantees SHAC recommendations reflect the
individual needs and values of the community. However, unless community members
get involved, SHACs do not work. It is essential that every concerned citizen and
agency remember its obligation to their SHAC, their school district, and most
importantly, to their community’s children.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 19
Appendix
SHAC Self-Assessment
Organization of the SHAC
Yes
Partially/
Maybe
No
Comments/
Notes
Does SHAC membership represent key
segments of the community? Are ethnic
and economic groups adequately
represented?
Are SHAC member roles and responsibilities
clearly defined?
Have members received sufficient
orientation?
Are members willing to devote the
necessary time?
Do SHAC members understand the
availability of resources for the SHAC?
Is the structure of the SHAC clearly defined
(for example, leadership roles and
responsibilities, subcommittees, etc.)?
Is an elected chairperson providing positive
and productive leadership?
Are procedures established and
utilized for conducting business?
Are bylaws established?
Are regular meetings occurring? Is the
SHAC meeting at least four times per year?
Are 50 to 75 percent of members
attending?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 20
Does the SHAC have knowledge of the
techniques for managing controversy and
how to utilize them?
Goals and Activities
Yes
Partially/
Maybe
No
Comments/
Notes
Did the SHAC write a Vision Statement? A
Mission Statement?
Has the SHAC conducted an assessment
with the district staff? Were needs
identified? Were goals set based on those
needs?
Do SHAC plans and activities focus on the
goals and objectives set by the SHAC? Have
completion dates been set?
Are efforts made to reach goals and
objectives by the targeted completion
dates?
Does the SHAC implement activities to
support coordinated school health
programming?
Does the SHAC address all ten components
of a coordinated school health model?
Do SHAC members understand the results
and value SHAC activities bring to the
community?
Are regular reports made to the district
staff or school board? Was the state-
required annual report made to the board?
The SHAC’s Role
Yes
Partially/
Maybe
No
Comments/
Notes
Does the school board and school
administration recognize and support the
SHAC’s role in improving/promoting school
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 21
health? For example, do district personnel
or board members seek advice from the
SHAC and act on SHAC recommendations?
Do schools and the community recognize
the SHAC as a valuable asset in promoting
the health of students and school
personnel?
Does the SHAC and its members receive
recognition for their contributions in school
publications, news releases or other
communication channels?
Communication
Do SHAC members have an awareness of:
Yes
Partially/
Maybe
No
Comments/
Notes
The role of the school district liaison?
The status of school health programs in the
schools in their district?
The school board’s and school
administration’s knowledge about and
support of school health?
The values and attitudes of the
school/community including special
interest groups?
The processes available for community and
student input on school health issues and
SHAC activities, as well as, processes for
communication to the community from the
SHAC?
The current local and state legislative
mandates and historical perspectives?
State and national developments in school
health?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 22
Tools
The following is a set of sample tools designed to carry out necessary actions. The
Texas Department of State Health Services encourages local SHACs to adapt these
tools as needed.
1. Texas Legislation: School Health Advisory Councils
2. Creating SMART +C Objectives
3. Sample SHAC Meeting Agenda
4. Sample Letter of Invitation
5. Sample Thank You Letter for Joining a SHAC
6. Creating a SHAC Success Story
7. Worksheets
Worksheet 1: Community Partners to Invite
Worksheet 2: Creating a Vision for Your Community and Schools
Worksheet 3: Our Vision of the Future
Worksheet 4: What’s needed for change to occur?
Worksheet 5: A Process for Change
Worksheet 6: The Wellness Policy Process
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 23
Texas Legislation: School Health Advisory Council
1995, 74th Legislative Session
Year and Session Bill Number and Description
Senate Bill 1
Amended Chapter 28 of the Texas
Education Code (TEC) by adding Section
28.004 Human Sexuality Instruction
Established local health education
advisory councils.
2001, 77th Legislative Session
Senate Bill 19
Amended the heading of Section 28.004
of the TEC to read, “Local School Health
Education Advisory Council and Health
Education Instruction.”
Requires a school district to consider the
recommendations of the local school
health education advisory council before
changing the district’s health education
curriculum/instruction.
Set forth recommendations which are
included in the duties of the local school
health education advisory council.
Requires local board of trustees to
appoint members to the local school
health education advisory council. Also,
allows local board to appoint one or
more persons from certain groups,
including teachers and law enforcement.
Requires a majority of the members to be
parents of students enrolled in the
district.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 24
Year and Session Bill Number and Description
2005, 79th Legislative Session
Senate Bill 42
Amended Section 28.004 (k) of the TEC, to
require a school district to publish in the
student handbook and post on the
district’s Internet website, rather than
make available for public inspection, a
statement of the policies adopted to
ensure that elementary, middle, and
junior high school students engage in a
specified amount per school week of
physical activity and a statement of the
number of times during the preceding
year the district’s SHAC has met.
Amended Subchapter D, Chapter 1001,
Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
1001.0711. This section required the
establishment of the state-level SHAC at
the Department of State Health Services.
2007, 80th Legislative Session
Senate Bill 530
Amended Section 28.004 (k) of the TEC to
require a school district to publish certain
statements in the student handbook and
on the district’s Internet website,
including a statement related to parental
access to their child’s physical fitness
results.
Requires the local SHAC to consider and
make recommendations to the district
concerning the importance of daily recess
for elementary school students.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 25
Year and Session Bill Number and Description
2009, 81st Legislative Session
Senate Bill 283
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC by
establishing that five members of the
SHAC will be appointed by the board of
trustees.
Requires a parent member to serve as a
chair or co-chair of the SHAC. Requires
SHACs to meet four times each year.
Requires the SHAC to submit an annual
written report to the board of trustees.
2011, 82nd Legislative Session
Senate Bill 736
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to
include local domestic violence programs
among the groups from which a school
district’s board of trustees is authorized
to appoint one or more persons to service
on the district’s local SHAC.
2013, 83rd Legislative Session
Senate Bill 1018
Amended Section 28.004 (k) of the TEC to
require a school district to publish certain
statements in the student handbook and
on the district’s Internet website,
including a statement related to parental
access to their child’s physical fitness
results.
Requires each district’s local SHAC to
establish a physical activity and fitness
planning subcommittee to consider issues
relating to student physical activity and
fitness and to make policy
recommendations to increase physical
activity and improve fitness among
students.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 26
Year and Session Bill Number and Description
Expands the district’s local SHAC annual
report to include (1) the
recommendations made by the physical
activity and fitness planning
subcommittee and (2) any joint use
agreement that a school district and
community organization/agency enter
into based on a recommendation of the
local SHAC.
2013, 83rd Legislative Session
Senate Bill 460
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to
expand the duties of each school district’s
local SHAC to include recommending
grade level-appropriate policies,
procedures, and strategies, as well as
curriculum, designed to prevent
cardiovascular diseases and Type 2
diabetes and expands the scope of such
measures to include prevention of mental
disorders.
2017, 85th Legislative Session
Senate Bill 489
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to
expand the duties of each school district's
local SHAC to include recommending
grade-level appropriate policies,
procedures, strategies, and curriculum,
designed to prevent obesity,
cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes,
and mental health concerns; and expands
the scope of such measures to include
instruction to prevent the usage of e-
cigarettes.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 27
Year and Session Bill Number and Description
2019, 86th Legislative Session
Senate Bill 435
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to
expand the duties of each school district's
local SHAC to include recommending
grade-level appropriate education
regarding opioid addiction and abuse, and
methods of administering an opioid
antagonist, as defined by Section 483.101,
Health and Safety Code.
2021, 87th Legislative Session,
Regular Session
HB 1525
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to
local SHAC in recommending human
sexuality instruction curriculum. Also
changes SHAC public meeting
requirements, including meeting posting
and recording.
2021, 87th Legislative Session, 2nd
Special Session
SB 9
Amended Section 28.004 of the TEC to
update the duties of each school district's
local SHAC in recommending child abuse,
family violence, dating violence, and sex
trafficking curriculum.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 28
update the duties of each school district's
Creating SMART +C Objectives
3
Objectives describe how much of what will be accomplished by when. The best
objectives share common characteristics that include SMART +C (Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Relevant, Time Bound, plus Challenging) principles.
Specific — How much of what is to be achieved by when and for whom?
The “specific” part of an objective tells us what will change for whom in concrete
terms. In other words, it answers six basic questions:
Who: Who is involved? (Required)
What: What needs to be accomplished? (Required)
Where: Identify a location.
When: Establish a time frame. (Required)
Which: Identify requirements and constraints.
Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.
Verbs to use in objectives: provide, train, publish, increase, decrease, schedule or
purchase.
Verbs to avoid in objectives: coordinate, partner, support, facilitate and enhance.
Measurable — Is it quantifiable and can the SHAC measure it?
Measurable implies the ability to count an activity or its results. Establish concrete
criteria for measuring progress towards completion of each objective. Make sure to
identify the source and mechanism for collecting measurement data and take in
consideration whether the collection of these data is feasible for your SHAC and/or
partners.
Achievable — Can the SHAC do it in the proposed time frame with the resources and
support it has available?
The objective must be possible with the available resources, be practical and within the
SHAC’s control and influence. Make sure that every objective represents an
opportunity for ample progress.
Relevant — Will this objective influence the desired mission and vision of the SHAC?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 29
To be relevant, an objective must represent a goal the SHAC is willing and able to
accomplish. It should align with what the SHAC is trying to achieve.
Time bound — When will this objective be accomplished?
The objective statement should include a specified and reasonable time frame.
Identifying a time frame for an objective elevates the sense of importance.
Examples of phrases to indicate time frame: “By December 2025, the SHAC will…” or
“Within 6 months of receiving the grant, …”
+ Challenging — Does this objective stretch the SHAC to set its aims on significant
improvements?
Objectives need to be challenging, but realistic for a SHAC to transform. Setting a
challenging goal (that is achievable) is much easier to reach than a simple one. Because
a simple goal exerts low motivational force, it is safe and keeps the SHAC stagnant. On
the other hand, remember that too much challenge and not enough support will
create stress and burnout. So, aim high, but make sure that the SHAC has the resources
to achieve the objective.
Example SMART +C Objective
“By March 3, 2020, the Texas School Health Advisory Committee will develop
recommendations about diet sodas in schools for the Texas Department of Agriculture.
The goal is to assist in implementing Texas public school policy regulations to create a
healthy school environment.”
SMART +C Objective Template
Specific Measurable Attainable Relevant Time-Based + Challenging
To develop SMART +C objectives, use the template below and fill in the blanks:
By __________ / __________/__________, __________________________________
[WHO/WHAT—Specific] [WHEN—Time bound]
from _________________________ to _____________________________________
[MEASURE (number, rate, percentage of change and baseline)—Measurable]
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 30
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
Insert Your District Logo
Here
Sample SHAC Meeting Agenda
<Insert the Name of Your School Health Advisory Council>
Insert the Date of the Meeting
Insert the Time
Insert the Location
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 31
Meeting Agenda
Time
Agenda Topic
Topic Lead
Welcome and Opening Remarks
A. Call to order
B.
W
elcome and introductio
ns
o
f members and guest
s
C.
A
pproval of agend
a
D.
A
pproval of minute
s
f
rom the last meetin
g
E
xpected outcome:
Informational and approval
of the last meeting minutes
Insert Name of SHAC
Chair
Agenda Item #1
Provide a short description (1-2 sentences)
of the agenda item.
Expected outcome:
E.g., Informational and feedback
Insert Name of
Person Leading
Agenda Item
Agenda Item #2
Provide a short description (1-2 sentences)
of the agenda item.
Expected outcome:
E.g., Informational and feedback
Insert Name of
Person Leading
Agenda Item
Next Meeting
A. Set next meeting date
B.
C
all for agenda topics for the nex
t
m
eetin
g
E
xpected outcome:
Determine agenda topics for the next
meeting
Insert Name of
SHAC Chair
Adjourn
Insert Name of SHAC
Chair
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 32
Sample Letter of Invitation
4
Date
Recipient Name
Job Title
Agency/Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear <Insert Name>:
Children and youth who begin each day as healthy individuals can learn more effectively and are
more likely to complete their formal education. Responsibility for the physical, emotional, social,
mental and intellectual health of our youth belongs to their families and the entire community.
Effective coordinated school health programs can contribute to helping young people avoid health
risks by increasing their skills to make responsible choices about behaviors that can affect their
health.
The <insert name of school district> is establishing an advisory council to advise the school board. It
will assist the district in ensuring that local community values are reflected in the district’s health
education plan. The advisory council will advise and support the school’s efforts to assess their needs.
It also will design programs to help children develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to
become healthy, productive citizens.
As someone interested in the welfare of our children, you are invited to join the district’s advisory
council. The advisory council will include parents, students, teachers, school administrators, voluntary
organizations, business representatives, health professionals and other interested, concerned
citizens.
We hope that you can attend an organizational meeting on <insert day> at <insert time> at <insert
location> to consider ways for addressing the health needs of our community’s youth. <Insert SHAC
Chair Name> will call you next week to discuss participation and answer any questions you may have.
If you wish to speak to someone before that time, please call <insert phone number>.
We look forward to working with you to promote better health among our district’s students.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Name of SHAC
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 33
Sample Thank You Letter for Joining the SHAC
5
Date
Recipient Name
Job Title
Agency/Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code
Dear <Insert Name>:
Thank you for accepting the invitation to be a member of the School Health Advisory
Council. This will be an exciting opportunity to improve the overall health of our
children and our community. I am sure the team that has been assembled will meet
the challenge.
Our first meeting has been scheduled for < insert date, time, and place>. Snacks and
daycare will be provided, and it should not last more than <insert time length>. At the
meeting, the council will discuss <insert objective for the next meeting> and how to
best involve the community. The council also will be setting the schedule for future
meetings. Please bring your calendar to schedule these. I look forward to seeing you at
the meeting. If you have additional questions, please contact me at <insert phone
number> at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Name
Title
Name of SHAC
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 34
Creating a SHAC Success Story
Gathering and organizing the most important facts is essential when creating a SHAC
success story. The questions below will help shape the specific story you want to
create about your SHAC. It is organized by the major sections of a one-pager success
story.
The last page provides a sample layout and example of a fictional SHAC success story. If
you get stuck while you’re writing and thinking about any of the specific sections
below, you can refer to the sample story as a helpful inspiration. Also, feel free to use
the sample layout as the format for your SHAC’s success story.
Title
The title tells the audience what the story will be about. It captures the overall
message of the story and should capture the audience’s attention.
1. What is your story about?
2. What are the most important facts in your story? For example, did the SHAC
reach an audience in the district that is hard to reach? Or, does the SHAC’s
strategy have a new and innovative way to address a school health issue?
3. Try to combine #1 and #2 answers above into one sentence. Make sure the most
important fact of your story is as close to the beginning of the sentence as
possible.
4. Now, look at your response in #3. Can you shorten the sentence but still have
enough detail that the audience knows what the story is about? Please write the
new sentence here:
Finally, is there an interesting way to say the sentence in #4 that will grab an
audience’s attention? Write as many options as you can imagine. When you write your
story, you may use one of these as your title.
School Health Issue
This section is about the school health issue that is being addressed and why it’s
important. Be sure to use data to frame the issue, consider including health burden
and financial cost to the district.
1. What is the school health issue within your district which the SHAC’s plan of
action needs to change?
2. How does the school health issue affect your district negatively?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 35
3. What might happen if the school health issue is not addressed? How might it
affect your district in the short-term? The long-term?
4. Were there any barriers encountered during development or implementation of
the SHAC’s plan of action? What were they and how did the SHAC overcome
them?
Solution
This section tells what is being done to address the school health issue. Describe which
partners collaborated with the SHAC. Also, state the specific funding source (if any)
used to address the specific school health issue or target population.
1. How does the SHAC’s plan of action address the school health issue?
2. What is innovative about how the SHAC is addressing the school health issue?
Include this information in the final success story, so please write it here.
3. How did the SHAC come up with a solution to address the school health issue?
4. What partners collaborated with the SHAC in addressing the school health issue?
5. Was the solution funded? If so, what are the funding sources? List the funding
sources here. SHAC Success Story Example
Title: Student Voice Provides Health and Wellness Support for District SHAC
The School Health Issue: A unique partnership has emerged between the North East
ISD (NEISD) School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) in San Antonio and the district’s
students. The district SHAC realized that student voices were missing in identifying and
recommending health and wellness issues directly impacting the students themselves.
The Solution: The SHAC wanted to give students an opportunity to make a difference
by lending their unique perspectives to district decision makers. Students were first
surveyed to get their feedback on developing a student advisory board. The interest in
the project was overwhelming. As a result, the SHAC created the Kids School Health
Advisory Council or KSHAC. They chose students for the KSHAC from applications to the
Mayor’s Fitness Council Student Ambassador Program. Because of the cultivated
partnership with the Mayor’s Council, the SHAC acquired the applications to select
students who demonstrated a passion for health and wellness.
The KSHAC’s purpose is to provide feedback to the district SHAC on appropriate
student population health and wellness issues. They will also plan and implement
district-wide wellness initiatives with the help and guidance of the district SHAC.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 36
Another objective of the KSHAC is to build student leadership skills through team-
building trainings and leadership experiences.
The KSHAC consists of middle school and high school students. They selected students
from each district area to gain a broad view of the issues that needed attention.
Representation included a minimum of 25 percent of the secondary campuses with at
least one representative from each high school cluster. The goal was to have KSHAC
members at each NEISD campus. The KSHAC developed their own bylaws, elected
officers, set goals and created projects for the group.
KSHAC members attend SHAC meetings to provide feedback on health and wellness
issues within the district. KSHAC developed and presented recommendations to the
SHAC only after all KSHAC members agreed. KSHAC gave feedback on
recommendations that came from the SHAC’s work with the School Health Index. This
feedback will help to develop recommendations to the Executive Staff and Board of
Trustees.
Northeast ISD won an Award for Excellence in Texas School Health grant from the
Texas Health Institute in 2021. They plan to use the money to fund leadership
trainings, motivational speakers and any training materials needed.
The SHAC will conduct a pre and post survey with the KSHAC to measure their impact
on the SHAC on a scale of 1 to 5. The program will be successful if they score above 3
on the post survey by the end of the school year.
The KSHAC will continue to be a powerful voice for the student population each year.
The SHAC aims to use student recommendations to create a healthier environment
and lifestyle for all NEISD students.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 37
Worksheets
On the following pages, you will find a series of helpful worksheets. Each of these
worksheets have come from a more extensive guide to SHACs. It has been specifically
designed to assist either the SHAC’s chair or other school personnel responsible for
providing support.
Worksheet 1: Community Partners to Invite
A helpful tool to:
• Use in identifying prospective members for a local SHAC
• Ensure that you have balanced representation
Worksheets 2 and 3: Creating a Vision for Your Community and Schools and Our
Vision for the Future
A helpful tool to:
• Assist you in thinking through your values related to school health
• Use in creating a collective philosophy or vision for your SHAC
Worksheet 4 and 5: What’s Needed for Change? And a Process for Change
A helpful tool to:
• Consider the components required for change to occur
• Think through the steps for facilitating change
Worksheet 6: The Wellness Policy Process
A helpful tool to:
• Illustrate the process of wellness policy development and implementation
• Understand how to provide for continuous quality improvement
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 38
Worksheet 1: Community Partners to Invite
Membership on your school health council should be as representative of your
community as possible. Involve people with a broad variety of education, experience,
opinion, economic level, gender, race, age and ethnic background. Who are the key
players in your community and school?
Community Members:
Name, Affiliation
Invited
Accepted
Attended
Attorneys:
Business and Industry Leaders:
Civic, Service, and Professional
Organization:
Clergy:
Clients and Customers of Community
Services:
Community Leaders:
Community Government Officials:
Healthcare Providers:
Clinical
Dental
Dietician
Emergency Services
Medical Services
Hospitals
Mental Health
Human Service Agencies:
Public Health
Drug and Alcohol Treatment
Child Protective Services
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 39
Community Members:
Name, Affiliation
Invited
Accepted
Attended
Juvenile Justice System:
Judge
Probation Officers
Police or Sherriff
Non-Profit Service Organizations:
Parents:
Parent Teacher Organization:
Media:
School Personnel:
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 40
Worksheet 2: Creating a Vision for Your Community and Schools
6
1. What three things do you like best about our schools?
2. If you could change one thing about our schools, what would it be?
3. What worries you most about your children (or the children of our community)
and their lives now?
4. What is one wish that you have for your children (or the children of our
community)?
5. What could the schools do to make this community a better place to live?
6. What could our community do to make this a better place to live?
7. What could families do to make this community a better place to live?
8. What could this SHAC do to make this community a better place to live?
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 41
Worksheet 3: Our Vision of the Future
7
Task I: Write three sentences that express your aspirations (hopes) for the children,
youth and families living in our community.
1. Sample text
2. Sample text
3. Sample text
Task II: Write three sentences that describe the role of schools, families, our
community and this SHAC in helping children and youth grow up healthy, safe and
happy.
1. Sample text
2. Sample text
3. Sample text
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 42
=
=
=
=
=
Worksheet 4: What’s needed for change to occur?
8
Vision Skills Incentives Resources
Action
Plan
= Change
What happens when critical pieces are missing?
Vision
Missing
Skills Incentives Resources Action Plan Confusion
Vision
Skills
Missing
Incentives Resources Action Plan Anxiety
Vision Skills
Incentives
Missing
Resources Action Plan Slow Change
Vision Skills Incentives
Resources
Missing
Action Plan Frustration
Vision Skills Incentives Resources
Action Plan
Missing
False Starts
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 43
Worksheet 5: A Process for Change
9
Step 1: Get together
• Commit to work together on school health
• Involve the right people
• Hold the first meeting
• Decide to act Reflect and celebrate
Step 2: Create a vision
• Develop a base of common knowledge
• About school health
• Define a shared vision Reflect and celebrate
Step 3: Develop a plan
• Identify priorities
• Design an action plan Reflect and celebrate
Step 4: Take action
• Implement plan
• Celebrate achievements
• Recognize contributions
• Evaluate progress Reflect and celebrate
Step 5: Review commitment
• Build community reputation
• Deepen commitment to vision
• Recruit new members and develop new leaders
• Adapt and expand action plan
Repeat the process beginning with Step 1: Get together.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 44
Maintain,
Measure,
E
valuate
7.
Implement
the
Policy
6.
Adopt
the
Po
l
icy
1.
Conduct
Initial
Homewor
k
Creating a
Local We
ll
ness
Po
licy
5.
Build
Awareness
and
Support
2.
Form
the
Development
Team
3.
Assess
the
District
's Needs
4. Draft a
Poli
cy
Worksheet 6: The Wellness Policy Process
Successful creation of a local wellness policy consists of eight steps. This graphic will be
helpful in outlining the process for developing, implementing, and evaluating wellness
policies. By following this process, you can provide continuous quality improvement to
your school’s efforts in having a positive impact on students and staff health and well-
being.
The 2004 Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act makes it mandatory for all local
school districts participating in the Federal School Meal Programs to create a local
wellness policy by July 2006. Because of this law, school districts in most cases have
adopted a wellness policy.
However, a local SHAC should:
1. Obtain and review the policy
2. Determine if there are gaps
3. Determine if administrative guidelines to ensure implementation have been
developed
Make an effort to commend the school district for its policy’s strengths and help
develop recommendations for addressing additional needs and gaps. Policies should be
broad in scope. Details regarding implementation and evaluation are most often
addressed in administrative guidelines. Action for Healthy Kids has developed an
excellent online wellness policy tool to help develop policies. It can be found at:
actionforhealthykids.org
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 45
-
References
1. Allensworth, D., Lawson, E., Nicholson, L., & Wyche, J. (Eds.). Schools & health:
Our nation’s investment. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. 1997. 5,
Building the Infrastructure for Comprehensive School Health Programs. Available
from:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232699/
2. American School Health Association. Guidelines for comprehensive school health
programs. Kent, Ohio: ASHA. 1994. Available from:
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK232686/
3. Amundson, K., Ficklen, E., Maatsch, J., Saks, J., & Zakariya, S. How to use citizen
advisory committees. 1996. Becoming a Better Board Member. Washington, DC:
NSBA.ASCD. Learning and health: Whole school, whole community, whole child.
2014. Retrieved from
www.ascd.org/programs/learning-and-health/wscc-model.aspx
4. Basch, C. E. Physical activity and the achievement gap among urban minority
youth. 2011. Journal of School Health, 81(10), 626-634.
5. Butler, J.T. The Delaware school health advisory committee. 1995 Feb. Journal of
School Health, 65(2): 60-62.
doi.org/10.1111/j.1746-1561.1995.tb03346.x
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Disease Prevention and
Control: Building a Healthier Future Through School Health Programs. 2010.
Available from:
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/publications/pdf/PP-Ch9.pdf
7. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How to develop a success story.
2008 Dec. Retrieved February 2014, from Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention Adolescent and School Health Program:
cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/stories/
8. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School health guidelines to promote
healthy eating and physical activity. 2011 Sept. MMWR, 60(5), 1-80. Retrieved
October 2, 2020, from
cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr6005.pdf
9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School health programs improving
the health of our nation’s youth at a glance. 2011. Retrieved May 2014, from
cdc.gov/pcd/issues/archive.htm#2011
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2020. The Whole School, Whole
Community, Whole Child Model. Retrieved May 4,2020, from Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Adolescent and School Health:
cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/index.htm
11. Dorman, S. M., Foulk, d. F. Characteristics of school health education advisory
councils. Journal of School Health. 1987. 57(8): 337-339
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1746-1561.1986.tb05778.x
12. Kansas Health Foundation. (n.d.). VMOSA: An approach to strategic planning.
Wichita, Kansas: Kansas Health Foundation.
13. Marx, E., Wooley, S., & Northrup, D. (Eds.). (1998). Health is academic: A guide
to coordinated school health programs. New York: Teachers College Press.
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 46
14. Moag-Stahlberg A, Buford C. Action for Healthy Kids. Nasnewsletter.
2004;19(1):9-9.
15. Resnicow, K. and Allensworth, d. Conducting a comprehensive school health
program. Journal of School Health. 1996. 66(2): 59-63.
16. School health index. 2017. May 16. Retrieved October 7, 2020, from Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. Division of Adolescent and School Health:
cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shi/
17. The University of Kansas. Section 1: An overview of strategic planning or
“VMOSA” (vision, mission, objectives, strategies, and action plans). 2013. Dec 13.
Retrieved from Community Toolbox:
ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-
contents/structure/strategic-planning/vmosa/main
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 47
About the DSHS School Health Program
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) School Health Program provides
leadership, support, and guidance to Texas school districts on comprehensive school
health and health services utilizing the Whole School, Whole Community and Whole
Child school health model. The School Health Program utilizes the following strategies:
• Serves as the central source for resources and tools in support of school
health evidence-based programs, practices, policies and guidelines;
• Maintains linkages between DSHS and school districts as it relates to health
promotion, school health services, and chronic disease prevention;
• Engages in collaborative efforts with internal and external partners and
stakeholders; and
• Disseminates timely school health-related information and data.
Our Initiatives
• Resource development - Develops and publishes resources to assist school
personnel, develop rules and publications to address legislative and public
health priorities such as rules related to epinephrine and asthma medication,
develop Guidelines for the Care of Students with Food Allergies At-Risk for
Anaphylaxis, and disseminates timely school health-related information and
data through various forms of communication.
• Grant and Awards Projects - Coordinates the School-Based Health
Center (SBHC) grant project and administers the Awards for Excellence in
Texas School Health project.
• Trainings - Provides training, technical assistance and information to
the school personnel about school health services and school nursing
practice.
• Facilitates and supports the Texas School Health Advisory Council (TSHAC)
• Facilitates and supports the Stock Epinephrine Advisory Committee
• Facilitates and supports the Food Allergy Ad Hoc Committee
Contact Information
School Health Program
Texas Department of State Health Services
Phone: 512-776-7279
1100 West 49
th
Street
Fax: 512-776-7555
Mail Code 1945
Email: SchoolHealth@dshs.texas.gov
Austin, Texas 78756
Website: dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth
School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 48
l Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts | 49
Schoo
School Health Program
dshs.texas.gov/schoolhealth
