Action for Healthy Kids School Health Index (SHI)
What Is the School Health Index (SHI)?
The School Health Index (SHI) is a research-based assessment tool that helps you understand which school health policies and best practices your school or district has/does not have in place that support healthy students and prepare them to learn.
Our SHI includes key questions on various school health topics from the CDC’s version of the School Health Index to provide your school with a shorter, easy-to-complete assessment. AFHK’s newly expanded SHI addresses health topic areas consistent with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and puts a greater emphasis on Whole Child heath by adding in Social and Emotional Climate questions, as well as increasing the focus of how families play a key role in improving childhood health behaviors and development.
The WSCC model places students at the center and emphasizes the role of the community in supporting the school, the connections between health and academic achievement, and the importance of evidence-based school policies and practices. AFHK’s SHI also includes cross-cutting questions that address policies and practices that support multiple health topics.
Who and Why?
Your entire school health team can complete the assessment collaboratively online via AFHK’s School Portal. AFHK’s School Health Index is designed to give all stakeholders related to students’ well-being an opportunity to collaborate, assess scores, and access valuable resources for student health and learning. We know that kids do best when their families and schools are working together to support them in reaching their full potential. Whether a parent, teacher, school administrator or caregiver – we all have a role to play in supporting and reinforcing healthy behaviors both at home and in school.
The SHI assessment is well worth your time and effort and provides valuable insight into the health of your school. Identify strengths and weaknesses, define goals that suit your community needs, demonstrate the need to make changes, and document starting points in order to show progress over time. Once completed, we’ll provide you with an auto-generated report that summarizes your responses and identifies areas for growth. Focus your school health efforts on these improvement opportunities to ensure you’re providing a safe and supportive learning environment that helps children thrive in body and mind.
Take Action: Completing the School Health Index
Here are some simple steps to complete the AFHK School Health Index:
First, gather your school health team. Before jumping in, evaluate your team for any gaps in representation and look for opportunities to bring more voices to the table.
- Don’t have one? Get started by building a representative school health team.
Next, complete the School Health Index in the School Portal. Divvy up the questions or complete as a team, using the paper copies linked below. Once ready, follow the instruction guide for completing in the School Portal.
- School Health Index FAQ
- School Health Index – Elementary (questions only | detailed questions and instructions)
- School Health Index – Middle/High School (questions only | detailed questions and instructions)
- School Health Index – District Level questions (*numbered as they appear in full AFHK SHI)
- Instructions for Completing the SHI in the School Portal
- Why Should Schools Complete the SHI?
- Why Should Districts Complete the SHI?
Lastly, use the results from your summary report to assess your school’s status and utilize AFHK resources and support to make improvements and advance your SHI score.
- 6-Step Framework for Creating Healthier Schools where families and schools are true partners
- School Health Index Resource Guide
Check out the videos below for strategies and resources to support some of the most common challenges schools face within the different sections of the SHI.
School Health and Physical Environment
Nutrition Services and Environment
Health Education
Physical Education and Physical Activity
Social-Emotional Climate
School Health Services
Staff Wellness
Family & Community Involvement
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