The Council on School Health (COSH) of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) believes that healthy students are better learners. COSH works to support child wellbeing through recognizing the vital role schools play in the life of children and communities, and the contribution of schools to promote thriving children and families, embracing the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD). In addition, COSH recognizes the important and unique role pediatricians play in supporting and advocating for school health services, mental health services, family involvement, health education, nutrition services and education, physical education and community engagement.
The COSH recognizes the myriad of challenges facing children and families that can impact school outcomes and the COSH represents pediatricians serving in state and local health and education agencies, academic institutions, private practice, and health care delivery systems. The COSH Executive Committee (EC) creates and promotes AAP policy on school health issues to support COSH members to support school health in a variety of ways, including issues such as increasing school-based health centers and school mental health programs, improving chronic disease management in schools, addressing infection prevention and preparedness for public health emergencies, and advocating for the availability of emergency medications. All these COSH focus areas are designed to promote quality whole child focused school health programs.
Partnering with many other AAP Councils, Committees and Sections, the COSH supports AAP policy addressing the health and social issues facing children and families. The Executive Committee, our membership, and colleagues have worked and continue to work tirelessly to keep children safe while maximizing their education and school experience. On behalf of the COSH EC, I invite you to join COSH and be part of a vibrant group dedicated to promoting child health and school success for all children and adolescents!
Sara Bode, MD, FAAP
Chair, AAP Council on School Health