Promoting Well Schools
Schools are anchor institutions in our communities. We believe that all students have the right to be educated in a healthy, safe environment—a well school.
A well school:
Embraces principles that foster resilience.
Co-creates an environment where everyone in the school ecosystem can thrive academically, socially and emotionally.
Uses data to inform decision-making.
Integrates health education into school curricula to build a foundation for health and wellness.
Partners with other organizations and local businesses to support sustainability given the volatility of educational funding sources.
ETR supports the implementation of science-based health and wellness education in K-12 schools, creating environments where students and staff can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Featured Projects and Resources:
Connections for Health
Connections for Health seeks to shift current research by providing new knowledge and resources for rural young people. Increasing access to comprehensive health education and teacher effectiveness will, in turn, benefit their access to health information and school connectedness. This improves well-being, peer relationships, and lowers the likelihood of health and risky sexual behaviors among rural youth. The program uses an innovative lesson planning tool that allows sites to customize their instruction to local needs while remaining in community-driven practices and science-based frameworks.
NTAC
The National Technical Assistance Center for Adolescent Health and Well-Being (NTAC) aims to provide training, technical assistance, and resources related to the What Work in Schools approach, the CDC Professional Development Practices, and other topics related to school-based and adolescent health. The NTAC supports education agencies, consortia, and NGOs across the U.S. that are funded under CDC-RFA-DP-24-0139, CDC-RFA-DP-23-0002, and CDC-RFA-DP-22-2203.
To contact the team, reach out to NTAC@etr.org.
HEARTS Innovation to Evidence Professional Learning Institute (HEARTS Institute)
A collaboration between UCSF HEARTS and ETR, the HEARTS Professional Learning Institute aims to build the capacity of school teams to create safe, supportive, and equitable learning and teaching environments that foster affirming relationships and a sense of belonging for Black, Brown, and Indigenous students. Healthy Environments and Response to Trauma in Schools (HEARTS) is an award-winning program that places healing-centered approaches at the core of our work to create more trauma-informed, safe, and supportive learning and teaching environments. We partner with schools and districts to promote school success by fostering resilience and wellness for everyone in the school community.
HealthSmart
HealthSmart is a K–12, skills-based health education program that empowers students to think, choose, and act in healthy ways for a lifetime. Lessons in the curriculum are designed to not only impart key health concepts but also put critical health skills into practice for children and teens to achieve healthy behavior outcomes. It’s customizable to align with local and state standards and is available in both print and digital formats for all grades to meet the needs of educators. Learn more about HealthSmart.
