Junior Fellows Induction Ceremony. Left to right, looking at camera: Romina Cepeda, Ashley Brown, Sahara Baker from The Young Womens Leadership School

The Office of School Health Programs is the focal point for the Academy’s activities to improve the health and well-being of New York City children and youth and to address the evolving health education needs of schools and communities.

The Office of School Health Programs provides a wide range of health education initiatives that impact New York City school administrators, teachers, staff, families, and students. The goal of these programs is to build the capacity of schools and community based organizations to enhance the health of young people and to help them develop the skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to lead and maintain healthy lives and succeed academically.

The programs address an extensive array of health education issues, including mental and emotional health, asthma, skin health, physical activity, nutrition, and tobacco, and are designed to promote literacy objectives, uphold educational standards and use technology in support of learning. The Office of School Health Programs also collaborates on the development of interdepartmental programs at the Academy integrating resources from other departments to expand services to schools. This includes the Junior Fellows Program designed to advance middle and high school students’ career awareness and interest in health, science, medicine and research.

The Office of School Health Programs has created and maintains a coalition of more than forty-five private sector foundations, corporations, voluntary agencies and informed individuals who support the programs. The Office administers the largest public-private sector supported comprehensive health education program in the United States and is recognized by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a “beacon of change” in the area of school health education.

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