Overview of Findings from Case Study Analysis

Abstract

The concept of the Health-Promoting School (HPS) has proven to be a powerful one, capturing the attention of decision makers, teachers, and parents. It is evident that the field of school health has made significant progress in the last decade, moving from a narrow view of school health as primarily focused on classroom curriculum or health education to the broad, multiple strategies of policy, improving the school's physical and psychosocial environment and providing a range of services - all with participation of teachers, students, and the community. The 26 cases from around the globe offer inspiring examples of how the concept and research findings have been applied in everyday practice. These stories show us the passion of educators, families, and community members, striving to meet the challenges of a changing world by working toward the healthy development of individuals and of their school and community environments. By examining experiences around the globe in resource-rich and resource-poor settings, we learn about the universality of strategies that people around the world have used to put in place innovative programs that respond to their interests and needs.