The Oregon Department of Education selected La Grande School District as the only district in the state to receive funding through a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The initiative, titled "School-based Interventions to Promote Equity and Improve Health, Academic Achievement and Well-Being of Students," is part of the CDC’s national effort to improve school health systems.
This work strengthens the connection between health and learning by creating a more supportive environment for students’ physical, emotional and behavioral well-being.
Recognizing her background in nutrition and wellness, the district invited Robin Maille, associate professor of practice with the Oregon State University Extension Service Family and Community Health Program, to serve as its school health coordinator for the project.
The first phase of the cooperative agreement focuses on completing the CDC’s School Health Index Assessment — an 11-module tool aligned with the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. As of December 2023, six of the modules had been completed over three planning meetings. These sessions brought together 27 participants, including school administrators, school nurses, food service managers, teachers, parents and representatives from after-school programs and public health agencies.
Although still in its early stages, the project has already revealed both the strength of existing programs in the district and the need to improve communication with students and families. In recent years, school-based health services have expanded significantly, now including mental and behavioral health therapists in both elementary and secondary schools. Raising awareness of these resources will help reduce barriers to care and support student well-being. Action planning began in January 2024.
In addition to OSU Extension, the project is supported by a CDC project officer, a program evaluator and a statewide advisory team with members from the Oregon Department of Education, Oregon Health Authority and OregonASK, a network focused on after-school and summer programs. A broader Oregon Healthy Schools Advisory team is also contributing.
Support from six national non-governmental organizations is helping advance priority areas such as school health services, emotional well-being, healthy out-of-school time and school administrator engagement in creating healthier learning environments.
This work strengthens the connection between health and learning by creating a more supportive environment for students’ physical, emotional and behavioral well-being. By aligning school health services with community resources and improving communication with families, the project is expected to reduce barriers to care, boost student engagement and contribute to long-term academic and health outcomes in the La Grande community.
