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NACDD School Health

NACDD School Health is committed to building the capacity of state education agencies (SEA), state health departments (SHD), local education agencies (LEA), and partners to support the health and well-being of youth and school staff. 

We support state and local health and education agencies in making informed decisions about school health through professional development, technical assistance, and providing up-to-date information, tools, and resources. Our work has historically focused on preventing chronic disease in schools by improving nutrition and nutrition access, increasing physical activity, and supporting the care and management of chronic conditions.

In 2022, NACDD was awarded a five-year cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through this initiative, NACDD is partnering with Child Trends, Mental Health America, state and local partners to advance emotional health and well-being in schools. Together, we support school communities in developing, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based policies, practices, and programs that support both student and staff social, emotional, and mental health.

A visual of two students writing in notebooks overlaid with the five step process graphic. Steps represented by circular icons connected in a row: Assess (clipboard), Plan (strategy notebook), Implement (figure in motion), Learn (lightbulb), Evaluate (graph).


Our Five-Step Process

Each year, NACDD engages a cohort of two to four SEA, their respective SHD partners, and a minimum of five LEA collectively across all SEA states. Participating LEA receive mini-grants and join in a five-step, two-phased process over two school years.

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Learning Collaborative Roadmap

NACDD helps state and local education leaders build their skills and knowledge through professional development and hands-on support, using our Learning Collaborative Roadmap. 

Our roadmap illustrates a continuous development process for supporting and advancing emotional well-being in schools. Each phase is paired with related tools and resources from our library to support progress along the way.

Download the roadmap
A visual representation of the "Learning Collaborative Roadmap" to support emotional well-being in schools. The image contains a circular diagram with segmented areas labeled "Aligning Frameworks," "Teaming for Success," "Data-Driven Decision-Making," and "Effective Implementation." It emphasizes a two-phase approach: Phase 1 - Establishing an Infrastructure and Phase 2 - Implementation & Continuous Quality Improvement. The diagram connects staff and student emotional well-being as outcomes of effective implementation. The top-left corner features the logos of the Center for Advancing Healthy Communities and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors.
An infographic focusing on "Phase 1: Establishing an Infrastructure" within the Learning Collaborative Roadmap. It describes the importance of creating a cohesive system for school-based mental health programs through cross-sector collaboration and data-driven decision-making. The circular diagram highlights three key elements: "Aligning Frameworks," "Teaming for Success," and "Data-Driven Decision-Making." An arrow at the bottom indicates progression to the next phase.
An infographic detailing "Phase 2: Implementation & Continuous Quality Improvement" of the Learning Collaborative Roadmap. It highlights how a well-established infrastructure leads to effective interventions for student and staff emotional well-being. The circular diagram emphasizes "Effective Implementation" as a core component, linking to staff and student emotional well-being. The description emphasizes adaptability, sustainability, and the refinement of strategies based on feedback. An arrow at the bottom-left suggests navigation back to Phase 1.
A structured breakdown of the "Learning Collaborative Roadmap," listing key components of each phase. Phase 1 includes "Aligning Frameworks," "Teaming for Success," and "Data-Driven Decision-Making," with bullet points explaining each aspect. Phase 2 includes "Effective Implementation," "Staff Emotional Well-Being," and "Student Emotional Well-Being," each with detailed descriptions of systems-level approaches. The image uses color-coded sections to distinguish different focus areas, and the WSCC (Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child) model is referenced as a core thread.
Discover school health resources

Contact Us

For questions or more information, connect with us. 

Heidi Milby, MPH
Associate Director, Center for Advancing Healthy Communities
hmilby@chronicdisease.org

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