The risk behaviors listed below are established early in life.

• Tobacco use
• Poor food choices and inappropriate portion size
• Inadequate physical activity
• Alcohol and drug use
• Sexual behavior that can transmit HIV and other STD’s
• Unintended pregnancy
• Intentional and unintentional injuries, often due to violence.

Many chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes and seizures, can be effectively managed when students are evaluated on a regular basis and learn self-care skills.

Infectious diseases are also better controlled when good hand washing techniques and other measures are taught to reduce risk of exposure. Parents and community stakeholders play a primary role in establishing healthy behaviors in children. Schools can partner with them to reinforce the knowledge and skills children need, such as:

• Refusal skills
• Decision-making
• Goal setting
• Communication
• Healthy relationships
• Alternative health promoting activities/events

An effective, coordinated school health program can:

• Increase academic achievement
• Decrease absenteeism and drop-outs
• Reduce the risk of premature death
• Decrease health care costs
• Improve economic productivity and national security

The health of our children does not depend on major medical breakthroughs, but rather on the everyday practice of good health habits. SHACs provide an efficient, effective structure for creating and implementing an age-appropriate, sequential health education program, and early intervention and prevention strategies that can easily be supported by local families and community stakeholders.