MNA in partnership with DC Action for Children has completed a large-scale evaluation study under contract with DC Department of Health.
Using the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model as the framework, the team conducted a multi-year, mixed methods study to better understand the pre-and-intra WSCC model planning processes and implementation at DCPS and DC PCS for school years 2015-16 through 2018-19.
The WSCC model, developed by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, combines and builds on elements of the traditional Coordinated School Health (from CDC) approach and the whole child framework. The focus is directed at the whole school, with the school, in turn, drawing its resources and influences from the whole community and serving to address the needs of the whole child.
Some of the main highlights of the study are:
- In the third year of implementation SY 2018-19, a total of 79,709 students were served—a 48% increased since baseline SY 2015-16.
- Percentage of acute care management cases across the District dropped from 44% in SY 2016-17 to 39% in SY 2018-19.
- On average oral health screening compliance rate improved across the implementation years.In-person and phone interviews and multiple focus groups with the DC Health leadership and staff members, CSS leadership, school nurses, managers and administrative staff have indicated that there is a substantial increase in setting processes, policies, procedures, monitoring and screening at the school level; there is an appreciation for understanding and implementing a holistic approach and a framework to solving health care needs and issues across the District. However, using the WSCC model as a framework to implement it across the District evenly is not yet pervasive.
Plans are underway to make the model much more integral to the District’s mission to combat chronic illnesses and absenteeism among students to help improve their health and academic achievement.A few data limitations are recognized.We thank our partners, DC Action for Children, and DCH for the opportunity.
