Physician and Alliance Leadership Needed - Join local school health advisory councils

Want to make a big impact in your community’s health and wellness? Join your local school health advisory council (SHAC).

SHACs address all aspects of their school district’s school health program, from nutrition and fitness to health education to a safe school environment. Physicians and TMA Alliance members have a unique perspective on health and well-being and can provide a scientific approach to these issues.

SHACs are volunteer advisory groups of community members appointed by the school district. Every school district is required by law to establish a SHAC. The council’s purpose is to ensure community values and local health issues are reflected in the district’s health education policies and instructions. SHACs work directly with local schools, school boards, school districts, and state agencies. 
 
Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, Smith County Medical Society

How to Get Involved 

The first step is to find out if your local school district has an active SHAC. The Texas Education Agency AskTED website can help you locate your school district contact information. Contact the superintendent’s office or do a web search to find out if your district has an active council. Based on that information, you should be able to determine your next step – reach out to the SHAC to attend a meeting, request an application to join, or start your own SHAC if one doesn’t exist. 
 
The Texas Department of State Health Services developed the School Health Advisory Council: A Guide for Texas School Districts. This guide provides school staff and community members basic information about the value of SHACs in creating a healthy school environment for students. 
 
Visit the TMA website for more information on how our members are getting involved in SHACs. 

Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, Smith County Medical Society  
Learn More From Your Colleagues
 
Several members of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion have direct experience with their district SHAC and discuss it in a Texas Medicine magazine article, “The ABCs of Health.” 

 “SHAC members can have a direct impact on choices made by decisionmakers.
- Julie Cowan, Travis County Medical Alliance

 
SHAC input can affect wide-ranging policies, including those that affect physical education, nutrition, anti-bullying efforts, staff wellness, suicide prevention, tobacco use, and sex education.” 
- Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, Smith County Medical Society

 
For more information, email Pam Udall, VP, Communications and Marketing.

Last Updated On

May 05, 2021

Originally Published On

April 29, 2021

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