Healthy Schools Campaign

How States Are Partnering With Schools to Advance Rural Health Programs | Healthy Schools Campaign From expanding Medicaid-funded school-based health centers to fostering collaboration with other health organizations, states recognize the vital role schools play in delivering care in rural areas.

Schools play a vital role in meeting Rural Health Transformation goals to improve rural health outcomes. Our blog highlights states that included school-related initiatives in their project abstracts + ways states can improve school Medicaid implementation: healthyschoolscampaign.org/blog/how-sta...

Students succeed when they are healthy – and schools play a huge role in keeping kids healthy. But school health funding is at risk. Join us 2/26 for a roundtable discussion + Q&A about the role you can play to protect school Medicaid and student health in your state. bit.ly/protect-student-health

Advancing Student Behavioral Health and Substance Use Prevention Services: Understanding How School Medicaid Works in Your State - Healthy Students, Promising Futures

How does school Medicaid work in your state? How well does your Medicaid state plan support behavioral health and substance use services in schools? Our new explainer can help you take on these weedy questions and identify areas for improvement. healthystudentspromisingfutures.org/resources/st...

In this moment, when children, families and public schools need everyone’s support, HSC is intently focused on strengthening our mission-focused work. Join us by supporting HSC and making an investment in a more positive future! healthyschoolscampaign.org/donate/

Protecting Children’s Access to Health Care in Schools: The Impact of Medicaid Cuts on School Health Services - Grantmakers In Health “Due to the remote area we serve, our students have little to no access to medical services otherthan those provided in schools.”—Superintendent from a rural school district in Michigan. Schools are…

Schools are essential for children's access to health services, and Medicaid plays a key role. However, the 2025 federal reconciliation law puts the school Medicaid program at risk. In a new Views from the Field article, Jessie Mandle of @healthyschoolscampaign.org outlines the risks of these cuts:

The #MWRD joined the Space to Grow doubleheader on Friday, Nov. 7, for new schoolyard ribbon-cutting ceremonies at two #Chicago schools with our partners at Openlands, Chicago Department of Water Management,
@HealthySchoolsCampaign.org,
@ChicagoPubSchools.bsky.social, &
@Chicagodoe.bsky.social.

We’re obsessulated with green, as Glinda would say—green infrastructure that is! And in just a clock tick, Space to Grow™ partners complete five CPS schoolyards across #Chicago. 🩷💚

mwrd.org/news/space-g...

@healthyschoolscampaign.org
@chipubschools.bsky.social
@chicagodoe.bsky.social

Our new brief highlights how Medicaid cuts could affect the provision of school-based substance use services and reverse progress on substance use prevention and community resilience. Learn more about opportunities to mitigate the harm to states + schools: healthyschoolscampaign.org/dev/wp-conte...

Last month Dr. White-Newsome highlighted the impact of cuts to crucial safety net programs on already overburdened and underinvested communities. “Our children cannot afford for us to stand by silently,” she insists. Take action for healthy schools today: healthyschoolscampaign.org/cfg-take-act...

ICYMI: Watch the Change for Good recording and take action! Hear from national leaders on the importance of taking action now to support children, families and public schools. Listen to the recording to learn what YOU can do and take action now. healthyschoolscampaign.org/dev/wp-conte...

2025 Change for Good YouTube video by Healthy Schools Campaign

Did you miss our Change for Good forum? No worries - the recording is now available! Take a moment to listen to the powerful words of featured keynote speaker, Dr. Jalonne L. White-Newsome, who reminds us of our ABC's and the important work to support the whole child: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbUW...

Illustration of smiling family of four embracing. They're surrounded by icons representing nine different types of supports. Above, blue banner with text, "Mandated supports can connect families with the exact help they need."

educators often send suspicions of student exposure to illicit substances to child protective services

engaging families is effective prevention (whether or not you discuss drugs)

learn more in a #MandatedSupport research & action brief w/ @healthyschoolscampaign.org

www.aft.org/sites/defaul...

Healthy Schools Campaign is doubling down on our mission of making schools healthier places for all students.

Join our Change for Good virtual event TODAY to get involved & learn what is at stake for children, public schools and communities. Register 👉 healthyschoolscampaign.org/events/chang...

It’s not too late to register for our virtual Change for Good forum!

Join us tomorrow to hear how cuts to safety net programs will impact children in every community across our country and learn what you can do to support students and schools: healthyschoolscampaign.org/events/chang...

Panel Spotlight! Join HSC's #ChangeForGood forum this Wednesday as we host a dialogue with leaders in school food, school health services and SEL. Register now to listen in on a dynamic conversation with featured panelists Tarrah DeClemente & Ron Tanimura.
healthyschoolscampaign.org/events/chang...

Graphic titled “Greening underserved schools while preventing floods in Chicago,” from the Canadian Health Association for Sustainability and Equity (CHASE), dated September 9, 2025. The image shows a redesigned schoolyard with trees, greenery, benches, a playground with slides, and a circular paved area. Text below describes the Space to Grow program, a collaboration between Healthy Schools Campaign, Openlands, Chicago Public Schools, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, and the Chicago Department of Water Management. The program reduces flooding, protects water quality, and provides safe, vibrant outdoor spaces for children in under-resourced neighborhoods.

📣 ICYMI: Greening Underserved Schools while Preventing Floods in #Chicago 📰

➡️ mwrd.org/news/greening-underserved-schools-while-preventing-floods-chicago-chase-canada

#MWRD #SpaceToGrow #GreenInfrastructure

@healthyschoolscampaign.org
@chipubschools.bsky.social

HSC is pleased to announce that Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome will be a featured speaker at our virtual Change for Good forum! Join us to hear about the impact of new federal policies on communities, environmental justice work + climate resilience efforts.
healthyschoolscampaign.org/events/chang...

We’re one week away from Change for Good! Don’t miss your chance to hear from leaders in climate resilience, school food and school health at next week’s virtual forum. Reserve your spot today! healthyschoolscampaign.org/events/chang...

Want to hear from leaders in climate resilience, school food + school health how federal policy will impact students, public schools and communities? Join Healthy Schools Campaign on Wednesday, September 17 at 11am CT for our virtual Change for Good forum! healthyschoolscampaign.org/events/chang...

The Impact of Federal Medicaid Cuts on States and School Districts | Healthy Schools Campaign The massive budget bill known as “OBBBA” (HR1) includes significant changes to Medicaid policy that will negatively affect the health of students, families, schools and communities. There are, however...

The massive budget bill OBBBA includes significant changes to Medicaid policy that will negatively affect student, family and school health. HSC's new blog takes a look at how Medicaid cuts will impact schools and ways for states to help mitigate harm. healthyschoolscampaign.org/blog/impact-...

Back to school season is here in Chicago, but we’re still celebrating summer harvests from the school gardens we support through our Parents United for Healthy Schools program with partners! Parent garden teams grew and gathered an incredible variety of produce. 🥬🌱🥒💜

From gray to green: Across Chicago, dozens of concrete schoolyards transformed into community hubs and flooding solutions Spaces transformed to address heavy rains in neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, particularly on the South and West sides.

We love seeing Space to Grow schoolyards in the spotlight!🌱 Grissom’s story highlights the school leaders who bring the space to life. Special thanks to all our STG partners for making this amazing program possible.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/12/c...

Medicaid Cuts Could Lead to Increases in Chronic Absenteeism | Healthy Schools Campaign With Medicaid cuts expected to reach nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, schools will have less funding and fewer resources to address a significant public health issue: chronic absenteeism.

With Medicaid cuts expected to reach nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, schools will have less funding and fewer resources to address a significant public health issue: chronic absenteeism. Check out our new blog to learn more: healthyschoolscampaign.org/blog/medicai...

From gray to green: Across Chicago, dozens of concrete schoolyards transformed into community hubs and flooding solutions Spaces transformed to address heavy rains in neighborhoods vulnerable to flooding, particularly on the South and West sides.

From gray to green: Across Chicago, a @healthyschoolscampaign.org program has transformed dozens of concrete schoolyards into community hubs and flooding solutions.

For @chicagotribune.com:

Space To Grow: Transforming Chicago Schoolyards YouTube video by WGN News

Parents helped bring recess back to CPS and sparked Space to Grow, Chicago’s green schoolyards program. Their leadership continues through healthy food advocacy and garden care. Loved seeing @WGNTV feature this work! 🥬👩🏽‍🍳❤️ www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC6F...

Medicaid Is More Than Health Insurance—It’s A Lifeline For Public Schools Deep cuts to Medicaid, sparked by Trump’s spending bill, will have devastating effects on K–12 students and create far-reaching consequences for families and communities.

Medicaid is the fourth-largest federal funding source for K-12 schools. It's more than just health insurance - it's a lifeline. "When Medicaid funding disappears from schools, it doesn’t just affect individual students; it weakens the foundation of entire communities." www.forbes.com/sites/lindad...

Our Chicago: Space To Grow Dozens of school playgrounds across Chicago aren't just a fun place for children. They're also designed to help address the effects

This week’s storms show why we need green infrastructure that absorbs water and protects neighborhoods. Our CEO + President Jennifer Tani joined @abc7chicago.bsky.social to share how Space to Grow is transforming schoolyards to advance climate resilience: abc7chicago.com/post/chicago...

It's not too late: your congressional representatives urgently need to hear your concerns about the impact Medicaid cuts would have on students and schools. Contact them right now - via email or phone - using our advocacy toolkit. It takes just 2 minutes! healthyschoolscampaign.org/dev/wp-conte...

Illinois School Districts Receive Boost in Medicaid Funding for School Health Services | Healthy Schools Campaign In the second year of expanded Medicaid billing for school health services, participating Illinois school districts received an additional $23.4 million in federal funding — money that can be used to ...

Here's some great news this week: New data shows that participating Illinois school districts received an additional $23.4 million in federal funding in the second year of expanded Medicaid billing for school health services! Learn more: healthyschoolscampaign.org/blog/illinoi...

Austin Elementary School Debuts Playground That Protects Against Flooding The new playground at Spencer Technology Academy has a nature area, multisport court and permeable surfaces that collect rainwater in an area prone to flooding.

What happens when a school community helps redesign their own schoolyard? @blockclubchi.bsky.social highlighted how the new green space at Spencer Technology Academy is mitigating flooding, supporting outdoor learning and uplifting the voices of the Austin: blockclubchicago.org/2025/06/04/a...