School and Community Health Education

Healthy Youth Development Team

The Healthy Youth Development Team (HYDT) works with school personnel, students, families, and community based organizations in order to improve the overall health of youth in District of Columbia Public Schools and Public Charter Schools. Our goal is to equip personnel with the appropriate resources for healthy environments in school settings. This includes providing quality health and physical education to all District school children. All of our current programs are described below.

Health Education and Physical Education Standards

Health and Physical Education are important components of a healthy school environment.  In December 2007, the DC State Board of Education adopted DC state learning standards for health and physical education for each grade level. In May 2010, the Council of the District of Columbia passed the Healthy Schools Act of 2010 (B18-0564) [PDF], which outlines the requirements and strategies to improve student health. HYDT uses the Health and Physical Education Standards and the Healthy Schools Act of 2010 [PDF] as the basis for programming.

For more information about the implementation of the Health and Physical Education Standards and Healthy Schools Act of 2010 please visit The Healthy Youth Development Team or contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov

 DC Improving the Health and Educational Opportunities for Young People

DC Improving the Health and Educational Opportunities for Young People is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The purpose of Improving the Health and Educational Outcomes of Young People is to improve the health and well-being of youth and prepare them for healthy adulthood. The OSSE’s two funding priorities under this program are the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and HIV/AIDS education. The program offers professional development for school personnel, health education capacity assessments, and youth leadership development.

For more information about the DC Improving the Health and Educational Opportunities for Young People download the CDC Information Sheet [PDF] or contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov

The DC Personal Responsibility Education Program (DC-PREP)

The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) is a pregnancy prevention program funded by the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families’ (ACYF) Family and Youth Services Bureau (FYSB) through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. The goal of the DC Personal Responsibility Education Program (DC-PREP) is to expand the use of evidence-based programs designed to educate adolescents on both abstinence and contraception to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS, and at least three adulthood preparation subjects within the District of Columbia. The HYDT offers five competitive DC-PREP sub-grants to organizations to implement an approved evidence-based program for District youth that aligns with the overall goals of the program. In addition, the HYDT provides DC-PREP related professional development trainings and technical assistance to schools and community based organizations on evidence-based implementation and programming.

For more information about the DC Personal Responsibility Education Program please visit The Healthy Youth Development Team or contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov

The Youth Sexual Health Improvement Project (YSHIP)

In 2009, the Council of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Health launched the Youth Sexual Health Project: A Framework for Change with “the ultimate goal of developing youth-inspired sexual health programming strategies” that can be implemented across the District. In response to the pertinent issues and topics that were stressed in the Youth Sexual Health report, HYDT has created the Youth Sexual Health Improvement Project (YSHIP). The purpose of YSHIP is to build the capacity of reproductive health instruction and information in schools, develop a comprehensive medically accurate and age appropriate sexual health curricula that aligns with the Health Education Standards, and increase visibility and support in peer-led reproductive health initiatives.

For more information, download a copy of the Council of the District of Columbia’s Committee on Health Youth Sexual Health Project: A Framework for Change* and visit The Healthy Youth Development Team Website  for more information on the Youth Sexual Health Improvement Project or contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov

Youth Advisory Committee of the District of Columbia (YAC)

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is comprised of 21 middle and high school students from across the District of Columbia. The mission of the YAC is to develop a cadre of young leaders with critical-thinking skills who will share their knowledge and expertise around adolescent health issues. The YAC meets every week to develop youth led projects and ensure the activities implemented are meeting the needs of young people in the District of Columbia. The YAC is sponsored by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education and in collaboration with District of Columbia Public Schools.

For more information about the YAC please visit The Healthy Youth Development Team or contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov

DC Tobacco Youth Coalition (DC-TYC)

The DC Tobacco Youth Coalition (DC-TYC) is a new youth leadership program established through the collaboration between the Office of the State Superintendent of Education-Division of Wellness and Nutrition Services and the Department of Health-Tobacco Control Program.  DC-TYC provides youth with the opportunity to gain skills and authority to make decisions to improve the policy environment, change social norms, and reduce smoking initiation and consumption in their communities.

For more information about the DC Tobacco Youth Coalition download our DC TYC Information Sheet [PDF] or contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov

Health Education Assessment and Data

As a part of the District of Columbia’s Healthy Schools Act of 2010, our program administers the DC Healthy Schools Act School Health Profile to Public Charter and DC Public Schools. In addition, we also administer the CDC School Health Profile and the CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

Please visit the Health Education Assessment and Data section for information on administration and data results. For more information contact us at OSSE.HYDT@dc.gov