School Health Advisory Board

The School Health Advisory Board (SHAB) for Richmond Public Schools was formed to advise the School Board on issues related to student health.

Data is clear that healthier students are better learners. The SHAB, comprised of RPS parents, students, and teachers, as well as content experts in nutrition, physical activity, mental health, and child wellness will take a holistic view of health that encompasses the many factors that influence students’ ability to be healthy, to learn, and to succeed.

In alignment with Dreams4RPS, the district’s strategic plan, the SHAB is poised to address issues such as the nutritional content of school meals, the incorporation of trauma-informed and trauma-resilient practices, and the provision of mental health and social support through activities such as conducting outreach to school staff and families, researching evidenced-based practices, reviewing the school wellness policy, and making recommendations to the school board on an annual basis.

The RPS SHAB is rooted in CDC’s Whole Child, Whole School, Whole Community Framework, an evidenced-based strategy for supporting student wellness. The framework calls for greater alignment, integration, and collaboration between health and education to improve each child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. Other SHABs are active in school districts throughout the state including Alexandria, Arlington, Charlottesville, and Chesterfield, and can provide useful models for structuring work in Richmond.