Okay, I’ll be honest — I was going to write something spicy. Something about how the entire Bravo network could be used to add relevance to your skills-based health education curriculum. (Honestly, that idea still has legs, but it would take at least 1,500 words and a lot of Summer House references.) So instead, I want to talk about something that’s been on my heart lately: advocacy for health education — and why it matters more than ever.
After 25 years in this field, I’m seeing a growing need for teaching and doing our 8th National Health Education Standard, Advocacy. And here’s the thing — I saw it coming on day one. Within my first month as a health educator, I met my mentor, who looked at me and said plainly: “You are always going to have to advocate for health education.”
I had absolutely no idea how right she was.
For years, I found myself advocating alone — at the local level, at the district level, constantly making the case that what happens in a health education classroom is valuable. That it belongs in schools. That it matters for kids. It’s exhausting work when you feel like you’re the only one in the room who sees it.
That changed when Andy Milne suggested I apply to volunteer for the SHAPE America National Health Education Council.
And wow — what a group of people.
I’m talking about the absolute best minds in health education from all across the country, all coming together with one shared mission. Past council members include Dr. Holly Alperin, Dr. Rachel Gibson, Christopher Pepper, Mary Connolly, Adam Mullis, Melissa Quigley, Kathleen Vogt, Charlie Rizzuto, Dr. Sarah Benes, Irene Cucina, Deborah Tackmann — and so many more incredible humans. If you know any of these names, you already understand the caliber of people in this space.
So what do we actually do? A lot, it turns out.
We host the wildly popular Coffee Talks at the SHAPE America national convention — a chance to connect, think out loud, and geek out about health education with people who get it. Every October, we lead advocacy efforts during Health Literacy Month and have been featured on the School Health Educators Podcast. Council members have contributed to two landmark documents: Appropriate Practices in School-Based Health Education and Inclusive Practices in Health Education — both of which should be in every health educator’s toolkit. We also have a JOPERD article coming out soon on addressing misinformation through a skills-based approach. (Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.)
After years of feeling siloed and, frankly, a little invisible, I finally found my people. A group I can stand alongside, lead with, and fight for health education together.
And I want that for you too.
Here’s Your Call to Action:
- Apply to join us. The SHAPE America National Health Education Council opens applications every fall. Don’t sleep on it.
- Reach out to a council member. We want to hear what you’re working on — and we might be able to help, or you might be able to help us.
- Come to a Coffee Talk at the annual convention. Bring your questions, your frustrations, and your best ideas.
- Keep advocating. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
You were never meant to do this alone.
This microblog post was a featured post in #slowchathealth’s #microblogmonth event. You can search for all of the featured posts here. Please do follow each of the outstanding contributors on social media (including, Michelle Rawcliffe who is the current chair of the SHAPE America National Health Education Council, a trainer for SHAPE America Professional Development, Curriculum and Content Manager at CATCH Global Foundation, and an adjunct professor at Southern Connecticut State University. If MIchelle’s writing has inspired you, consider writing a microblog post of your own to be shared with the global audience of slowchathealth.com.
Pair this post with:
Advocate Like a Physical Education Teacher by Dr. Lisa Paulson
This Is Not Your Parents’ Health Class by Andy Milne
From Back Row to Center Stage by Matt Hagedorn
The Importance of Creating a Full Value Contract With Your Students by Michelle Rawcliffe
#slowchathealth 