Establishing Healthy School Cultures in Under-Resourced Texas Communities

August 13, 2024  | By Hannah Gilbert

CATCH and H-E-B Extend their Partnership through 2027

Over the past four years, the physical and mental well-being of youth in America has experienced ongoing, deeply impactful transformations along with their school learning environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chronic absenteeism, measured as the percentage of students who miss 10 percent or more of a school year, has increased significantly during this time. Data from the American Enterprise Institute’s Return 2 Learn Tracker reveals that as of 2023, absenteeism rates persist at levels 71% higher than before the pandemic. Additionally, research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that less than a quarter of adolescents in the U.S. are meeting the recommended guidelines for daily physical activity, and nearly one-third of adolescents experience poor mental health.

As school communities continue to navigate these challenging times, the need for innovative solutions that help foster a healthy school culture as well as school connectedness is clear.

A healthy school culture recognizes the significance of health and wellness in student learning and development, and actively integrates these elements into school policies, environments, instruction, and messaging. This approach inherently fosters school connectedness as students understand that adults and their peers care about their overall well-being. When youth feel connected to their school and others, this empowers them to be their healthiest selves, and thus promotes them to thrive academically and socially.

In March of 2022, we partnered with H-E-B, a San Antonio based supermarket chain, to establish the CATCH Rural Texas Initiative. Residents in rural areas experience significant disparities in mental health outcomes in part due to limited access to health education, support, and services. Understanding this need, along with our previous successes in rural school communities, our initiative aimed to deliver educational resources that prioritize student physical health and mental well-being in underserved schools in rural Texas where H-E-B has a presence.

From March 2022 to June 2024, we successfully provided professional development and program resources to 238 educators from 116 K-8 schools across 14 rural Texas school districts serving over 46,000 students. This includes two signature CATCH Whole Child Wellness programs: CATCH PE Journeys and CATCH SEL Journeys. These programs have been methodically developed to enhance student physical activity participation, foster social connections, and empower students to better understand and successfully navigate their health, well-being, and emotions. This holistic approach contributes to improved academic performance and promotes positive life outcomes.

An educator from Belton ISD shared, “Have fun, start small and build to higher steps.” This sentiment, also felt by others, reflects the insights that participants gained from professional development, CATCH PE Principles & Philosophy, and also mirrors the approach embraced by our initiative with H-E-B.

By introducing enjoyable and accessible educational activities through professional development, we enable educators to progressively build upon their skills to create a supportive school environment where students feel connected and can thrive.

Over the next three school years, through 2027, our partnership with H-E-B aims to reach 60 additional under-resourced rural schools in target communities across Texas. We are thankful for our partnership with H-E-B and look forward to creating positive change in the minds, hearts, and bodies of students and educators.

To learn more about H-E-B, please visit their website.