Promoting School Connectedness

School connectedness, or a sense of belonging to the school environment, is an established protective factor for child and adolescent health, education, and social well-being. A growing body of evidence indicates that a whole-school approach, such as the health-promoting school model, is effective for promoting school connectedness. A whole-school approach builds school connectedness through curriculum, teaching and learning; school policy, organisation, ethos and environment and through partnerships between school staff, students, families and health service and community agency representatives. A strong partnership between health and education sectors at a local, state and national level is important to support school communities to adopt the approach. This monograph is important for school teachers, school counselors, educational administrators and health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, school nurses, and health promotion and public health professionals working with schools.