The Health and Safety Committee works with local units in educating and providing programs for their communities. The Committee’s goals are to reduce risky behaviors and increase good health among all of Virginia’s children by promoting concepts of safety prevention and health wellness among PTAs, and effect laws and regulations to insure the health and safety of Virginia’s children and communities. The scope of the committee’s work includes, but is not limited to issues dealing with childhood obesity, physical activity, healthy lifestyles, food allergies, environmental protection, violent
games and videos, gang activity, juvenile crime and justice, truancy, risky relationships, homelessness, runaways, missing and exploited children, conflict resolution, childhood accident prevention, substance abuse, and teenage drivers.

This is accomplished through training and resources provided to local units; helping local units and/or individuals write and submit PTA Legislative Action Items and Resolutions; fostering communication between local units and the State Board of Managers.

State Committee Focus:
• Encourage local units and councils to have functioning Health and Safety Committees, and to provide them with the information and resources needed to get started and to operate at their fullest potential
• Provide training to local units on PTA sponsored programs dealing with current Health and Safety issues
• Encourage councils, local units, and individuals to be involved in the PTA legislative process in the area of Health and Safety
• Seek funds (grants and/or business partnerships) for local unit school health projects
• Represent Virginia PTA on coalitions and organizations regarding healthy and safety issues
• Speak for PTA at public hearings in regards to children and adolescent health and safety issues
• Work in cooperation with other Virginia PTA committees on related health risks and safety issues

Local Unit Focus:
• Establish a Health and Safety Committee that will provide programs that meet the needs of their community
• The committee should encourage membership from parents, local business persons, and school administration, teachers, clergy, and health care professionals. The committee should submit a written evaluation of their program
• Perform a survey of community to assess the type of programs and initiatives that will best serve its constituency, provides communication, information, and programs for its community
• Utilize the legislation program to remain up to date with current health and safety issues by working with the community and/or individuals to promote change through the PTA’s legislative process
• Become focused on health issues such as Childhood Obesity, Physical Fitness, Environment, Clean Air, Immunization, Vision Screenings, Tobacco, Second Hand Smoke, Alcohol, and School Nursing.
• Become focused on safety issues such as Violence, Violent Videos, Gangs, truancy, risky relationships, homelessness, runaways, missing, bus safety, childhood accident prevention, substance abuse, and teenage drivers.
• Plan activities in support of the National Day of Concern About Young People and Gun Violence which will be held in October 2005. This program, which has the support and promotion of the National and State PTA, affords students in all grade levels an opportunity to sign the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence. This pledge promises never to bring a gun to school, never to use a gun to settle a dispute, and to use their influence to keep friends from using guns to settle disputes.

Email: healthandsafety@vapta.org