Success Stories: Communicating the School Health Message

Background: Thirteen school district teams from Michigan and Indiana participated in the Michiana Coordinated School Health Leadership Institute with the intent of Coordinated School Health Program (CSHP) implementation. The study purpose was to analyze the utilization of success stories for documenting CSHP achievements. Methods: Throughout the three-year Institute, teams were introduced to the process of sharing success stories with school and community stakeholders and provided a common format for crafting stories. To conceptualize stories, data were analyzed via content analysis. Results: Success stories primarily focused on four CSHP components: physical education and activity, food and nutrition services, family and community involvement, and staff wellness. “Success” was typically defined through four avenues: receipt of grants and financial support, high participation rates, requests for followup events, and community support. Discussion: Stories are an effective strategy for communicating school health messages and successes. They provide advantages for both authors and audience members. For authors, composing a story may be a less intimidating process that does not require an extensive skill set. For audience members, the structure provides a memorable story line. This study helps substantiate the use of success stories as a practical tool for articulating and disseminating the importance of CSHP.