I want to call my elected officials about healthy schools
Decide who you want to call. At the federal level, that may include your senator and representative.
Find the contact information for your senator and representative.
Contact your senator (every state has two senators)
Select your state from the drop down menu
The site will provide contact information for both of your senators.
Contact your representative.
Visit https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
Enter your zip code.
The site will provide contact information for your Member of Congress. Note: if your zip voide is covered by more than one representative, the site will ask for the four digit extension of your zip code.
Click on your representative’s name.
On the top of the representative's home page, click contact to access a phone number.
Make the call
When you call your senator or representative's office, the call will likely be answered by a staff member.
Tell the staff member that you are a constituent who lives in the district who cares about creating healthy schools and wishes to discuss this issue with the appropriate staff member. If the appropriate staff member is not available at that time, ask if there is someone else to speak with.
When a staff member joins the call, reiterate that you are a constituent who lives in the district who cares about creating healthy schools, specifically healthy schools that recognize and advance the mental, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of students and school staff as a fundamental strategy to effective learning.
Refer to sample talking points below:
Education is key to life-long success.
Research shows that poor health leads to poor learning outcomes. On average, students with poor health miss school more often, may be less engaged, and have impaired ability to learn.
A healthy school recognizes and advances the mental, physical, social, and emotional wellbeing of students and school staff as a fundamental strategy to effective learning. These schools prioritize creating systems, policies, and practices, and facilities that promote health, safety, and equity to ensure student success is defined by positive outcomes in both health and learning.
Healthy schools are an important equity strategy. They create the conditions necessary for students and school staff to thrive by focusing planning and resources on a shared vision for school success.
Evidence-based policies to create healthy schools are a smart investment as they drive efficient use of resources.
Healthy schools provide students and families in low-income communities with the services, supports, and opportunities that are broadly available to middle-class and affluent communities.