The United States Departments of Education and Health and Human Services (the “Departments”) recently issued a joint policy letter emphasizing the importance of improving school-based health through the use of partnerships between health and education agencies.  The Departments’ letter highlighted the critical role of partnerships in “increasing access to health care and quality education that [could] narrow disparities, promote achievement, and build a reliable system of support for every young person.”  The letter encouraged education and health stakeholders to work in tandem to:

  • increase access to health insurance to promote better academic outcomes;
  • create school environments with the physical and mental health supports to help students succeed academically and lead healthy lives; and
  • strengthen coordination and collaboration between health and education systems at the local and state levels.

To assist states, local school districts and health agencies in this endeavor, the Departments shared five “high-impact opportunities” to collaboratively address health and education disparties.  For each opportunity, the Departments detailed practical action steps and considerations, provided a research-based rationale, highlighted an implementing school district or school and offered links to additional resources and materials.

The full text of the Departments’ letter and the toolkit can be found here and here, respectively.

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Photo of Anne H. Littlefield Anne H. Littlefield

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration…

Anne represents schools in labor relations, employment and education law, including collective bargaining, personnel policies and practices, constitutional law, special education, student discipline, freedom of information, and education policies. She negotiates collective bargaining agreements on behalf of schools, including representation in interest arbitration proceedings as needed. Anne works with schools to address issues such as bullying and sexual harassment. She is often called upon to advise schools regarding professional boundaries and child abuse and neglect issues.  In her role as general counsel to boards of education around the state, Anne facilitates self-evaluation and goal-setting sessions. She also leads Shipman & Goodwin’s model policy project, which provides policy support and guidance to a number of school districts.

Anne serves as General Counsel to Shipman & Goodwin. From 2010 through 2017, she was Co-Chair of the firm’s School Law Practice Group, and from 2011 through 2017, she served on the firm’s seven-member Management Committee.