Champion for Community Schools at the Wellness Conference

Community schools serve as powerful hubs for education, healthcare, and social services. This session explored how to embed population health initiatives in schools, build cross-sector partnerships, and address social determinants of health. Participants gained practical strategies to develop sustainable, equity-driven wellness programs that reduce disparities and support academic success. We also highlighted collaborative leadership and the use of the Vital Conditions Framework to foster inclusive engagement among students, families and educators.

The Vital Conditions Framework is a guiding model to support and strengthen community schools across California and beyond.

With over 100 passionate educators, staff, and alliance partners, I asked a simple question: How would you define a community school?

Many of us agreed —community schools are hubs for resources, champions for the whole child, and centers for equity, unity, and healing.

We used the Vital Conditions Framework to ground our work in a shared understanding of what every person needs to thrive—basic needs like humane housing, lifelong learning, meaningful work and wealth, and a sense of belonging. This framework helps us ensure that health equity and wellness are not afterthoughts, but central pillars in the design of sustainable, inclusive community schools.

I appreciate the group's engagement and the discussions that reminds us that community schools are more than a model—they are key to ensure support and opportunities for everyone - regardless where they come from. hashtag#wellness hashtag#healthequity hashtag#schools hashtag#communityschools @thewellcon