- Oral Health
- Visual Health
- Sexual Health
- Active Living
- Immunizations
- Infectious Disease Prevention and Control
- Environmental Health & Safety
- Healthy Eating
- Mental Health Literacy
- Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours
- School Health Supports
- Healthy School Initiatives
- School Health Newsletters Insert
- Policy Support
Oral Health
Our dental screening program screens school children in JK, SK, and Grade 2 for oral health concerns. Screening may include children in Grade 4 and/or Grade 7 dependent on results from Grade 2 screening. When we identify a child who has dental care needs, we will provide information and resources to parents and guardians to support early treatment and care. This screening is not intended to replace routine visits to a dental health professional.
A representative from Lambton Public Health will call your school to book your screening date. Call 519-383-8331 to learn more about dental screening at your school or programs to support your students in accessing services.
Additional Resources:
Visual Health
Lambton Public Health will support schools, caregivers, and parents in accessing visual health services. Annual visits to the optometrist are covered by OHIP for children 19 years old and younger. Call 519-383-8331 to learn more about how you can support your students and families in accessing available funding for glasses.
Additional Resources:
Sexual Health
Slide decks and teaching supports are available through Lambton Public Health. Please contact healthyschools@county-lambton.on.ca to learn more.
Active Living
Active Transportation
Being active on the way to school helps prepare students for learning by improving cognitive development and brain health, as well as memory and attention in the classroom. It can also help build social connections and independence. More students walking or wheeling to school means fewer vehicles, less congestion and emissions, and improved safety.
Engage your students by participating in school-wide campaigns, such as Spring into Spring, Bike to School Week, and Winter Walk Day. Note: Lesson plans related to active transportation are available on the Curriculum Resources page.
For support increasing active transportation at your school, please contact the School Health Coordinator at healthyschools@county-lambton.on.ca.
Student Engagement Opportunity
Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS Program)
The PALS program is a student leadership program that encourages older students (e.g grades 4-6) to lead younger students (e.g. grades 1-3) in game activities over recess periods. Program benefits include increased leadership skills for student leaders, increased physical activity and physical literacy levels, increased inclusion and sense of belonging, reduced bullying and improved school climate.
See the Additional Resources section below for PALS documents (approved for use only within Ontario). Additional planning tools and templates are available from Peel Public Health.
To book facilitator training, or to seek support in offering PALS at your school, please contact the School Health Coordinator at healthyschools@county-lambton.on.ca.
We are always interested to know where the PALS program is active in our community, so let us know if you are practicing PALS at your school!
Additional Resources
- Ontario Active School Travel
- Schooltravel.ca
- School Streets
- Trail Blazers Program (Student Engagement Opportunity)
- Active Transportation Poster
- PALS Facilitator Handbook (English and French)
- PALS Student Leader Handbook (English and French)
- PALS Games Book (English and French)
Immunization
Exchange/Temporary International Students Immunization Records
A Guide for Exchange Students provides information and direction to exchange (or temporary international) students, their parents or guardians, and to exchange student agencies about immunization requirements to attend schools in the County of Lambton or Municipality of Chatham-Kent.
Exchange students attending a school in Lambton County or Chatham-Kent will only be admitted to school if their immunization status has been reviewed according to Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
New School Registrants from Outside Ontario
All new school registrants who have moved to Ontario from another province or country should be asked to submit immunization records to LPH at GetTheVaccine.ca.
LPH will follow-up with families to assess records and ensure vaccinations are up-to-date.
Immunization Suspension Cycle
As required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), public health units are mandated to conduct an annual suspension cycle to ensure students are up to date with required immunizations. Using Panorama, Ontario’s provincial immunization repository, the health unit assesses student records to determine compliance with ISPA. Parents and guardians are notified when a student is missing one or more required vaccines or does not have a valid exemption on file. If immunizations records remain incomplete after notification, a suspension order is issued by mail, directing the student not to attend school until the immunization information is updated.
Notification of School Transfer
During the suspension cycle, schools can use the Notice of School Transfer form to notify the health unit when a student has transferred to another school. This helps ensure that immunization records are updated accurately and that the suspension process is adjusted accordingly.
Grade 7 School-Based Vaccine Program
Lambton Public Health offers the Grade 7 School-Based Vaccine Program to help protect students against Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Meningococcal disease. These vaccines are provided to Grade 7 students who have a valid consent form on file and are administered over two separate school visits, at minimum 6 months apart. At this age, both the HPV and Meningococcal vaccines require two doses to complete the series.
While the Meningococcal vaccine is required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), participation in the school-based program is not mandatory. Students may also receive these vaccines through their health care provider. However, the Grade 7 program offers a convenient way to reduce access barriers and support high vaccination coverage among students.
Infectious Diseases Prevention and Control
Guide to Common Childhood Infections
Lists common childhood illnesses, IPAC measures and exclusion criteria.
School Absenteeism Reporting Form and Diseases of Public Health Significance Reportable to Public Health
Aids in the tracking of absenteeism rates to help identify and manage outbreaks
Diseases of Public Health Significance
Outlines diseases that are reportable to the Local Public Health Unit.
Environmental Health & Safety
Download and print our new 2024 Lyme Disease Brochure.
Healthy Eating
Ontario Dietitians in Public Health
Evidence based resources developed by ODPH members to support best practices related to healthy eating and nutrition in elementary and secondary schools in Ontario. English & French available.
- When We Know Better, We Do Better – A Conversation About Creating Weight-Neutral Schools – Physical and Health Education Canada
- Educator Tips to weight-Neutral Approaches and Conversations – Physical and Health Education Canada
- Beyond the Mirror – Reshaping Body Image Among Youth – Physical and Health Education Canada
- Eating Disorders Ontario – Disordered Eating Prevention
English & French resources available.
- National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) provides community education programming (virtually outside of the GTA) to teachers and school staff, parents, and students (Grade 4-12)
Youth & Community Engagement Opportunity:
You’re the Chef – Information Sheet
You’re the Chef (YTC) is a hands-on cooking program that develops the skills and confidence of students in grades 5-8 in preparing tasty recipes emphasizing fruits and vegetables. Public Health provides training sessions for school staff who are interested in running the program in their school. To implement the program in your school email healthyschools@county-lambton.on.ca for guidance, support, and grant funding opportunities.
Mental Health Literacy
Minds Connected
An online resource focused on improving access to mental health supports and services here in Lambton County.
School Mental Health Ontario
Substance Use, Addictions, and Related Behaviours
The Smoke Free Ontario Act
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act , 2017 (SFOA) is provincial legislation that places restrictions on the sale, supply, promotion, and use of tobacco and vapour products. Relating specifically to schools, the SFOA restricts smoking and the use of e-cigarettes in schools and on or within 20 metres of school property. It is also illegal to supply or sell tobacco or vapour products to anyone under the age of 19 in Ontario.
Enforcement Officers with Lambton Public Health carry out inspections and respond to complaints related to the SFOA. Upon receiving a School Offense Notification, Enforcement Officers will respond and may issue a charge, a warning, or a summons to court.
School Offense Notification Form
Reporting school tobacco/vaping/cannabis offences enables Lambton Public Health to provide early and progressive enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017. An Enforcement Officer will respond to offence notifications as soon as possible. Please provide as much information as possible below. All information is private and confidential.
Reporting Form
Handout – SFOA For Parents
Vaping & E-Cigarettes
The Tobacco Prevention Toolkit from Stanford University
A theory-based and evidence-informed resource created by educators, parents, and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of tobacco and nicotine. It includes modules and resources for vaping as well as commercial tobacco projects.
Nicotine Products
School Health Supports
How Do We Help Your School Stay Healthy?
Lambton Public Health offers a variety of resources, supports and services to schools to promote the health and well-being of students and the school community including:
- Immunization clinics, dental screenings and infectious diseases prevention and control supports.
- Health education & healthy school initiatives support and resources.
- Collaborations with parents, educators and students to build healthy school communities.
- Support for the development and implementation of school health policies.
- Partnerships with healthy school committees to promote student leadership and engagement.
To inquire about or request school health support, contact us at healthyschools@county-lambton.on.ca or call 519-383-8331 ext 3668.
Healthy School Initiatives
National Healthy Schools Week
- National Healthy Schools Week is an annual event in October to prioritize, plan, and engage your school community in Healthy School conversations at the start of the school year. This week is meant to be tailored to your unique school community, giving you the opportunity to identify opportunities that are most relevant in your context.
- Examples of how your school can get involved based on your healthy school priorities can be found on the linked NHSW website.
- Lambton Public Health teams can support your school with activities during that week. Contact healthyschools@county-lambton.on.ca for more information.
School Health Newsletter Inserts
Ready to use inserts for your school newsletter or website?
The school health newsletter inserts for parents provides up-to-date information on health-related topics for parents and guardians. Add the inserts below into your school newsletters or on your school website whenever you see the fit.
Content coming soon!
Policy Support
Erin’s Law
Erin’s Law aims to enhance child sexual abuse prevention and reporting for students, school staff, and parents and is named after child sexual abuse survivor and advocate Erin Merryn. It has been adopted in Ontario through an amendment to the Education Act.
Resources created by C3P to support implementation of Erin’s Law – protectchildren.ca
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