Empowering Our Youth: Using school-based programs to increase knowledge and self-efficacy among youth to make positive behavior choices.

The role that schools play in the health of our youth is of public health significance because they have the ability to provide health services directly to children and affect health outcomes. Many of today's health challenges among youth are onset by behavioral choices that they make. Schools are in the unique position to make an impact on behavioral choices through the use of health education programs and services. As adolescent issue become more complex, it is essential for schools to take on a comprehensive school health education program. The comprehensive approach focuses on increasing knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior intention, while providing an environment that is conducive to maintaining and sustaining positive health behaviors into adulthood. This paper advocates for the use of comprehensive health education programs to target adolescent problem areas and increase overall health and well-being. The main concept and theme in this paper is establishing, improving, and increasing self-efficacy using comprehensive school health programs to address the particular needs of adolescents based on theories of health behavior change that are discussed throughout the paper. Evidence from successful school-based programs suggests that the comprehensive approach is powerful in increasing knowledge, self-efficacy, and behavior intention/change. Policies need to be centered on improving school health, and schools also need to take the initiative to implement a strong framework into their systems. An increase in morbidity and mortality among adolescents suggests the need for continued coordinated efforts in order to decrease negative behaviors that may carry into adulthood