What Works in Schools Makes a Difference

At a glance

  • CDC's What Works in Schools program can reverse negative trends in students physical and mental health.
  • The program can also reduce behaviors that put students at increased risk of experiencing violence and suicidal thoughts.
  • These proven strategies can help more students and protect the health and well-being of young people.
A male teacher taking selfie with a group of multi racial high school students in front of classroom.

Why it matters

Over the last decade, there was an alarming increase in adolescents experiencing violence, poor mental health, and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Did you know?‎

There have been decreases in behaviors such as condom use—and HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening—that help protect adolescents' health.

What high school students experienced in 2023

Mental health and suicidality

Sexual behavior

Substance use

Violence

Source: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System and Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report: 2013-2023

Message from the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) director‎

"The data are clear. They are calling on us to do everything in our power to create safer and more supportive school environments because without them, the youth mental health crisis will continue to be unresolved."—Kathleen Ethier, PhD,
DASH Director

Also see

YRBS 2023 results
Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)
YRBSS is a set of surveys that track behaviors that can lead to poor health in high school students.

Schools play an important role in adolescent health

Schools reach millions of students every day and are critical partners in addressing adolescent health and well-being.

The What Works in Schools program uses proven public health strategies to protect the health of middle and high school students.

The program works by:

  • Improving health education.
  • Connecting young people to the health services they need.
  • Making school environments safer and more supportive.
Three circles with text inside each, saying: Quality Health Education, Health Services, Safe and Supportive Environments.
CDC's What Works in Schools program has wide-reaching effect.

CDC funding helps schools implement 3 key strategies: quality health education, health services, and safe and supportive environments. Improve mental health. Lower: sexual risk, substance use, suicidality, and violence.

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What schools can do

CDC's What Works in Schools program equips schools with the tools and resources to:

Train teachers

To better support students in their classrooms.

Link students

To programs that foster positive connection and engagement.

Create inclusive school environments

To support all students.

Deliver quality health education

That teaches key skills, like consent.

Connect students

To needed services.

Every student deserves a healthy start

CDC's school-based data and programs are making a difference in students' lives every day. However, only about 8% of the 26 million middle and high school students nationwide have access to the What Works in Schools program.

With added investments of less than $10 per student, CDC could expand the program to schools in all 50 states and 75 school districts. This expansion could improve young peoples' mental health and could also reduce substance use, sexual risk behavior, and experiences of violence.

Visual showing that instead of reaching only 2 million students, a small added investment could reach 6.5 million.
Scaling up What Works in Schools: a small investment goes a long way.

If more school districts implement What Works in Schools, more students could benefit. Specifically, students could have the protections of quality health education, increased access to needed health services, and safe and supportive environments.

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Content Source:
Adolescent and School Health; National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP)