In the midst of the pandemic, Healthier Kids Foundation made the timely decision expand their programming to include Universal, School-Based Wellness Checks for students through the My HealthFirst program. This effort shifted Healthier Kids Foundation’s existing suite of preventive health screenings toward a whole child approach, because we know a student’s emotional wellbeing is just as important to their ability to learn in and outside of the classroom, as their physical health is.

The purpose of the My HealthFirst program is to identify students with unmet social and emotional needs and assist them—along with their family—in accessing supportive services. To do so, Healthier Kids Foundation provides universal, school-based Wellness Checks and individualized care coordination for students who are identified with unmet need.

A Wellness Check is a brief, 15-minute, conversation with a physician where students answer questions about how they’ve been doing over the last seven days. The questions focus on students’ strengths, emotions and thoughts. Based on how the student responds, there may be support offered immediately or within the following days.

Parents may be contacted by a Healthier Kids Foundation, who will collaborate with them to identify supportive opportunities and resources for the student and the family. Together, parents will have guidance to decide on next steps that help their child through a difficult time, to receive community-based resources or even parenting tips that can help everyone in the family.