The Office of Coordinated School Health (OCSH) was established by the Tennessee Department of Education in February 2001. The primary mission of the office is to improve student health outcomes as well as support the connection between good health practices, academic achievement, and lifetime wellness. OCSH partners with the Tennessee Department of Health - Office of School Health. With the passage of TCA 49-1-1002 in 2000, authorization and funding for CSH were established. State funding provided support for ten pilot sites. In 2006, Public Chapter 1001 - the Coordinated School Health Expansion and Physical Activity Law, established authority and funding ($15 million) to expand CSH statewide. Additional funding has been provided by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The Coordinated School Health Program for the Gibson County Special School District (GCSSD) is in the twenty-first year of operation. Currently, the Coordinated School Health Program (CSH) is serving nine schools located throughout Gibson County. This program is based upon the integrated, eight component model for school health as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
