Student athletes aren't the only ones getting concussions — and needing classroom help

To protect the heads of football players, it might be advisable to have them occasionally practice without head protection, according to a counterintuitive new study of a successful Division I football program.

Research has shown the importance of infant-primary caregiver attachment for the future of the child's cognitive ability, emotional health, and parent relationship. Infant Mental Health Specialists and other practitioners have emphasized programs and techniques to improve this relationship, for example infant massage classes, and specifically tailored interventions.

In 2014, Disneyland experienced a measles outbreak that was linked back to the alarmingly low vaccination rates among Californian children. Following this outbreak, California passed a law that removed two of the most commonly used vaccination exemptions: personal belief exemptions, and conditional exemptions. Two years later, most children in California attend schools that meet herd immunity standards, and the chances of another outbreak are minimal.

Founded in 2015, the Center for Good Food Purchasing offers a unique model for making school lunch healthier, cheaper, and more sustainable. Partnering with school districts and other local and national organizations, the Center outlines five core values to which schools must commit. Jill Harkins writes, "The big idea driving the work is that large institutions like governments and schools buy a lot of food ... and so they have the power to shift the market toward higher quality, more environmentally-sustainable and fair food." The approach has taken off in LA - can the same happen in Philadelphia?

Research has found that physical movement, such as dance, can be an affective treatment and rehabilitation for people with Parkinson’s Disease. The Dance Well Initiative brings people with Parkinson’s, as well as community members, together to stage dance performances in gallery spaces as treatment and a creative response to the surrounding art.

Schools are often the most efficient place to provide mental health services to children; as the number of professionals who provide these services in schools dwindles, tele-conferencing and virtual visits are filling the gap. Often connected with health care access in rural spaces, tele-mental health services have also been proven as effective in urban areas, especially for follow-up and dosage adjustments. The University of Maryland's telemedicine program and Health E-Access, a program administered by the University of Rochester, are finding success with the approach.

School-based health centers provide free services including flu shots, physicals, contraceptive care and reproductive education, talk therapy and behavioral health care to students. Research has found that these school-based clinics boost vaccination rates, reduce hospital visits, lower rates of teen pregnancy and depression and improve grades and attendance levels, all while reducing disparities and making healthcare more accessible.

Accelerated by the First Point Foundation, a growing movement is working to increase the number of high school and college men's volleyball programs, a sport dominated by women's programs.

The Carolina Athletics Mental Health and Performance Psychology Program works with university sport teams in weekly sports psychology meetings, where student athletes can discuss their mental health concerns and learn ways to overcome them. The Program currently has three licensed mental health clinicians on staff and hopes to hire more.

Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are life-saving tools in sudden cardiac emergencies, but many students don’t know how to use them. After Michael T. Ellessar, a Massachusetts high school student, died suddenly of cardiac arrest at a high school football game, “Michael’s Law” was passed, requiring schools to practice their cardiac response throughout the year. Several other organizations and legislation have emerged to increase AED presence and use in schools, as only five states currently have mandated AED drills.