The
linkages between a student's health and a student's ability to learn
have been well established. Children who are sick stay home; and,
children at home cannot learn if they are not in school leading to
increased dropout rates among other educational outcomes. However, an
understanding of this concept is just the beginning of understanding
how education and public health are inextricably linked.
In
light of this, Linking
Health and Education for African American Students' Success
examines health disparities and education inequities simultaneously
and moves beyond a basic understanding of health and education in
K-12 school programs. The structural inequalities which lead to
reduced academic attainment mirror the social determinants of health.
Education is one of the most powerful determinants of health, and
disparities in educational achievement as a result of structural
inequalities closely track disparities in health. These disparities
lead to both sub-standard healthcare and reduced academic attainment
among children from underserved minorities in the United States,
especially African Americans.
This
book discusses how this may result in children with poorer mental
health outcomes; higher school dropout rates; increased risks of
arrests and incarceration; higher rates of chronic diseases and
mortality; and overall diminished opportunities for success, while
providing suggestions as to how to address these issues. This results
in an insightful read for researchers, academics and practitioners in
the fields of healthcare and education