School-based health promotion: An introduction to the practitioner's edition

In this age of increasing professional accountability, it is important that school practitioners engage in evidence-based practices. In support of this goal, the intent of this special issue is to disseminate practical, user-friendly, evidenced-based information related to school-based health issues. This article introduces the Psychology in the Schools "Practitioner's Edition" on school-based health promotion. A conceptual framework for the issue, encompassing universal prevention strategies and tertiary intervention strategies, is described. First, school practitioners have unique opportunities to promote healthy behavior for all children and to engage in universal prevention of common health conditions. Second, practitioners should recognize the special needs of children with specific diagnosed medical conditions and employ individualized intervention strategies for these children. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.