Want to make a big impact in your community’s health and wellness? Join your local school health advisory council (SHAC).
SHACs address all aspects of their school district’s school health program, from nutrition and fitness to health education to a safe school environment. Physicians and TMA Alliance members have a unique perspective on health and well-being and can provide a scientific approach to these issues.
SHACs are volunteer advisory groups of community members appointed by the school district. Every school district is required by law to establish a SHAC. The council’s purpose is to ensure community values and local health issues are reflected in the district’s health education policies and instructions. SHACs work directly with local schools, school boards, school districts, and state agencies.
.jpg "Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, Smith County Medical Society")
How to Get Involved The first step is to find out if your local school district has an active SHAC. The Texas Education Agency
AskTED website can help you locate your school district contact information. Contact the superintendent’s office or do a web search to find out if your district has an active council. Based on that information, you should be able to determine your next step – reach out to the SHAC to attend a meeting, request an application to join, or start your own SHAC if one doesn’t exist.
Visit the TMA website for more information on how our members are getting involved in SHACs.
Learn More From Your Colleagues
Several members of TMA’s Council on Health Promotion have direct experience with their district SHAC and discuss it in a Texas Medicine magazine article,
“The ABCs of Health.” “SHAC members can have a direct impact on choices made by decisionmakers.”
- Julie Cowan, Travis County Medical Alliance
“SHAC input can affect wide-ranging policies, including those that affect physical education, nutrition, anti-bullying efforts, staff wellness, suicide prevention, tobacco use, and sex education.”
- Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, Smith County Medical Society
For more information, email
Pam Udall, VP, Communications and Marketing.