The Healthy Schools Approach is based on the 4-step Healthy Schools Process, inspired by the Canadian Healthy School Standards and Canada’s Comprehensive School Health Framework.
A Healthy School is one where school staff, parents, students, and community agencies work together to share ideas, plan and take action to create an environment that will have a positive impact on children’s health and learning. A Healthy Schools Approach follows the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework.
2025–26 Healthy Schools Recognition Program
The Healthy Schools Recognition Program (launched in September 2025) is an evolution of the former Healthy Schools Certification program and is delivered in partnership with Ever Active Schools, Ophea and PHE Canada, all founding members of the Canadian Healthy Schools Alliance.
This new, flexible model empowers schools to start their Healthy Schools journey at any time — with no points, certification levels, audits or timelines.
Schools follows four simple steps:
- Identify priority areas
- Develop a Healthy Schools plan
- Reflect through guided questions
- Share your school’s story
Each school’s story will be captured and celebrated through a personalized infographic at the end of the process.
WDG Public Health will award up to 20 eligible schools with a Healthy Schools Grant valued at $300. To apply for a grant, schools must register for the Healthy Schools Recognition Program and complete the WDG Healthy Schools grant application.
Youth Empowering Students for Mental Health (YES4MH)
YES4MH fits within the Healthy Schools Approach to improve the mental health and well-being of students and staff in Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph (WDG) by creating safe and welcoming school environments through student engagement and leadership. YES4MH is tailored to create a supportive and resilient school and community environment for youth in secondary schools in WDG.
YES4MH Vision & Goals
- Promote mental health & well-being.
- Improve mental health literacy & reduce stigma.
- Increase awareness of resources & supports.
- Build capacity to create a supportive and resilient school.
5-Step Process
To help guide students and staff in planning and implementing activities to help make their school a mentally healthy community, a 5-Step Process (PDF) has been developed.
Adapted and reproduced with permission of Public Health, Region of Peel.
Please note that the Youth Empowering Students for Mental Health (YES4MH) school grants are being piloted in select schools only for the 2025-26 school year and not available for open application.
You’re the Chef Program
You’re the Chef (YTC) is a 6-week food skills program that develops the skills and confidence of students in grades 5-8 in preparing tasty recipes emphasizing fruits and vegetables. YTC can be part of your Healthy Schools Approach or a stand-alone program. Public Health provides training once a year in the fall for school staff who are interested in running the program in their school. YTC grants to help cover the cost of food will be awarded to schools that have been trained and are interested in providing the program in their school.
Staff who have previously been trained in YTC and are interested in implementing the program are encouraged to visit the You’re the Chef website to apply for 2025-26 school grants.
To learn more about school grants, contact Client and Community Support at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006 or email clientcommunitysupport@wdgpublichealth.ca.