Department of Education
Dr. Tim Webb, Commissioner
"Celebration of Life" Service for Connie Hall Givens
A "Celebration of Life" Service for Connie Hall Givens will be conducted in Nashville on January 13, 2010 in the War Memorial Building auditorium. The WMA is located at 301 6th Avenue North. The family will receive friends and colleagues at 3 PM CST followed by the Celebration of Life service at 4 PM.
Ms. Givens, who passed away on November 29, was a champion for the children of Tennessee and the wife of state Agriculture Commissioner Ken Givens. She was a native of Hawkins County and was employed by the Tennessee Department of Education. Her life's mission was the improvement of children's health through the Coordinated School Health initiative conducted by the Department of Education.
The family wishes to thank everyone who sent cards, thoughts, prayers, flowers and memorial contributions.
About the Office of Coordinated School Health
The Office of Coordinated School Health (OCSH) was established by the Tennessee Department of Education in February, 2001. The primary mission of the office is to improve student health outcomes as well as support the connection between good health practices, academic achievement, and lifetime wellness. OCSH partners with the Tennessee Department of Health - Office of School Health. With the passage of TCA 49-1-1002 in 2000, authorization and funding for CSH was established. Additional funding has been provided by a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Education reforms have not succeeded in improving the performance of all students, particularly those who do not arrive at school ready to learn. Coordinated School Health encourages healthy lifestyles, provides needed supports to at-risk students, and helps to reduce the prevalence of health problems that impair academic success.
Coordinated School Health
(CSH) is an effective system designed
to connect health (physical, emotional and social) with education.
This coordinated approach improves students' health and their capacity to learn
through the support of families, communities and schools working together.
The CSH approach consists of eight major components. By definition, all Coordinated
School Health components work together to improve the lives of students and
their families. Although these components are listed separately, it is their
composite that allows CSH to have significant impact. The eight components
include: health education, physical education/physical activity, health services,
nutrition services, health promotion for staff, counseling and psychological
services, healthy school environment and student/parent/community involvement.
Governor's Project Diabetes 
