3 Essays on Interventions that Intersect Health and Education

Abstract

Health and education are fundamentally linked, with each significantly impacting and relying on the other. Scholars have recognized the potential to enhance health outcomes through educational interventions and the benefits of integrating health-focused initiatives within schools. Consequently, both the US federal government and state governments have invested in programs that bridge health and education sectors to address diverse issues. This dissertation examines health-focused interventions in educational settings to contribute to our understanding of the implementation and efficacy of these efforts. Chapter 1 leverages a 1-to-1 matched comparison design and logistic regression to examine the effects of one of the most widely used home visiting programs on birth outcomes and perinatal health behaviors. Chapter 2 maps the presence of school-based federal resources in Tennessee and uses linked, longitudinal health and education data to estimate the effects of these resources on student health and education outcomes. Chapter 3 analyzes semi-structured interviews with Tennessee Coordinated School Health Directors to understand student needs, school-based health-focused efforts, barriers to health across K-12 schools. Together, these chapters can inform policy and contribute toward state and federal government efforts to support health across a range of settings.