Building Healthy Habits this Back-to-School Season 

Image shows a playground with colorful slides and monkey bars As summer comes to an end and back to school season is right around the corner, it’s important to establish healthy routines for children. Keep reading to learn about these four foundational parts of a healthy routine: choosing healthy after-school snacks, limiting screen time at night, encouraging exercise, and making sleep a priority.   Additionally, keep reading to learn about how Medicaid, a government healthcare program, can play a role in supporting health and well-being of students this school year!  Tips for a healthy routine:  Medicaid and its Impact on Students:  Many students and families utilize Medicaid to access healthcare services. Medicaid provides coverage for preventative care, doctor’s office visits, vaccinations, mental health support, and more. Making sure that students have access to Medicaid if they need it supports their health, which in turn can set them up for academic success. Everyone with Medicaid will need to renew their coverage in the coming year. This did not happen the last three years. Insurance can be confusing, but free, unbiased help is available from Indiana Certified Navigators. Find a navigator near you at https://in-fssa.force.com/HCNav/.  For any Medicaid questions, print resources, or more information, reach out directly to Elizabeth Sons, MHS School Based Service Administrator and Chair of the Indiana Healthy Schools Action Team, at Elizabeth.sons@mhsindiana.com  As you and your student prepare for back-to-school season, keep these tips in mind to establish healthy habits and hit the ground running for another great school year!