Rising rates of violence, teen pregnancy, child suicide, poverty, and youth crime are providing a wake-up call for educators and communities. This handbook is the culminating effort of a project designed to improve health programs in small, rural schools. Of the 16,000 school districts in the United States, more than one-half are small and rural; children in these rural districts are more likely to be poor, face greater obstacles in obtaining health care, and receive fewer school services, when compared to children in non-rural districts. This book provides a practical tool to use in planning, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive school/community health program. It is based on the premise that health is at the heart of success for children. The text is divided into three parts. In Part I, ideas for planning and organizing local health initiatives are presented. Tips on organizing people, setting goals and action plans, and ways to evaluate progress are given. Part II, Ideas for Comprehensive School and Community Health, highlights eight areas of comprehensive health, including environment, staff wellness, support services, physical education, and other factors. Resource ideas are presented in Part III, with ideas on troubleshooting and lists of community resources. (RJM)