Vision
The VCHETRC envisions a society of healthy and productive children and youth, along with their communities.

Mission
The Virginia Comprehensive Health Education Training and Resource Center provides staff development, technical assistance, evaluation and research, and resources for the benefit of children and youth, as well those in the community that work with and care for them.

An Overview
Located on the campus of Longwood University, the VCHETRC has received funding (state and federal) since 1998 to provide in-service training throughout the Commonwealth for teachers, instructional specialists, administrators, nurses, counselors, resource officers, social workers, parents, community-based educators, and other school personnel.  Training sessions cover a variety of critical health issues, effective instructional methodology, and sample assessments.  Content and skills learned in these sessions may be useful for educators in multiple classroom settings.  The VCHETRC also organizes meetings on health-related topics for state agencies and organizations.  The school health topics addressed at these meetings and staff development sessions include Family Life Education (FLE), prevention of HIV infection, and character education; preventing suicide, and violence against others; disaster preparedness, CPR, First Aide, and AED training; nutrition, and promoting good health practices; educating students with special needs; and grant writing.  The VCHETRC has a distinguished cadre of trainers to provide workshops on statewide, regional, school division, community, or school levels.  (Click to go to a page with pictures and brief descriptions/locations of the trainers). 

VCHETRC has worked with several state agencies (Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services) to conduct periodic research projects and evaluations: for example, School Health Education Profile (SHEP) Survey, School Tobacco Survey, School Health Advisory Board Annual Summary Report, Physical Activities Media Campaign Survey, School Health Profile Survey, and local, regional, and state workshop summary reports. 
In addition to its strong emphasis on effective instruction, staff development, and assessment,

VCHETRC provides technical assistance on many local, state, and national issues.  Technical assistance is offered through its searchable database of printed, visual, and audio resources; e-mail and phone communication; and on-site sessions as requested. 

The VCHETRC is committed to helping school and community personnel provide quality health instruction and coordinated school health programs across the Commonwealth. 

VCHETRC Staff

Director
Chrystyna Kosarchyn, PhD, CHES
Professor of Health Education
Longwood University
kosarchync@longwood.edu

Program Associate
Katie Smith, M.S.
vchetrc@longwood.edu

Evaluation Specialist
Claude Sandy, PhD
vchetrc@longwood.edu

Mentor Training Staff