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Addressing Childhood Obesity Through School Wellness Policies

Addressing Childhood Obesity Through School Wellness Policies. Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, MS, RD Executive Director. Overview. Background on Action for Healthy Kids Details on wellness policy mandate Challenges and opportunities for assistance. Rising to the Challenge … Action for Healthy Kids.

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Addressing Childhood Obesity Through School Wellness Policies

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  1. Addressing Childhood Obesity Through School Wellness Policies Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, MS, RD Executive Director

  2. Overview • Background on Action for Healthy Kids • Details on wellness policy mandate • Challenges and opportunities for assistance

  3. Rising to the Challenge…Action for Healthy Kids • Only nonprofit organization formed specifically to address the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes at school • A private-public partnership formed as a response to the Surgeon General’s “Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity” • Vision: Schools provide an environment that fosters the development of lifelong habits of good nutrition and physical activity for all children • This is aimed at: • Slowing the rate of increase in overweight and obesity, • Leading to the prevention of overweight and obesity in youth, and • Enhancing the learning potential of each child.

  4. Our Strength is Rooted in Dedication A National Movement > 5000 volunteers 52 National Partner Organizations & Government Agencies 51 State Teams

  5. American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Pediatrics American Association of Family & Consumer Sciences American Association of School Administrators American Cancer Society American College of Spots Medicine American Diabetes Association American Dietetic Association American Federation of Teachers American Heart Association American Public Health Association American School Health Association Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Association of School Business Officials International Association of State & Territorial Chronic DiseaseProgram Directors Association of State & Territorial Health Officials Association of State & Territorial Public HealthNutrition Directors Council of Chief State School Officers Family, Career & Community Leaders of America Food Research and Action Center National Association for Sport and Physical Education National Association of Elementary School Principals National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners National Association of School Nurses National Association of Secondary School Principals National Association of State Boards of Education National Association of Student Councils National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity National Council of La Raza National Dairy Council National Education Association —Health Information Network National Future Farmers of America Organization/Foundation National Medical Association National Middle School Association National PTA National School Boards Association The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation School Nutrition Association Society for Nutrition Education Society of State Directors of Health, Physical Education and Recreation U.S. Department of Agriculture — Food andNutrition Service U.S. Department of Education — Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and National Institute of Child Health and Human Development YMCA of USA Partner Steering Committee

  6. School Wellness Policy: Why? • Reaches beyond USDA-funded meal programs to influence childhood health • Puts responsibility at the local level • Recognizes the critical role of schools in curbing the epidemic of childhood overweight • Provides an opportunity for school districts to create an environment conducive to healthy lifestyle choices

  7. Child Nutrition Reauthorization Law WHO: Every local educational agency (LEA) participating in a federal child nutrition program WHAT: Establish a local wellness policy for the LEA WHEN: Not later than June 30, 2006

  8. Minimum Requirement of Wellness Policies • Must have goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities to promote wellness • Nutrition guidelines created by the LEA for all foods available on each school campus during the school day (outside of meal program) • Nutrition guidelines for reimbursable school meals may not be less restrictive then federal regulations • Must have a plan for implementation that includes designation by LEA of 1 or more persons charged with oversight • The development of local policy must involve parents, students, school food personnel, school board, administrators, and public

  9. Development Process is Critical • Create shared vision statement and policy objectives • Assess current policies and practice • Consider unique needs of the district, the student body and community, and available resources • Seek input from experts in the community • Explore community partnerships to support efforts • Be innovative: there is no one best solution or set of solutions • Evaluate experiences over time and evolve

  10. Policy Process 1. Form Team, Assess Needs 6. Decide next steps, evolve policies 2. Develop policies nut ed, physical activity, nutrition stds, other school areas 5. Ensure accountability 4. Monitor process and evaluate 3. Promote and Implement Policies

  11. Challenges • Un-funded mandate • USDA will not monitor • Focus on performance goals • Resource limitations • Financial • Staff • Product, equipment • Support and acceptance • Students • Parents • Teachers, administrators • Community

  12. Opportunities for assistance • Awareness building – educating about wellness policy mandate, school needs for implementation • Developing School Health Advisory Councils • Program implementation • Training and technical assistance • Assess, evaluate and revise

  13. Action for Healthy Kids’ Support • Work with partner organizations to generate awareness of and support for wellness policies • Encourage and support parent and other stakeholder involvement • Provide resources for assisting in the development, implementation and evaluation of Wellness Policies • State Team developed recommendations, tools, materials for school districts • Web-based Wellness Policy tool • State Team grants to help districts implement, monitor and evaluate (Kellogg’s grant program) • Identify and disseminate model approaches to wellness practices

  14. Wellness Policy Tool • Helps districts identify policy options • Use template to create own policy by cutting and pasting language from existing or model policies from states and districts around the country www.actionforhealthykids.org/resources_wp.php

  15. Putting Wellness Practices in Place • Utilize AFHK “Best Practice” Criteria to determine best approaches for improving nutrition and physical activity at various schools • Use criteria for program development • Essential Criteria - represents level of standards that all approaches should strive for • Critical Criteria - addresses the adoptability of an approach

  16. Action for Healthy Kids Help the Greatest Number of Childrenby Changing their School Environment 800-416-5136 www.ActionForHealthyKids.org

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