It takes a Village to Raise a Healthy Child: Leveraging public health departments to create a school wellness network across Nebraska
Jan 20, 2016
It takes a Village to Raise a Healthy Child:
Leveraging public health departments to create a school
wellness network across Nebraska
Let’s Get to Know Each Other
Agenda
What is Action for Healthy Kids Why school wellness Tools for schools How health departments can help Share school health needs assessment results Facilitated brainstorming- where can I build capacity and how
does this fit into my role and responsibilities Large group Q and A
WHAT IS ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS?
Who We Are
Action for Healthy Kids® (AFHK) fights childhood obesity, undernourishment and physical inactivity by helping schools become healthier places so kids can lead healthier lives.
Our goal is to create school communities where children learn how to make healthy choices from the minute they walk in the front door to the minute they leave at the end of the school day.
Who We Are
WHY SCHOOL HEALTH?
Why Schools?
Good Food + Active Bodies = Kids Equipped for Success
Healthy Kids Learn Better
Unless we take action today, about half of these kids will be obese adults ─ and counted among the millions of new cases of diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
The Problem
Look around a kindergarten classroom.
One out of three children are overweight or obese.
On a given day 30-40% of children and adolescents eat fast food.
Children spend more than 7.5 hours a day in front of a screen for non-school purposes.
Kids view more than 40,000 commercials on TV each year and 87% of the food and beverages they see are for unhealthy foods.
Only one in three children are physically active every day.
Only six states require physical education at every grade level.
The Challenge
Institute of Medicine, President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition, American Pyschological Association
Obese18.7%
Over-weight17.1%
Healthy weight62.1%
Under-weight2.2%
Prevalence of obesity among Nebraska students in grades 1, 4,
7, and 10
2010-2011 Youth BMI Surveillance Project Report: www.dhhs.ne.gov/NAFH/PANstats.htm
35.8% of NE students are overweight or obese (2010-2011)
Percentage of 9th-12th grade students consuming fruits and
vegetables during the past weekThe Learning Connection:Undernourished children tend to have low energy, are often irritable, and have difficulty concentrating.
Percentage of 9-12th grade students who reported being
physically active for 60 minutes/ day in the past week
• Exercise increases brain activity – even just a short 20-minute walk
• Other research shows obesity may have negative effects on thinking
Physical Activity Matters to Your Brain, Too
Schools are a big part of the solution
Schools reach most children and adolescents.
Children spend around 1,200 hours per year in school.
Teachers, school staff and parent volunteers are key role models.
Curriculum standards for health include nutrition and physical education.
School teach kids what we value and what is important in our community.
TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS
Every Kid Healthy Equation
School Action Plans
►School Health Index ► Training► Webinars
School wellness policy
The role of PTO in student wellness
Programs and Practices
► Game On! and Fuel Up to Play 60► Funding for alternative breakfast
School- Family- Community Partnerships
► Technical Assistance ► Experts in a variety of fields/ topics
HOW PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS CAN HELP
Opportunity to collaborate
Healthy communities Healthy kidsSchools
Public Health Departments
Action for Healthy Kids
School Health Index (SHI)
Complete SHI & Receive Customized Action Plan
Health-certified schools
The HealthierUS School Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms is a national certification/recognition initiative recognizing schools that have created healthier school environments through the promotion of nutrition and physical activity.
Schools can apply for various levels and there is even a financial incentive for schools that have been awarded.*
*As long as funds are available
Focus areas
Formation of school health teams School Health Index Assessment Drafting and evaluating school wellness policies Implementing programs like Game On! and Fuel Up
to Play 60 to initiate healthier practices Funding alternative breakfast programs Providing training/funding for healthy fundraising,
safe and healthy classroom celebrations and active events to engage parents
SCHOOL HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY RESULTS
School Health Needs Assessment
School Health Needs Assessment
School Health Needs Assessment
School Health Needs AssessmentQ7: In what ways could your public health department work with schools if provided adequate resources? (Check all that apply.)
School Health Needs Assessment
Select feedback: “It would be good for all of us to be working
together toward school/community wellness. Thank you for asking the question.”
“I've been part of NE AFHK since 2005. A lot of our local schools are part of it too. Let's continue to build the partnership with engaging parents and the community as well.”
“We absolutely do not have the capacity.”
BREAK-OUT INTO GROUPS & ANSWER:Where can I build capacity and how does this fit into my role and responsibilities?
WRAP-UPYou’ve got questions, I’ve got (some) answers
Get started today!
Contact:Ashley CarrollState CoordinatorAction for Healthy Kidsacarroll@actionfor healthykids.org(402) 708-6860
School Programs Tools and Resources Expert Partners Volunteer Opportunities School Grants
ActionforHealthyKids.org