School Wellness Policy

With the passing of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, school districts participating in federally subsidized child nutrition programs (e.g., National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program and AfterSchool Snack Program) will be required to establish a local school wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-07 school year. The following resources may assist schools in creating such a policy.

Overview

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 - Wellness Policy Section - This is the actual policy document that outlines the requirements of the local school wellness policy. USDA Guidance on Wellness Policy monitoring.
USDA's Team Nutrition Wellness Policy Web Pages - This site has information on policy requirements, basic steps, sample policies and other available resources.
USDA's Team Nutrition Resource Changing the Scene - This kit can help local people take action to improve their school's nutrition environment. The kit includes a variety of tools for use at the local level to raise awareness and address school environment issues that influence students' eating and physical activity practices.
HealthierUS School Challenge - USDA has established the HealthierUS School Challenge to encourage schools to create a healthy nutritional environment and to recognize those who put in extra efforts to do so. Earn a Silver or Gold level designation for your efforts. HealthierUS School Challenge 2008 criteria

Wisconsin Resources

School Wellness Policy - Broadening the Policy - This April 2005 document was created by the DPI Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team to encourage school districts to broaden their conception of student wellness beyond the mandated policy requirements.
What's Right for Kids 2 - Building a Healthy School Nutrition Environment - This 2008 DPI publication discusses the importance of adolescent nutrition and improving the school nutrition environment. Case studies from Wisconsin Team Nutrition schools are included. To order this publication contact Jill Camber Davidson, RD, CD at 608-264-6700.
What's Right for Kids - Improving the School Nutrition Environment - This 2003 DPI publication discusses the importance of adolescent nutrition and improving the school nutrition environment. Case studies from Wisconsin Team Nutrition schools are included.
Wisconsin Nutrition and Physical Activity State Plan - Provides a statewide focus for obesity prevention, management and health promotion through nutrition and physical activity. State Plan Regional Forums Information
What Works in Schools. The first in a series of two page papers summarizing evidence-based and promising strategies that focus on helping people eat healthier and be more active.
Governor's School Health Award - This award recognizes and celebrates Wisconsin schools that support and promote healthy eating: physical activity; alcohol-, tobacco-, and drug-free lifestyles; and parental and community involvement.
Wisconsin Team Nutrition - Information on becoming a Team Nutrition School with resources available and links to the national and state initiative: Action for Healthy Kids.
Helping Wisconsin Youth Reach Their Full Potential - By Improving Nutrition and Increasing Physical Activity in Schools - This publication created by Wisconsin Action for Healthy Kids and the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board may be replicated and used as handouts for parents, teachers and students.
Wisconsin's Competitive Foods and Foods of Minimal Nutritional Value: Fostering Nutrition Integrity in A La Carte Sales and Other Foods Available at School Booklet - Guidance for Wisconsin schools that includes model policy language for elementary schools, federal regulations, the latest exemptions listing, Q & A's and resources.
Tools and Calculators - Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services has put together a page of links for nutrition, physical activity, overweight and obesity, creating active communities and environments, and what works - advice and samples of successful physical activity programs. This site includes links to BMR calculators, bikeability checklist and routes, and an electronic pedometer called the Walking Route.

National Resources

The Quick and Easy Guide to School Wellness - a multi-media how-to guide filled with comprehensive information, practical advice, tools and resources to help you spring your wellness policy into action.
BikeWithMe - This is an online service hosting biking, walking, and swimming contests for school wellness programs. Students, teachers, staff, and families may all participate. The service is free.
Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth - An Institute of Medicine report from the committee on Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools released Wednesday, April 25, 2007.
Dollar and Sense: The Financial Impact of Selling Healthier School Foods - University of California-Berkeley, Center on Weight and Health's brief report examines the financial impact of implementing nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold on school campus outside of the school meal program in California. It also discusses the challenges encountered and factors contributing to financial success. Concrete recommendations are provided.
Evaluating Local Wellness Policies - Montana Office of Public Instruction's information to assist with developing strategies for evaluation of policy implementation and maintenance. The materials provide an overview of evaluation and sample questions to consider during the evaluation process.
Making it Happen! School Nutrition Success Stories - This resource includes 32 success stories from around the country that describe changes schools/school districts made to food and beverages that are offered or sold outside the Federal meal programs.
Action for Healthy Kids Website - This site includes the Action for Healthy Kids Wellness Policy Tool. The tool allows you to build your own policy by cutting and pasting language from existing or model policies that have been gathered from states and districts around the country.
School Nutrition Association - Local School Wellness Policies (formerly the American School Food Service Assn) - This site includes sample nutrition policies, a PowerPoint presentation about what the law requires and what your district needs to do about it and links to other resources. Also posted on their website is the SNA Model Guidelines for Health and Wellness booklet.
The National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) Model Policies School districts may choose to use provided model policies as written or revise them as needed to meet local needs and reflect community priorities.
Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) Website
- Wellness Policy Resources
- School Wellness Policy and Practice: Meeting the Needs of Low-Income Students - This FRAC guide addresses the special concerns of low-income students in local school wellness policies.
- Parent Outreach Brochure - This FRAC brochure encourages more parents to get involved in creating local wellness policies for their school districts.
American Dietetic Association - A good overview of the policy and an excellent list of resources. Geared towards dietitians, but of value to all in the nutrition area.
Center for Disease Control's Obesity Fact Sheets - These sheets contain results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and School Health Profiles (Profiles) related to the obesity epidemic among youth. Results are listed by state.
Center for Disease Control's Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating - This document serves as the basis for Team Nutrition's nutrition recommendations on their school wellness policy site.
Center for Science in the Public Interest Policy Options Related to Improving School Foods - Information available to help you with policies of all foods available in the school environment.
Center for Science in the Public Interest - Sweet Deals: School Fundraisers Can Be Fun and Profitable - This comprehensive report offers an overview of fundraising and supplies a wealth of ideas for healthy fundraising.
National Association of State Boards of Education's Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn - Has specific recommendations on length of time for lunch and minimum recommendations for amount of physical activity. Also provides an overall policy framework for school health programs and specific policies on various topics.
School Assessment Index - Schools can use the Index as a self-assessment and planning tool to improve the effectiveness of their health and safety policies and programs.
Health, Mental Health and Safety Guidelines for Schools - A collaborative effort of primarily health professionals led by the American Academy of Pediatrics and National Association of School Nurses. Has some concrete examples, as well as, references for their recommendations.
Institute of Medicine: Fact Sheet-Preventing Childhood Obesity: The Role of Schools - A two page summary of their recommendations for schools to prevent obesity. Includes an overview of current physical activity and food promotion practices in schools.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Educational Materials
- We Can (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) - We Can is a national program designed as a one-stop resource for parents and caregivers interested in practical tools to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight. This site also has an excellent index of many nutritional topics listed under Resources.
- Media-Smart Youth: Eat, Think, and Be Active - Is designed to help young people ages 11-13 become aware of how media may influence the choices they make. An after-school program that consists of 10 lessons and a major project.
Television Awareness Resources
- The Center for SCREEN-TIME Awareness - Is the home of TV Turn Off Week (April 21-27, 2008) and has many materials to support the effort.
- The California Obesity Prevention Initiative's Do More, Watch Less! - This TV reduction toolkit may be downloaded and is targeted towards 10-to-14-year-olds in after school programs and other youth-serving organizations. The sessions aim to help youth incorporate more screen-free activities into their day while reducing the time they spend on screen-based activities such as watching TV, surfing the internet, and playing video games.
Michigan Department of Education: The Role of Michigan Schools in Promoting Healthy Weight - Provides background, as well as, practical guidelines and policy recommendations to promote healthy weights while attempting to avoid any negative indirect effects.
Montana Team Nutrition Program: Recess Before Lunch Schedule - This downloadable guide assists in the successful implementation of a Recess Before Lunch (RBL) policy.
National Governor's Council Issue Brief: Preventing Obesity in Youth Through School Based Efforts - Provides recommendations for state leaders, as well as, sample policies from other states.
Obesity Prevention Resources for States - On July 20-22, 2005, The Council of State Governments held a Trends Summit on Obesity to bring together state leaders from around the country to forge new policy approaches to combating obesity in the United States. Two publications may be downloaded at this site.
My Eat Smart, Move More: North Carolina's Wellness Website - Provides handouts, interactive wellness tools and a wealth of ideas to get this message out into communities.
Connecticut State Department of Education's website provides excellent handouts on Healthy Celebrations, Healthy Fundraising, and Alternatives to Food as Reward.
American Beverage Association: Beverage Industry School Vending Policy - This August 2005 policy addresses soft drink sales in schools.
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation - Former President Clinton and the American Heart Association's website for students which challenges kids to become active participants in the wellness initiative.
Planet Health: Harvard's interdisciplinary curriculum focused on improving the health and well-being of sixth through eighth grade students while building and reinforcing skills in language, arts, math, science, social studies, and physical education. This is a reasonable priced resource.

For questions about this information, contact Julie A. Cox (608) 267-9206

Last updated on 7/3/2009 9:15:59 AM