The Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Transcription

1 The Alliance for a Healthier Generation The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation, was formed in 2005 as a response to the dramatic increase in prevalence of childhood obesity across the nation. Currently, as many as 1 in 3 students in most states meet the criteria for overweight or obese. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015 by fostering an environment that helps all kids pursue healthy and active lifestyles. To that end the Alliance is working to positively affect the health of children by forging voluntary agreements with the healthcare and food service industries and by working with kids and schools across the nation. The Alliance believes that helping schools is one of the most efficient and effective ways to shape the lifelong health and well-being of children and adolescents. That is why the Alliance has created the Healthy Schools Program, which aims to improve schools in the areas of nutrition, physical activity and staff wellness. The Alliance launched the Healthy Schools Program in February of 2006 with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Tennessee 2012 Major Accomplishments By engaging and activating the leaders who can transform the environments and communities that nurture our children, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Supports more than 14,000 schools in all 50 states in transforming their environments into places where students have better access to physical activity and healthier foods before, during and after school. Works with out-of-school time programs in creating healthier environments and empowering all kids to make healthy choices and become advocates for physical activity and healthy eating. Brokered voluntary agreements with the beverage, snack and dairy industries that has contributed to an 88 percent decrease in total beverage calories shipped to U.S. schools between 2004 and Negotiated agreements with 13 of the leading school meals manufacturers, group purchasing organizations and technology companies to develop, market and competitively price healthier school meal options. Convened national medical associations, leading insurers and employers that agreed to offer comprehensive health benefits to children and families for the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. A Quick Look at Childhood Obesity in Tennessee Percentage of children ages years who are overweight or obese 1 TN State rank for overweight or obese children (1 is best) 1 47 Estimated adult obesity-attributable medical expenditures, (in 2003 dollars) National Survey of Children s Health edition of F as in Fat, published by Trust for America s Health. National 36.5% 31.6% $1,840 M Rank in 2003: 44 $75 Billion

2 The Healthy Schools Program The Alliance believes that helping schools is one of the most efficient and effective ways to shape the lifelong health and well-being of children and adolescents. That is why the Alliance has created the Healthy Schools Program, which aims to improve schools in the areas of nutrition, physical activity and staff wellness. The Alliance launched the Healthy Schools Program in February of 2006 with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Healthy Schools Program provides technical support to schools across the country in their efforts to engage the entire school community (including administrators, parents and school vendors) in increasing access to physical activity and healthier foods for students and staff. In addition to providing schools with best practice resources and support, the Healthy Schools Program recognizes successful schools through a national award program. The work of the Healthy Schools Program is based on the Healthy Schools Program Framework, a set of best practice guidelines developed by a national panel of experts that serves as a roadmap for creating a healthier school environment. These guidelines form the basis of the National Recognition Program which awards schools at the Bronze, Silver or Gold levels based on the policy and programmatic changes made in seven separate areas; School Meals Competitive Foods and Beverages Health Education Physical Education Policy and Systems Employee Wellness Student Wellness The Healthy Schools Program outlines the course of action for making sustainable changes in its Six Step Process: Step 1: Convene a school wellness council to plan and lead implementation of the Healthy Schools Program in the school. Step 2: Complete the Inventory in the Healthy Schools Builder to identify areas for improvement. Step 3: Develop an Action Plan based on what is important and achievable in the school community. Step 4: Identify resources that can facilitate implementation of the Action Plan. Step 5: Take Action! Follow the Action Plan to create a healthier school environment. Step 6: Celebrate Success! The Healthy Schools Program works with schools to celebrate small victories and big successes along the way. Every school has support from a Healthy Schools Program staff member who works one-on-one with the school to meet its wellness goals. Schools also have access to a team of staff with expertise in each content area. These content experts are available to support schools through phone or consultations, online trainings and professional development opportunities. Schools are able to access a wide variety of information and resources on the Healthy Schools Program website at healthiergeneration.org. Schools will find hundreds of success stories from schools around the country, toolkits that provide step-by-step information for meeting the best practice criteria, a wealth of local, state and national resources and funding opportunities to help them make meaningful and lasting changes to their school health environment. Who can join the Healthy Schools Program? Everyone. And there is no cost to join. STATE REPORT

3 State Specifics: Table 1: Initial Year Participating Schools Students Enrolled , , , ,837 Total ,159 Table 2. Characteristics of Participating Schools School Level Healthy Schools Participants (n = 151) All Schools in State (n = 2,135) Elementary 68% 54% Middle School 20% 15% High School 11% 16% Other/missing 1% 15% Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Tennessee Teacher Honored as Healthy Schools Program Champion When Bailey Station Elementary School in Collierville opened in 2005, it had a Healthy Choices Initiative, co-written by Cheryl White, health and physical education teacher, and Principal Sherry Rope, which declared, We are teaching healthy lifestyles and instilling lifelong habits in our students. The initiative consisted of five elements: a Tip of the Day health curriculum, a healthy snack policy (including fundraisers), a fitnessinfused PE program, a faculty-staff fitness program and the development of a Fitness Park program that designates class time for physical activity. White wrote and received numerous grants that enabled her to implement these concepts. A Visualize Healthy Eating grant funded permanent sign holders all over the school that display printed materials to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Additional grants enabled White to purchase new fitness equipment and to have parents and community volunteers paint a fitness-themed mural on the walls of the gym. 0-24% 15% 30% 24-49% 6% 18% 50-74% 26% 31% % 53% 21% Primary Ethnicity Caucasian 35% 77% African American 64% 20% Hispanic 1% 1% School Locale City 59% 36% Suburb 19% 21% Rural or small town 22% 43% STATE REPORT

4 Table 3. A sample of Healthy Schools Program criteria and the percentage of participating schools in the state currently meeting the criteria, compared to participating schools across the country. School has an active wellness council/committee that meets at least every other month during the school year. School offers only unflavored low fat milk (1% or lower milk fat) or fat-free flavored milk with no more than 150 calories per 8 oz. Half of all grains at breakfast and half of all grains at lunch must be whole grains. All beverages for sale to students outside of the school meals program during the regular and extended school day meet or exceed the Alliance School Beverage Guidelines. HSP Schools in TN (n = 126) HSP Schools in U.S. (n =4,252) 87% 70% 76% 89% 86% 77% 80% 75% Healthy Schools Inventory The Healthy Schools Inventory is an interactive online tool designed to help guide schools through the process of conducting a needs assessment, prioritizing action steps and developing a customized action plan for school health and wellness. All schools are encouraged to complete the Inventory soon after they begin participating in the program and at least once each year thereafter. The Healthy Schools Inventory is based on the Healthy Schools Program Framework and requires responses in seven content areas (i.e., Policy/ Systems, School Meals, Competitive Foods and Beverages, Health Education, Physical Education, Student Wellness and Employee Wellness). The scoring rubric designates three levels of recognition for achievement: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The evaluation team uses the Healthy Schools Inventory to assess change in school policies and practices over time. All competitive foods for sale to students outside of the school meals program during the regular and extended school day meet the Alliance Competitive Foods Guidelines. At the high school level, comprehensive health education is taught in a term-long course for at least nine weeks. School staff have opportunities to participate in physical activities AND healthy eating programs. Requires all students at the elementary school level to participate in a minimum of 60 minutes of physical education per week (or 120 minutes of physical education per 2 weeks). 67% 59% 82% 85% 74% 58% 69% 71% Inventory Content Area Policy/Systems School Meals Competitive Foods and Beverages Health Education Physical Education School Employee Wellness Student Wellness Total Score State Nation Students are engaged in moderate to vigorous physical activity at least 50% of physical education class time. 98% 93% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100% Percent of Schools School provides opportunities for students to participate in daily physical activity during the school day (excluding recess and physical education). 75% 62% Figure 1. Percent of schools showing an improvement of at least one item in each content area of the Healthy Schools Inventory for Tennessee (n = 98 schools) and for all states (n = 2,917 schools). STATE REPORT

5 PE Teacher Shares Strategies for Keeping Kids Moving NORTHWEST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MASON, TENNESSEE Nestled in the heart of southwest Tennessee is Fayette County, a county with a population of 28,000, 12 schools and the fifth highest obesity rate in the state. The school district in Fayette County is trying to change this by increasing the energy level of the students and focusing on how to get them moving more. The district joined the Alliance for a Healthier Generation s Healthy Schools Program two years ago and has worked to incorporate innovative ideas into their physical education (PE) program. The state of Tennessee requires 90 minutes per week of physical activity and/or physical education. Schools in Fayette County are meeting and exceeding this by having 60 minutes of physical education per week in addition to recess, the Walking Works for Schools program through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee and Take 10 breaks. LaShanta Walker is one of the dedicated physical education teachers in the district who has worked diligently to make PE class fun and active. She believes her students have responded by stepping up and putting forth an extra effort in class as well as seeming more interested in healthy foods, fitness and rest. She has also found that demonstrating each activity and doing it along with them is key. It doesn t matter what we do, they enjoy it more when I do it with them. When asked about strategies to keep her kids all moving as much as possible she described three games that her students enjoy: Nutrition Tag: I hand out three plastic wands. The student with the red wand gets to freeze students and the other two run around unfreezing students who do 10 squats or jumping jacks, etc. as they call out 10 healthy foods. Locomotive Clean-Up: I scatter beanbags across the floor and call out a skill such as skipping, galloping, etc. Whoever can pick up the most bean bags while doing that skill can earn points for their team. Tools of the Trade: Energizing Your School Wellness Council HENRY COUNTY K-8 SCHOOL HENRY, TENNESSEE Although Henry County Elementary in Tennessee has had a school wellness council for many years, the Healthy Pirate Club was in need of a boost of energy. Team leader Cheryl Webb, the school nurse, used the new Healthy Schools Program website to invite more members to join the team. The wellness council then selected students from the middle school to join the team and then used the web invite to reach out to their parents, staff, retired teachers, members of the faith community and county commissioners. We feel like this year s Healthy Pirates is a group of a wide variety of individuals who all have different ideas that, when put together, can do a lot for our school. Everyone that is involved is very actively involved and those who are not on the team are very supportive. Our community partners are wonderful and have helped make our events possible. Our staff, students and parents are another asset that have helped us achieve our goals. The Alliance s website is user friendly and wonderful for helping build a team, making goals and developing an action plan. Soccer Basketball: A combination of soccer, basketball and ultimate Frisbee. We play this in the gym and use a soccer ball but students can catch it, dribble it and score by getting it in the Frisbee basket, the basketball hoop or the soccer goal. If you have more options for scoring then kids have a better chance of finding one that works for them. STATE REPORT

6 100% Participation in Physical Activity Means Everyone Can Join the Fun DRUMMONDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DRUMMONDS, TENNESSEE The Coordinated School Health program in Tipton County has always been supportive of innovative physical education ideas but has not always able to implement everything they would like due to funding constraints. When state funding did become available for new physical education equipment, the staff jumped at the opportunity to help make sure that every student would be able to participate in physical education. Drummonds Elementary has 90 minutes of physical education per week. The biggest challenge they faced was helping students with disabilities stay active. This led Kenya Reed, physical education teacher, to request that they use the funds to purchase equipment for wheelchair basketball, a parachute and Hand Dance Pro TM, an upper-body version of the popular dance game which enables students with an injury or disability to participate. School staff will receive training on the new equipment in January and plan on fully integrating the equipment into their curriculum following the training. One of the criteria in the Healthy Schools Program Framework is to tailor activities to the needs of the students and that reflect the diversity of that student population. Drummonds Elementary staff saw that there was a gap in what they were offering for students and found resources to help them fill that gap. They are thrilled that they now can have 100 percent participation and every student can join in the active fun. Healthy School Meals, Just a Click Away SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT SHELBY COUNTY, TENNESSEE For the past eighteen years, School Nutrition Director Marsha Landstreet has dreamed about finding a more comprehensive educational tool on school meals for parents to use. She wanted to be able to communicate nutritional values of all foods offered in a way that would allow parents to see cost and nutritional information for any combination of selected foods. With funding and support from Coordinated School Health, Shelby County is now the only district in Tennessee with a Virtual Café. The Virtual Café is an online tool which allows parents to see what is offered every day, help their children select what might be a healthier meal and to have a record of what types of meals their children have selected in the past. There is an added feature that allows parents or school nurses to select appropriate food choices for children with special diets, such as those with diabetes. The school worked with a company called Nutri-Link to develop the site and it took about five months to develop and test the site. When the site was ready the district sent letters to the parents to tell them about the new tool. An added incentive for parents to go online was that they could also now use an electronic payment program to purchase the meals for their children. Landstreet has also spoken at PTA meetings to get the word out about the Virtual Café. Landstreet continues to think about ways to improve the tool. In the future she would like to have a place for users to leave comments and a way to compare the school meal options to fast food options and other commercial products. She said, I m proud of our Virtual Café because it not only gives users more control and more choice, it gives them the power of making a decision. Besides, it is pretty cool. STATE REPORT