The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program
Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Schoolsacross the United States
Beth Graham, MPH, CHESwww.HealthierGeneration.org
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s
Healthy Schools Program
Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Schools Across the United States
Penny EdwardsAlabama Relationship Manager
Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015 and to inspire young people to develop lifelong healthy habits.
The Alliance is leading the charge against the childhood obesity epidemic by working to positively affect all the places that can make a difference in a child’s health including homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities.
About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
What We Do 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 10,000 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.
Transforms the food, beverage and healthcare industries by brokering agreements that impact the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.
Activates more than 2.2 million teens and tweens to commit to eat better, move more and serve as leaders to their peers.
Groundbreaking AgreementsBrokered voluntary agreements with the beverage, snack
and dairy industries that has contributed to a 88 percent decrease in total beverage calories shipped to U.S. schools between 2004 and 2009.
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.
• More than 20 percent of the U.S. population spend their day in schools and consume up to 50 percent of their daily calories on campus, making them ideal places to teach academic skills and healthy habits for life.
• Healthy students– are better able to concentrate on
their work– attend school on a regular basis– perform better in class
Why Focus on Schools?
Support for Schools• Every school has support from a Healthy Schools Program staff member
who works with your school to:
- Improve access to healthier foods- Increase physical activity opportunities for students- Enhance nutrition education- Establish school employee wellness programs
Best Practices Framework
• The Healthy Schools Program is based on a set of best practice guidelines, developed by a national panel of experts
• These guidelines, called the Framework, provide the roadmap to creating a healthier school environment
• The Framework is comprised of eight content areas that address school health improvement
The Process
Tapping into our Tools
• Resource Database which connects you to quality resources, grant opportunities and discounted materials
• Subject Specialists who provide one-on-one support to address your schools’ needs
• Implementation Toolkits which provide a step-by-step guide to meeting the best practices criteria in the Framework
• Professional Development Opportunities (onsite and virtual) for school staff to learn and network
• Product Navigator and Snack Food Calculator to help schools select healthier options that meet the Alliance’s Guidelines
Biweekly newsletters filled with useful tools, tips, funding opportunities and inspiring stories from schools across the country
Healthy Schools Program Resources
National Recognition Award
• Awarded to schools meeting best practice criteria in the Healthy Schools Program Framework
• Awards can be earned at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels
• To earn an award, a school must meet at least that level in all eight content areas
Who Can Join the Healthy Schools Program?
Everyone. And it’s free.
Alabama Success in 2009
• National Recognition Award Winners• Bronze Level • Francis Marion High School
• Albert Turner Sr. Elementary
• Robert C. Hatch High School• Uniontown Elementary
• Healthy Schools Program Champion• Dr. Sherri Huff
Alabama Success in 2010 • Albert S. Turner ES (Perry
County) • Uniontown ES (Perry County)• Francis Marion HS (Perry
County)• Robert C. Hatch HS (Perry
County)
• AH Parker HS (Birmingham City)• Bluff Park ES (Hoover City) • Robert F. Bumpus MS (Hoover
City) • Riverchase ES (Hoover City) • South Shades Crest ES (Hoover
City)
Ready to join? www.HealthierGeneration.org/schools
Still need more information?
Contact: Penny Edwards, M.EDAlabama Relationship Manager Email: [email protected]: (205) 434-4302
Next Steps
