#WellnessWins Empowers School Districts, Community Members to Support Strong Wellness Policies

In July 2016, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a final rule to strengthen guidelines for school wellness policies with a compliance deadline of June 30, 2017. Nationwide, many districts are already making significant progress to update and strengthen their policies, enabling them to implement healthier nutrition, physical activity, and health and physical education practices. School wellness policies are the cornerstone of school-related health initiatives, providing both a guide and an evaluation tool for schools to benchmark their wellness progress.

To highlight these existing school wellness “wins” and to inspire other districts to take action, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and the American Heart Association’s Voices for Healthy Kids initiative have launched a new digital campaign, #WellnessWins.

School leaders, community members and parents can visit WellnessWins.org to download resources, read success stories, and learn how they can support and advance school wellness policies.

Campaign Details:

WHAT: The #WellnessWins campaign celebrates district wellness success and inspires everyone to create healthier school environments, grounded in strong wellness policies.

WHERE: Campaign resources, including success stories, social media messages, and resources to support districts and community members in strengthening wellness policies, are available at WellnessWins.org

WHY: #WellnessWins aims to support school districts in implementing stronger wellness policies that meet the new U.S. Department of Agriculture guidelines by June 30.

WHO: #WellnessWins is co-presented by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and American Heart Association’s Voices for Healthy Kids initiative.

The campaign is supported by over 20 organizations who will help to shine a spotlight on wellness wins across the country. Supporters include: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Action for Healthy Kids, Active Living Research,  Afterschool Alliance, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society-Cancer Action Network, American School Health Association, Center for Science in the Public Interest, ChildObesity 180, Food, Nutrition and Policy Consultants, FoodCorps, Funders Collaborative on Youth Organizing, Healthy Eating Research, Initiative for Healthy Schools, Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools, Mission: Readiness, MomsRising, NAACP, National Association of Chronic Disease Directors, National Association of State Boards of Education, National Farm to School Network, Nutrition and Obesity Policy Research Evaluation Network, Physical Activity Policy Research Network, Nutrition Policy Institute, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, School Meals That Rock, SHAPE America, Society for Nutrition, Education and Behavior, SPARK, and UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity.

#WellnessWins was also supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 1 NU1ADP003091-01, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Featured

  • New Kent State Academic Building Earns LEED Silver Certification

    Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, recently announced that its newest academic building, Crawford Hall, has earned a LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, according to a news release. The facility was recognized for its innovative design, water conservation technologies, energy-efficient systems, and sustainable construction materials, among other features.

  • cutaway view of a modern school building, showing various rooms and zones

    Layering AI into HVAC Systems Shows Reduction in Carbon Emissions

    Heating and cooling systems are just one of the many new ways that AI can be integrated into schools. According to a new study from Schneider Electric's Sustainability Research Institute, AI-powered HVAC systems in schools can lead to significant carbon emissions savings.

  • Kraus-Anderson Continues Work in Minnesota School District

    Maple River Schools in Mapleton, Minn., recently began construction on another project included in a district long-range facilities plan. Construction management firm Kraus-Anderson recently began work on two new classrooms and an outdoor track and field facility, according to a news release.

  • K12 Tutoring Earns Every Student Succeeds Act Level II Validation

    Personalized online tutoring service K12 Tutoring recently announced that it has received Level II validation underneath the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), according to a news release. The independently validated study provides evidence of K12 Tutoring’s role in creating positive student outcomes through effective academic intervention and research-based solutions.

Digital Edition