History of School Wellness Policies:

The Child Nutrition &WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required every school district to produce a local wellness policy

Spring 2005: USDA provided a technical assistance memo to schools

June 30, 2006: Deadline for local districts to submit wellness policies, with implementation beginning on the first day of class following June 30, 2006.

Why Local School Wellness Policies?Schools play a critical role in curbing the

epidemic of childhood overweight and obesitySchools can create an environment conducive

to healthy lifestyle choices Schools can demonstrate that children’s

health and nutrition are a top priorityResponsibility is put at the local level

School Foods Report CardBased on food/beverage policy

outside of the school lunch programIowa received an ‘F’

Beverage nutrition standards Food nutrition standards Too few grade levels were impactedSchool day and time concernsLocation in school

F

A Fundamental Mission of schools is to promote healthy behaviors among students.

SMART Goals•Specific•Measureable•Attainable•Realistic•Time-sensitive

Steps to Create School Wellness Policies1. Assembled school wellness policy team2. Assessed current school environment3. Developed local wellness policy;

Goal of “Parent and family educational opportunities and initiatives” must be included

4. Adopted wellness policy5. Implemented wellness policy6. Monitor and evaluate wellness policy

Iowa’s Local School Wellness Assessment Tool

http://www.fshn.hs.iastate.edu/schoolnutrition/

NE Iowa Food & Fitness• Kellogg’s Vision and Mission Emphasis

Vulnerable Children and their FamiliesSocial Equity

Income Race Immigration status

Schools Identified Asset in our RegionCapacity to reach Vulnerable Children

Site Visits – School Wellness Policies

Site Visits – “Positive Core”Partnerships and/or alignment of wellness

curriculum/activitiesVending machine changesStudent empowermentRealizing students LIKE healthy foodIndividual “champions”Grants, programs, newslettersMay meeting – 5 schools shared learning

Identified need for regional school engagement

Regional School EngagementMay Group of School Representatives:

Foster individual change – create environments conducive to healthy eating and physical activity

Align resources – people, time, moneyExplore system and policy change

potentialBuild capacity in our schools for changesInnovation - Ingenuity