Rhode Island School Food Safety Partnership and Model Program

Rhode Island Process

• State Level Partnership Team (DOE, DOH, URI, Kids First)
• Inventory Food Safety Resources
• Evaluate Resources - SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats)
• State-wide Survey of Teachers, Principals, Fd Service Directors, Nurses
• Focus Group on priority of food safety in schools in RI with MACRO International
• Select, Profile, Define, Create, and Celebrate Food Safe Schools
• Incorporate state and national resources: URI Cooperative Extension Food Safety House, Fight Bac, Thermy, CDC Food Safe School Action Guide

‘Living Example’ Food Safe Schools

• 2 Elementary Schools
• 2 Middle Schools
• 2 High Schools

• 6 Districts
  • Staff and Teachers
  • Students
  • Families

• Profile
• Needs Assessment from Action Guide
• Action Plan Development
• Action Plan Implementation
• Celebrate Success of Food Safe Schools

School Based Teams

Principal

• Approval
• Support
• Guideline/Policy work
• Planning

Food Service Director

• Coordinator
• Order Materials
• Implementation and training
• Planning

School Nurse Teachers

• Records
• Response
• FBI Symptoms and causes
• Planning

Family and Consumer Science Teacher

• Coordinator
• Order Materials
• Implementation and training
• Planning

Positive Prevention!

• Foodborne illness can be prevented
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a solution for schools:
  • Food Safe School Action Guide
    • RI Input on Contents
    • Focus Group - RI schools, National Partners
    • Feedback
  • Principal Brochure
    • RI Interviews
    • FeedbacK

Power of Collaboration!

• NEHA:     Literature Review
• ANF:     Nurse Response Plan
• NACCHO:     Forum on Local Collaboration
• CA, SD, WI, WV:     Shared Learnings
• ASFSA:     School Food Service Assoc.
• CDC:     Action Guide, It’s a SNAP: School Network for Absenteeism Prevention
• MACRO:     Content of Action Guide
• AED:     Design of Action Guide
• RI:     Pioneers!

"POCKETS" learns about Food Safety at the Nutrition Expo 3/10/02

(photo - Pockets the Clown using interactive device to complete a food safety test)

Food safety can be fun!

• Lively presentations
  • Costumed character
  • Material the audience can relate to
• Incentives for students, staff, parents
  • Refrigerator thermometers
  • Individual bars of soap
  • Bookmarks
  • Ice Packs
  • Potholders
  • Literature
  • Stickers
  • Magnets

(photo: Food Safety Day, Rockwell Elementary, Bristol, RI 5/31/02; teacher leading activity using Fight BAC!® materials)

(photo: Nutrition Expo 2002 “Food Safe Home Zone” 3/10/02; students putting away groceries in a home kitchen)

What Questions Do You Have?

Elizabeth Bugden, Kids First
Five Richmond Square
Providence, R I 02906
(401)751-4503
09/19/02