Local Wellness Policies: Findings from the First Two Years
Investigating Written Policy
On Wednesday, September 2, Action for Healthy Kids hosted a 90-minute webinar about national evaluation findings from a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) report on the strengths and weaknesses of local wellness policies. This landmark study by RWJF's research program Bridging the Gap, presented data on the most comprehensive review of school district wellness policies conducted to date. Policies were evaluated based on nutrition education, school meals, competitive food and beverage guidelines, physical activity and education, food and beverage marketing in schools, and evaluation strategies for the first two school years of the wellness policy requirement.View the recorded session by clicking here.
A complete copy or executive summary of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report can be downloaded using the link below.
Local Wellness Policies: Assessing School District Strategies for Improving Children's Health (School Years 2006-07 and 2007-08)
School Breakfast Grant Winners Announced
Helping Children Achieve Better Health with School Breakfast
With the support from the Kellogg's Corporate Citizenship Fund, Action for Healthy Kids awarded 41 schools in 17 states mini-grants ranging from $500 to $2,000 to increase average daily student participation in school breakfast by 25% during the 2009-2010 school year. The mini-grants fund implementation of alternative programs, innovative marketing and promotion strategies, and/or educational enrichment activities that will enhance the school breakfast experience. To be eligible for funding, schools had to have at least 50% of their student population eligible for free and reduced price meals.Read about the winning schools and their program ideas!
Action for Healthy Kids Webcast
Call to Leadership: Elevating School Wellness to a Higher Level (archived webcast)
Originally aired on December 8, 2008, this 75-minute webcast features a distinguished panel of national leaders discussing the urgency of creating healthier schools in America; engaging school and community leaders as allies; overcoming barriers in school nutrition and physical activity; and examples of leadership at the local level. Click here to access the archived webcast. Panelists featured in the webcast include:- Dr. David Satcher, 16th U.S. Surgeon General and Founding Chair of Action for Healthy Kids
- Dr. Katie Wilson, SNS, President, School Nutrition Association
- Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director, Council of Chief State School Officers
- Honorable Bob Holden, Former Governor, State of Missouri
- Dr. Jose Salgado, Principal, Mario Umana Middle School Academy
- Rob Bisceglie, Executive Director, Action for Healthy Kids
NEW - Webcast highlights video!
Click here for highlights from the December 8, 2008 webcast. This ten minute video promotes key messages from the webcast and the distinguished panel of national leaders who participated. Use this video to introduce school wellness and Action for Healthy Kids to Team members and other audiences, and convey the urgency of creating healthier schools in America.Action for Healthy Kids Webinar
Helping Children Achieve Better Health with Nutrient Rich Foods
More than 700 participants registered for AFHK's webinar on June 25, 2009, to learn how schools can use the concept of nutrient density to optimize the quality of children's diets and to help them learn to eat right. The succes of the webinar was in part due to our panel of speakers, who discussed why nutrient density is important and how it benefits our children at school, at home, and when dining out.- Robert Murray, M.D., Director, Center for Healthy Weight and Nutrition, Nationwide Children’s Hospital (Columbus, OH)
- Connie Mueller, MS, RD, Director of Food and Nutrition Services, District 87 (Bloomington, IL)
- Jennie McCary, MS, RD, LD, Wellness Manager, Albuquerque Public Schools (Albuquerque, NM)
Recording - for PC .wma (25.1MB)
Recording - for MAC .m4a (33.7MB)
Presentation Slides - .pdf (6.2MB)
The links below provide additional resources about the concept of nutrient density.
- Helping Youth Make Better Food Choices: Ideas By and For Nutrition, Health and Public Health Professionals Leading the Way, a guide with recommendations from leading professionals to address the most common barriers to helping kids make more healthful food choices
- Tip sheets for schools, community organizations, and parents and caregivers with suggestions from the guide in a colorful format that can be used as a handout or poster (the tip sheet for parents and caregivers is also available in Spanish)
- The Importance of Nutrient-Rich Foods in Planning Nutritious Meals for Children, a joint editorial developed by Action for Healthy Kids, in partnership with other national health and nutrition organizations, which supports the use of nutrient density as the basis for dietary recommendations
Join our Press List
Keep up-to-date on Action for Healthy Kids initiatives, reports, resources and achievements! Join our Press List by sending an email request to Media@ActionForHealthyKids.orgRecent News Releases
Bridging the Cultural Divide to Create Healthier Kids August 25, 2009School Breakfast Programs a Growing Trend in Getting Students Ready to Learn August 6, 2009
92 Indiana Schools Recognized for Commitment to Healthy Students May 19, 2009
AFHK Calls for Continued Improvements for Children Before U.S. Senate Committee May 15, 2009
Purdy and Prairieview Schools Make Healthy Changes April 2, 2009
Click here to view all news releases.
Action for Healthy Kids In the News
Harris School Students Benefit from New Hess Park Walking PathHerald-Review.com, 9/25/2009
Study Shows Importance of Recess During the School Day
Middletown Journal, 9/14/2009
New Course Open to the Public When School's Out
Dayton Daily News, 9/11/2009
Michigan Surgeon General to Visit "Generation with Promise" Schools in Benton Harbor
The Michigan News, 9/1/2009
Nutrition & Physical Activity: Action for Healthy Kids
Washington State Department of Health, 9/1/2009
Back to School: What You Need to Know About School Lunch
Examiner.com, 8/27/2009
Bridging the Cultural Divide to Create Healthier Kids
EducationNews.org, 8/25/2009
On the Breakfast Menu: Better Grades, Focus
North American Precis Syndicate, 8/7/2009
One Town Gets Children to Live a Healthy Lifestyle
San Francisco Chronicle, 7/16/2009
Jennifer Aniston Radio Spot for Smartwater and Action for Healthy Kids
Fresh 105.9 FM Chicago, 7/8/2009
Putting the T's in Tampa
TampaBay.com, 6/21/2009
Assists Foundation Announces First Awards
KUSports.com, 6/20/2009
Assists 2009 R1 Grant and Scholarship Winners Press Release
wibw.com, 6/19/2009
Jennifer Aniston & Courteney Cox Share Stylish Shirts for OmniPeace
AccessHollywood.com, 6/12/2009
Yorktown Stars
TheStarPress.com, 6/11/2009
Students Learn How to Help Peers Get Healthy at MNU Rally
KansasCity.com, 6/9/2009
Health Rally To Give Students Pep
TMCnet.com, 6/6/2009
Students PEP Up for Fitness
Fort Scott Tribune, 6/4/2009
Taking Action for Healthy Kids in Schools - and Beyond
Hoard's Dairyman, 6/1/2009
National Plan for Physical Activity Education Sector
Ohio State University Sport and Exercise Education, 6/1/2009
Staff, Students to Take Part in Rally
MorningSun.net, 5/31/2009
Raymond Students Complete Pilot Wellness Program
ThisWeekNews.com, 5/30/2009
Health Walk Big Success
Times Argus, 5/30/2009
An Active and Enjoyable Family Event to Fight Childhood Obesity
Zawya.com, 5/30/2009
Nebraska Schools Honored for Health Efforts
NebraskaTV.com, 5/25/2009
Nebraska Schools Receive Wellness Awards
kolnkgin.com, 5/21/2009
Area Schools Receive 'Healthy Hoosier' Honors
CourierPress.com, 5/20/2009
AFHK Calls for Continued Improvements for Children Before U.S. Senate Subcommittee
EducationNews.org, 5/15/2009
Fighting Weight
Orange County Review, 5/14/2009
Students Invited to Two-Day Teen Wellness Workshop
LJWorld.com, 5/11/2009
Franklin Central School Leads Fit & Healthy Kids School Wellness Awards
Vermont.gov, 5/11/2009
East Austin Middle School Builds Course for Exercise, Meditation
Txcn.com, 5/8/2009
A Greener Side of School Life
BattleCreekEnquirer.com, 5/8/2009
Latin Works, Waste Management Help to Promote Student Fitness
statesman.com, 5/1/2009
Teen Rally Planned for June
NBCActionNews.com, 5/1/2009
Leadership for Healthy Communities Action Strategies Toolkit
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 5/1/2009
Students Get Active at Edmond Health Event
NewsOK.com, 4/28/2009
There's Going to Be Magic in the Houston Independent School District
Isiah Carey's 'Insite' Blog, 4/14/2009
Child Nutrition Chief Earns National Credential
Huntsville Times, 4/7/2009
Fight Obesity, Chronic Disease for Health Reform
Seacoastonline.com, 4/5/2009
Whole Grains Family Breakfast Celebration Kicks Off Pointview's Wellness Week
Board Docs Public News Releases, 4/3/2009
Tampa Woman A 'Point of Light'
South Tampa News & Tribune, 4/1/2009
YMCA Hosts Healthy Kids Day on Saturday
The Terrell Tribune online edition, 4/1/2009
Action for Healthy Kids, School Breakfast Expansion Grant
Service-Learning Funding Opportunities, 4/1/2009
Action for Healthy Kids Applauds Senate Focus on School Environment
EducationNews.org, 3/31/2009
Madison Street Field Day Showcases Wellness Education
Ocala.com, 3/30/2009
Waverly-Shell Rock Students Celebrate Wellness Day
KWWL.com, 3/5/2009
School Breakfast Grant Release
New Jersey Grantwriter's Forum, 3/4/2009
Archived 2009 Articles
Archived 2008 Articles
Archived 2007 Articles
About Action for Healthy Kids
Action for Healthy Kids works nationally to foster sound nutrition and good physical activity for children, youth and schools. More than 10,000 school administrators, educators, health and nutrition professionals, parents and others who care about children’s health and learning volunteer their service to Action for Healthy Kids Teams in each state and the District of Columbia. With the support of more than 60 national Partners organizations, Action for Healthy Kids’ unique grassroots network combats the growing epidemic of undernourished, overweight and sedentary American youth. For more information about Action for Healthy Kids and our Partners, click here.