Local School Wellness Policy

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Local School Wellness Policy
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Objectives

• The Child Nutrition and WIC
• Reauthorization Act of 2004
• Rationale related to prevalence of childhood
  obesity
• Mandate, timeline and required components
• Model policies
• Implementation and evaluation

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RationaleLocal School Wellness Policy

• Prevent childhood obesity
• Promote a healthy school environment
• Nutrition
• Physical activity

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Childhood ObesityHealth Concerns

• Prevalence of childhood overweight increased
• 3 times since early 1970s (national data)
• Increased incidence of diabetes and heart disease
  risk factors
• 16 percent of North Dakota sixth-graders were
  overweight in 2002
• 9 percent of North Dakota high school students
  were overweight, with 11 percent at risk of
  overweight in 2003 (YRBS)
• www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm

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Federal Mandate

• The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act
  of 2004 (Section 204 of Public Law 108-265)
• A mandated local school wellness policy
• Schools who participate in USDAs school meals
  programs
• Beginning of school year 2006

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People to InvolveLocal School Wellness Policy

• Parents
• Students
• School food personnel
• Teachers
• School board members
• Administrators
• Health professionals
• Public

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Assessment ToolsSchool Health Environment

• USDA - Changing the Scene Improving the School
  Nutrition Environment
• www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/kit.html
• CDC - School Health Index
• http//apps.nccd.cdc.gov/shi/default.aspx
• NANA-School Foods Tool Kit
• www.cspinet.org/schoolfood/index.html

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Nutrition Assessment Local School Wellness
Policy

• Nutritional quality of foods and beverages sold
  and served in/by schools
• School meals
• Vending, a la carte food items, school stores
• Snacks and rewards in the classroom
• Concessions at school-sponsored events
• Fundraising activities
• Food marketing in schools
• Nutrition Education

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Physical Activity Assessment Local School
Wellness Policy

• Physical Activity Education
• K-12, every day
• Physical Activity Environment
• Daily recess
• Integrate physical activity into classroom
• Physical activity and punishment
• Safe routes to walk/bike to school
• Physical activity before and after school

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Model Policies

• Fit, Healthy and Ready to Learn
• National Association of State Boards of
  Education
• www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools/index.html
• School Wellness Policies
• National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity
• www.SchoolWellnessPolicies.org
• Healthy School Nutrition Environment
• Valley City Public School District No. 2
• www.healthyheartprogram.com/main.htm

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Implement and EvaluateLocal School Wellness
Policy

• Designation of one or more people to
• Implement the policy
• Evaluate the effectiveness by using the initial
  assessment as the baseline

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Summary and Overview Local School Wellness
Policy

• Involve parents, students, school food personnel,
  teachers, school board, health professionals,
  administrators, the public
• Assess nutrition and physical activity
• Set policy for guidelines on school nutrition and
  physical activity
• Plan for implementation and evaluation

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• Thank You!
• Developed by
• Jane U. Edwards, Ph.D., LRD
• NDSU Extension specialist,
• nutrition and health
• Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise
  Sciences