Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105648

Brenda Z. Greene, MFA, Director, School Health Programs, National School Boards Association, 1680 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, William Potts-Datema, MS, Director, Partnerships for Children's Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard Prevention Research Center, 677 Huntington Ave., 7th Fl., Boston, MA 02115, Nora Howley, MA, Director, School Health Project, Council of Chief State School Officers, One Massachusetts Ave, NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001, and James F. Bogden, MPH, National Association of State Boards of Education, 277 S. Washington Street, Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22314, 703-684-4000x108, jimb@nasbe.org.

In response to the growing problem and health consequences of overweight children and adolescents, the reauthorized Child Nutrition Act of 2004 requires local school districts that receive federal school meals funding to adopt a “wellness policy” by the first day of school following June 30, 2006. The content of the wellness policy is left to local determination, but key elements of the process are identified in the law. The National School Boards Association (NSBA) is providing policy development guidance to state school boards associations and local districts, emphasizing that the process can be as important as the product in educating school officials and staff, students, parents and community members about the policy need and content options. Harvard's Partnerships for Children's Health and the Council of Chief State School Officers have expertise to share on key evidence-based elements of effective wellness policies and how state education agencies are supporting local districts to develop local wellness policies. This session will give key stakeholders, including public health professionals who work with schools or policymakers and school health professionals, practical approaches to working with school policymakers in developing an effective wellness policy. Through presentation and group discussion, participants will gain an overview of public school governance and education priorities, learn about the specific federal requirements for a local district wellness policy, increase their awareness of multiple sources of information and technical assistance, and be able to plan actions they can take to advance the development of a local district wellness policy.

Learning Objectives: At the end of the session, participants will be able to

• Identify the federal requirements for a local district wellness policy
• Describe an effective local policy development process
• Identify at least 3 sources of information and/or technical assistance
• Identify at least 3 actions they can take to advance the development of a local district wellness policy.

Keywords: School Health, Wellness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.