Collaborating on the Design and Implementation of School Wellness Policies


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

3057.0: Monday, December 12, 2005 - 8:30 AM

Abstract #114139

Dana S. Carr, MPH, Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools, Department of Education, 400 Maryland Ave SW, FB-6, Washington, DC 20202, 202-260-0823, dana.carr@ed.gov, Julie S. Fort, MPH, RD, Food and Nutrition Service, Child Nutrition Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302, Sarah M. Lee, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS K-12, Atlanta, GA 30341, and Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, RD, LD, Action for Healthy Kids, 4711 Golf Rd., Skokie, IL 60076.

Recognizing the role that schools can play in combating the problems of poor nutrition and inactivity, Congress included in the 2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization Law a requirement that local school districts develop school wellness policies by school year 2006-2007. The policies must include goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities, as well as standards for all food available during the school day, to promote student health and wellness. Congress has given local school districts the opportunity to address their individual needs and requires that parents, students, and representatives of the school food service authority, the school board, school administrators, and the public participate in developing the school wellness policy. The law requires the designation of one or more persons within the district or at each school to ensure that the school meets the local wellness policy. To help school districts develop and implement these policies, Congress has charged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Education (ED) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide technical assistance on request to local districts. This presentation will provide an overview of the wellness policy requirements, an account of the how the three federal agencies are working together, and highlight the collaboration with the national organization Action for Healthy Kids to provide technical assistance and sample policies that can be used as the basis for the local policy.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, attendees will be able to

1. Describe the key components of a school wellness policy as required by the Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act;
2. Discuss sample issues that could be covered within each component of the policy requirements; and
3. Identify resources for sample policies at the State and local level regarding nutrition, physical activity and nutrition standards for all foods offered during the school day.

Keywords: Wellness, Policy/Policy Development

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.

School Wellness Policies

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA