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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Tyffany Shadd-Coleman and Lisa Rajt, MSW. Health Policy and Social Mission, Blue Cross Blue Shielf of Michigan, 27300 West 11 Mile MC B794, Southfield, MI 48034, 248-448-5782, lrajt@bcbsm.com

In light of the current epidemic of childhood obesity, the Project Healthy Schools initiative was developed to support school-based intervention strategies designed to increase physical activity and promote healthy diets in children.

With input from experts from the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Department of Education, BCBSM/BCN established criteria for a competitive grant program to identify innovative school-based programs with potential to serve as models. The requirements included completion of an assessment of the current policies and programs implemented in elementary and middle school buildings, creation of a school environment that promotes healthy eating and active lifestyles, partnerships with external organizations to expand opportunities for physical activity before, during or after school, encouragement of parent and staff participation in the programs, collection of outcomes data and completion of a program evaluation.

Three school districts representing 28,000 students from urban, rural and suburban communities were awarded $100,000 for two year projects. Since 2004, the grantees have performed assessments, developed plans for creating healthy school environments and implemented many interventions. These include, but are not limited to, curriculum changes, staff education, physical education programs, improvements in the school environment and food service programs, as well as parent and staff involvement. In addition, baseline and one-year data have been collected which demonstrate improvements in healthy eating behaviors and an increase in physical activity for all three programs

Learning Objectives: