Partnering for wellness: The importance of community resources

The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 required all school systems that participate in the National School Lunch Program to adopt wellness policies prior to the start of the 2006-2007 school year. In order to develop and implement Local School Wellness Plans, many Atlanta Public Schools have sought the support of community businesses and organizations. The vast majority (97.6%) of Atlanta Public Schools included community partners on their Local School Wellness Councils. Examples of community partners include local grocery stores, banks, home improvement stores, local health departments, fitness facilities, and universities and colleges. Through funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, key informant interviews were conducted with members of Local School Wellness Councils from 40 schools to determine the level and types of support schools receive from partners. The most commonly cited types of support were monetary donations, volunteer personnel, and information or educational services (i.e. flyers, books, lectures). Most schools rated the support from community partners as ‘high', and several respondents indicated that community partners were one of their greatest resources for their wellness plans. These data indicate a relatively high reliance by urban public schools on community organizations to assist with wellness plan implementation. Schools and businesses alike will benefit from establishing relationships and working together to find solutions to improve the health and wellness of students.