223568 Healthy schools: Why should we care

Monday, November 8, 2010

Gillian Sealy, MPH , Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Miami, FL
Joan Brucha, MPH , Healthy Schools PROGRAM, ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION, Denver, CO
Background and Significance: Research suggests that healthier school environments can result in increased academic achievement and contributes to reducing childhood obesity by providing an opportunity for increased physical activity and healthy eating. Every student deserves the right to be healthy and fulfill their full potential. Purpose/Methodology: The Healthy Schools Program is being implemented in over 300 schools in Miami, Florida. This four year initiative began with six pilot schools in 2006. Based on inventory data, Miami Dade Schools are successfully promoting healthier school campuses through employee wellness programs, policy and physical education. Findings/Results: Preliminary findings suggest that school wellness policy and programs have a profound impact on changes that happen on school campuses all across the country. Specifically in Miami-Dade, Florida, school wellness councils have been pivotal in promoting and creating healthier school environments. Conclusion: Childhood obesity is a current and important public health problem that needs to be addressed. The Healthy Schools Program engages in best practices that seek to address and provide viable solutions to this issue.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
1. Identify ways to promote healthier school environments using a set of best practices. 2. Discuss the factors that set urban schools up for success using the Miami Dade example and aggregate data from school-based inventories. 3. Explain using the example of how community stakeholders in Miami-Dade Public Schools have supported school wellness councils in their efforts to create and sustain healthy school campuses. 4. Discuss how the Healthy Schools Program can affect change in school wellness programs and policy.

Keywords: School Health, School-Based Programs

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract presenter because I am responsible for the team responsible for providing technical assistance to the Miami-Dade schools enrolled in the Healthy Schools Program and work closely with the poster Author, Gillian Sealy/
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.