Project Healthy Schools: Collaboration to promote longterm health and wellness for youth

In an effort to curb the childhood obesity crisis, Project Healthy Schools (PHS) Community-University of Michigan collaborative was formed in 2004 to provide middle school-based programming reducing childhood obesity and long-term CVD health risks. To date, 21 schools /13,612 students have participated in PHS activities, more than 2300 of these in research. PHS uses an ecological framework to implement education and promote change in school environment/policies and to engage community support for program support and sustainability. PHS interventions are based on five goals: Eat more fruits/ vegetables; Make better beverage choices; Exercise at least 150 min/week; Eat less fast/fatty foods; Spend less TV /computer time. Components include 10 hands-on activities; motivational assemblies; incentives rewarding behavior change; cafeteria/policy changes; communication campaigns; Farm-to-School and community outreach. Outcome measures: height/weight (BMI), 3-minute step test, resting heart rate, blood pressure, lipid profile, random glucose and behavioral survey reveal significant improvement in cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behaviors at 4 year follow up and across diverse populations. A model for program replication and sustainability has been developed which includes identifying a school wellness champion, partnering with community organizations to increase opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating and securing continued funding from hospitals and health systems. So far, health systems' partnerships have enabled program expansion to an additional 8 schools in three counties. Through collaboration, PHS is demonstrating that an effective behavior change program for youth can be replicated in diverse populations and communities with the support of local resources for expansion and sustainability.