Project healthy schools: Increasing heart healthy behaviors in middle school students through school and community collaboration

Recognition of the childhood obesity crisis led to development of Project Healthy Schools (PHS) in 2004. The goal of PHS, a community-University of Michigan collaborative is to improve overall and cardiovascular health of middle school students through school-based programming and environmental change. To date, 27 schools/17,691 students have participated including 4,200 who have participated in research. PHS uses a socio-ecological model to implement education and promote school environmental/policy change and engage community support. Outcome measures: height/weight (BMI), 3-minute step test, resting heart rate, blood pressure, lipid profile, random glucose and before/after behavioral survey reveal significant improvement in cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behaviors at 4 year follow up across diverse populations. Engaging many diverse partners to match school needs is a significant practice for program success. Assessment of school and community readiness prior to program implementation increases the likelihood that PHS will become embedded in school culture and obtain community support. Keys to success include school administrative commitment; food service/teacher/parent engagement; school wellness champion; availability of community recreation opportunities; supportive community resources. PHS partnerships include community coalitions, health systems, insurance companies and service groups. PHS partnership with an after school mentoring program provided entry into Detroit Public Schools. An alliance with an insurer provided funding needed to offer PHS in Marshall,MI. Three health systems are providing funding for their service area schools. PHS is demonstrating that an effective behavior change program for youth can be replicated in diverse populations and sustained through deliberate and strategic school and community partnerships.