2015 APHA Annual Meeting & Expo

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

328791
Game On: Putting School Wellness Policies into Practice


Monday, November 2, 2015

Heidi Knoblock, MPH, Action for Healthy Kids, Chicago, IL
Hannah Laughlin, MPH, Action for Healthy Kids, Chicago, IL
Amy Moyer, MPH, RD, Action for Healthy Kids, Chicago, IL
  
Background: In October 2012, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) passed a strong and progressive Local School Wellness Policy in accordance with the Healthy Hunger Free Kids Act. Since then, CPS has passed two additional wellness policies: The Healthy Snack and Beverage Policy to address competitive foods and the Physical Education Policy to reinstate daily physical education. As a strategic partner to CPS’ Office of Student health and Wellness, Action for Healthy Kids supported schools with the implementation of district wellness policies.

Methods: AFHK utilized their signature school wellness framework, Game On, to pilot a 3-year model to ensure schools align with district wellness policies. AFHK worked with twenty CPS elementary schools to build wellness teams, develop school-level action plans, implement nutrition and physical activities, engage parents and community, and submit applications to the HealthierUS School Challenge and CPS LearnWELL program to certify their school environments as health-promoting. 

Results: 100% of schools have established and maintained school wellness team and school-level action plans, 95% of schools submitted a HealthierUS School Challenge application.

Conclusion: Game On as a 3-year model has proved to be a successful tool to support schools in aligning with CPS wellness policies and improving the school environment.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs

Learning Objectives:
Describe how Game On, a school-based wellness framework, can improve school health. Discuss best practices and strategies for implementing district-level wellness policies in schools. Discuss the importance of a strong district wellness policy and support to school level implementation of the policy.

Keyword(s): Nutrition, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have served as the Game On: Putting Policies into Practice project manager since the project's inception two years ago. As the School Program Manager for Action for Healthy Kids, I support Illinois schools in their efforts to create healthy schools and serves as the lead contact for Chicago-area grant-funded schools as they implement their funded initiatives.
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.

Back to: 3319.0: Measuring School and Youth Health Outcomes