Online Program

328835
Game On: A Challenge for Schools to Ensure Every Kid is Healthy


Wednesday, November 4, 2015 : 10:50 a.m. - 11:10 a.m.

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: Action for Healthy Kids’ Game On school wellness framework is a no-cost, evidence-based online guide that provides information and resources needed to host a successful school wellness program with the ultimate goal of getting certified as a health-promoting school through the United States Department of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Service HealthierUS School Challenge recognition program.

Methods: Game On helps schools create a sound wellness program that energizes students, staff, families and wellness policies. Game On guides schools through a 7-step process to include: Gather a health team, assess and track progress using the School Health Index, create a multi-year implementation plan, implementEat Better and Move More Challenges, buildawareness of health initiatives among the school and community, revise district wellness policy and receive recognition through the HealthierUS School Challenge initiative.

Results: In a pilot study, 95% of schools utilizing Game On made the necessary changes to their school health environment to seek certification through the HealthierUS School Challenge recognition program.

Conclusion: Healthy students learn better. Game On has proved to be a successful tool to guide schools in making positive changes to their school environment and seeking national recognition of certification through the HealthierUS School Challenge recognition program.

Learning Areas:

Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Discuss how Game On, a school-based wellness framework, can improve school health initiatives. Identify Game On Eat Better and Move More Challenges that can be implemented to improve school health. Describe the benefits of seeking certification through the HealthierUS School Challenge recognition program.

Keyword(s): Nutrition, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have participated in the development and revision of the Game On program to provide schools with an effective framework for wellness policy implementation and a pathway for healthy school certification. As the School Program Manager for AFHK, I oversee the Game On program and support schools in their efforts to implement the program to improve their school health environment. Game On was created by AFHK as a free program framework for schools.
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.