|
|
|
Schools, families, and communities can work together to
encourage active lifestyles. To achieve this objective,
priority recommendations include adoption of school-based
curricula and policies that provide quality, daily physical
education for all students, encouragement of policies
that provide K-12 students with opportunities for physical
activity outside of formal PA classes, and provision of
opportunities to replace sedentary behaviors, like TV
watching.
The descriptions below illustrates what organizations
and communities are doing to support priority recommendations
to increase physical activity for children.
The
King County STEPS to a HealthierUS is utilizing
the CDC School Health Index (SHI) for assessment
and planning. It is a tool to assist schools to:
identify the strengths and weaknesses of school's
policies and programs for promoting health and safety;
develop an action plan for improving student health
and safety; and involve teachers, parents, students,
and the community in improving school policies,
programs, and services. The SHI is one of the BEST
ways to get schools thinking about how the school's
practices and policies (such as having pop machines
or not having a health education curricula) affect
students health.
|
Target
audience: School teachers, staff, parents, and
students who are interested in promoting a healthy
school environment.
|
Evaluation:
Through the process of completing the SHI, schools'
create an action plan. The main outcome we are looking
at is if the action plan was indeeed implemented
and then, did the overall school health environment
(as measured by the SHI) improve.
|
Partners:
A wide range of community and school partners in
10 schools with Seattle Public Schools.
|
Lead
agency role: Steps
to a HealthierUS is a 5 year grant through the
CDC focused on diabetes, asthma, obesity, physical
activity, nutrition, and smoking. I am the Schools
Coordinator and work with Seattle, Highline, and
Tukwila School Districts.
|
For
more information:
Carolyn
Kramer
Tel: 206-252-0754
Fax: 206-252-0751
|
Energize
Your Life! Eat Healthy-Be Active is a powerful,
positive message that can be used to promote nutrition
and physical activity. The slogan was developed
by an Advanced Marketing class at WSU.
|
Target
audience: Groups of all ages.
|
Evaluation:
Students interviewed leaders in state food and nutrition
agencies to define the type of message that would
promote nutrition and physical activity; Tested
draft messages through focus group interviews with
45 kids, adults and seniors from low-income communities
in SeaTac, Everett, Kennewick and Tacoma; Presented
draft messages to 65 leaders of organizations which
provide an array of food and nutrition services
to diverse clientele and who were interested in
using the message. The leaders modified the messages
for final testing; Surveyed over 200 clients to
rate messages. The messages appeared in different
orders on surveys to reduce bias. No matter what
the age or ethnic background, the choice was clear:
Energize Your Life! Eat Healthy-Be Active. Data
will be continually collected to track how and where
the logo is used.
|
Partners:
Partners who assisted in logo development include:
DSHS, Office of Program Policy and Planning, Department
of Health, WIC, Senior Nutrition Program, Community
Trade and Economic Development, Office of Superintendent
of Public Instruction, Association of Washington
Cities, WSU Extension, WA Food Coalition, Local
Health Departments, and many other organizations.
|
Lead
agency role: The Nutrition Education Network
of Washington is a strategic alliance that coordinates
nutrition education efforts to communicate consistent,
positive and relevant messages to increase awareness
of healthful and enjoyable eating. The Network is
managed by Washington State University and is funded,
in part by the US Department of Agriculture, Food
and Nutrition Service, Food Stamp Office.
|
For
more information:
Sue Nicholson Butkus
Tel: 253-445-4553
Fax: 253-445-4569
|
|
|
|
|
