Healthy Communities - Healthy Schools - Cook County Department of Public Health

Healthy Schools

Healthy Schools:

Improve access to healthier food through policies that eliminate junk food and increase fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in school meals
Increase physical activity for students through strong physical education curriculum and varied activities for all students before, during and after the school day
Enhance nutrition education through a comprehensive health education program that teaches the knowledge and skills necessary to make healthy choices
Establish school employee wellness programs so that staff can be healthy, present at school and act as role models for students

Schools know the impact that health has on a student’s ability to learn. Making healthy changes as outlined above enable schools to increase attendance, boost math scores, increase attention, decrease discipline and nurse referrals, and address the academic achievement gap.

A healthy school creates a culture where healthy eating and physical activity are the norm and not the exception. However, even schools with strong policies and the desire to create healthier environments still face significant barriers to making these changes.

Healthy Schools and Model Communities:

CCDPH awarded Model Community grants to school districts/local education agencies that applied for the funding to create change in the school that would make it easier for their school community and families to live healthy, active lives. The schools that were awarded Model Community funding are now actively working to make two types of changes in their schools. These changes are called policy, system and environmental change strategies.

Policy, system and environmental change strategies:

Healthy Schools Action Plans:

A continuous improvement process guided by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program Framework; Criteria for developing a healthier school environment.

Brookwood School District 167
Chicago Ridge School District 127 ½
Cicero Elementary School District 99
Community High School District 218
Harvey School District 152
J. Sterling Morton High School District
Matteson School District 162
Maywood-Melrose Park School District 89
Oak Lawn Community High School District 229
Thornton Fractional High School District

Improve School Food Environment:

The food environment can be improved through healthier school meals, healthier competitive food options (vending, fundraising, celebrations, snacks/a la carte) and access to more fresh produce.

Arlington Heights School District 25
Chicago Ridge School District 127 ½
Cicero Elementary School District 99
Community High School District 218
East Maine District 63 Education Foundation – TLC
Harvey School District 152
Matteson School District 162
Maywood-Melrose Park District 89
Oak Lawn Community High School District 229
Thornton Fractional High School District

Improve Student Physical Activity:

Physical activity is improved through increasing students’ opportunities to be physically active during, before and after the school day.

Arlington Heights School District 25
Brookwood School District 167
Chicago Ridge School District 127 ½
Cicero Elementary School District 99
Community High School District 218
East Maine District 63 Education Foundation – TLC
Harvey School District 152
J. Sterling Morton High School District
Matteson School District 162
Maywood- Melrose Park School District 89
Oak Lawn Community High School District 229
Thornton Fractional High School District

Increase Active Transport to/from School, and Access to Spaces to be Physically Active:

Promote walking and biking to school through a travel plan that determines and creates safe and accessible routes. Create partnerships with schools and other community institutions to create agreements that allow children and adults access to spaces and opportunities to be physically active.

East Maine District 63 Education Foundation – TLC

Resources for School Healthy Professionals:

CCDPH partnered with Healthy Schools Campaign in an effort to make schools a healthier place to learn and work. The Healthy Schools Campaign is offering school nurses and nurses working in schools in suburban Cook County the opportunity to participate in leadership training to help implement policies and programs addressing school food, nutrition education, physical education and physical activity in schools and districts.

To learn more about how you can make your school healthier by implementing policies and programs, or to access resources for your school, please visit the Healthy Schools Campaign website: http://www.healthyschoolscampaign.org/programs/schoolnurse/

RESOURCE LINKS FOR SCHOOLS

Healthy School Facts
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation: http://www.healthiergeneration.org/
- Illinois State board of Education—Interactive Report Card: http://iirc.niu.edu/
- Coordinated School Health Framework: http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/CSHP/#3
School Employee Wellness:
- Wellness Councils of America: http://www.welcoa.org/freeresources/pdf/stepbystepfr.pdf
- University of North Carolina: http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/SchoolWellnessTlkt/SchoolWellnessTlkt.html
- American Heart Association: http://www.schoolempwell.org/
Nutrition Services
- USDA breakfast in the classroom: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/expansion/expansionstrategies.htm
- USDA School Food Guidelines: http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/
- Breakfast in the Classroom: http://www.breakfastintheclassroom.org/
- My Plate: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/
- A Guide to Taste Testing Local Foods In Schools: http://www.vtfeed.org/materials/guide-taste-testing-local-foods-schools
- Culinary Techniques for Healthy School Meals: http://nfsmi.org/Templates/TemplateDefault.aspx?qs=cElEPTIxNg
- Fit Pick (for Vending): http://fitpick.org/
- Public Health Advocacy Institute: http://www.phaionline.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/mappingschoolfood.pdf
- American Heart Association: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/NutritionCenter/Nutrition-Center_UCM_001188_SubHomePage.jsp
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation: www.healthiergeneration.org/schoolmeals (the navigator and calculator are on this page) www.healthiergeneration.org/fundraisers www.healthiergeneration.org/celebrations
- Center for Science in the Public Interest: http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/healthy_school_celebrations.pdf
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation: http://www.healthiergeneration.org/uploadedfiles/For_Schools/_New_Builder_Pages/Resources/10-2056.pdf
Family and Community Involvement
- National Parent Teacher Association: http://www.pta.org/
- John Hopkins University: http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/nnps_model/school/sixtypes.htm#
Physical Education:
- National Association for Sport and Physical Education: http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/grants/grants/
- SPARK: http://www.sparkpe.org/physical-education-resources/
- Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT): http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/pecat/index.htm
Physical Activity:
- Jammin Minute: http://www.jamschoolprogram.com/
- Energizers--Classroom Based Physical Activities: http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/Energizers/Texts/K-5-Energizers.pdf
- Physical Activity Brain Breaks: http://www.emc.cmich.edu/brainbreaks/#
- Physical Activity Guidelines: http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/guidelines/chapter3.aspx
- NASPE’s Teacher Toolbox: http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/publications/teachingTools/toolbox/index.cfm
- Safe Routes to School: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/
School Gardens:
- Seven Generations Ahead: http://www.sevengenerationsahead.org/
- Agriculture in the Classroom: www.agclassroom.org
- The Center for Ecoliteracy Teaching Strategies: www.ecoliteracy.org
- School Garden Wizard: www.schoolgardenwizard.org
Funding Opportunities:
1. Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools: School-health and community health grant opportunities. http://www.healthinschools.org/News-Room/Grant-Alerts.aspx
2. National Association for Sport and Physical Education: Database of Foundations and Grant opportunities that promote physical activity. Excellent resource for schools, park districts, municipalities and community based organizations. http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/grants/grants/grantopportunities.cfm
3. Shaping America’s Youth: Lists funding opportunities for programs and projects related to obesity prevention. http://www.shapingamericasyouth.com/programs.aspx?page=featured
4. SPARK Grant-Finder Tool: Database to locate national and state-specific grants for Physical Education, After school, Early childhood or Coordinated School Health programs. Grants can be used for curriculum, teacher training, or equipment. http://www.sparkpe.org/grants/grantfunding-resources/
Health Education
- Adolescent and School Health: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/
- School Health Education Resources: http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/sher/
- Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT): http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/hecat/index.htm
- American Association for Health Education: http://www.aahperd.org/aahe/publications/HE-Standtard.cfm
School Health Professionals:
- The Center for Health and Healthcare in Schools: http://www.healthinschools.org/Health-in-Schools/Health-Services/School-Health-Services.aspx
- Health, mental health, and safety guidelines for schools: http://www.nationalguidelines.org/guideline.cfm?guideNum=7-02
- Youth Mental health: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/mentalhealth/
Get Involved:
- Join an Alliance for Healthy & Active Communities (AHAC) to learn how to increase the availability, accessibility, and demand for healthy nutritional options in your own community.
- Become a member of Cook County Connects. Cook County Connects features an online social network connecting hundreds of people working to make suburban Cook County a healthier place to live, work, and play. Members come from entities throughout suburban Cook County, including community-based organizations, local governments, and school systems. Join today to connect with, learn from, and share best practices with others in suburban Cook County. To join, fill out a member request form.

Cook County Department of Public Health

Healthy Schools

Healthy Schools and Model Communities:

Healthy Schools Action Plans:

Improve School Food Environment:

Improve Student Physical Activity:

Increase Active Transport to/from School, and Access to Spaces to be Physically Active:

Resources for School Healthy Professionals:

RESOURCE LINKS FOR SCHOOLS

Helpful Links

CCDPH on Facebook

Cook County Department of Public Health

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Healthy Schools

Healthy Schools and Model Communities:

Healthy Schools Action Plans:

Improve School Food Environment:

Improve Student Physical Activity:

Increase Active Transport to/from School, and Access to Spaces to be Physically Active:

Resources for School Healthy Professionals:

RESOURCE LINKS FOR SCHOOLS

Helpful Links

CCDPH on Facebook