Creating strong partnerships for healthier schools and healthier students Presented by: Ginny Hinton, MPH UF/IFAS Santa Rosa County Extension Service & Leah Roberts, RD, CDE, CSSD, LDN Santa Rosa County Health Department Santa Rosa County

Demographics Population: 154,104 Demographics: 88.2% White; 6% Black; 2% Asian, 4.6% Hispanic 88.4% graduated High School, 24.7% Bachelors or higher Percent free and reduced: 15%-87% Number of Schools: 18 Pre-K/Elementary 8 Middle 6 High School

 Collected yearly for grades 1, 3 and 6  Data summarized and reviewed by School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)  BMI data presented to School Board each Spring by School Health Nursing Specialist and Sodexo Student BMI Data

Santa Rosa County BMI data Our children are becoming more overweight by the time they are twelve compared to when they entered the district at age 5.

BMI Challenge: how can we reverse the trend?  Identify goals and target grades/schools through SHAC  Utilize school nutrition program evaluation data for continuous programmatic improvement  Mobilize community partners through the Childhood Obesity subcommittee  Determine our next steps by identifying gaps in knowledge (CHANGE Tool assessments, current or proposed food service initiatives and education initiatives)

SHAC members Santa Rosa County Health Department - Nursing Program Specialist (co-chair) - Tobacco Prevention Specialists & Registered Dietician Santa Rosa District Schools - Health Services Coordinator (co-chair) - School District Wellness Coordinators & HR Services Manager - After School/Summer Snack Program Coordinators UF/IFAS County Extension Service - FCS/Family Nutrition Program Agent - 4H Youth Development Agent & Program Assistant Sodexo School Food Service Pediatric Specialists of America (PSA) Healthy Start Early Learning Coalition Santa Rosa Pediatrics

Santa Rosa County School District School Board supports nutrition & wellness policy changes recommended by SHAC Supports and markets community agency involvement in schools After school programs receptive to healthful snack menu changes

Sodexo Funded full-time nutrition educator to deliver nutrition lessons to 6 elementary schools Sponsored nutrition-related “family nights” at elementary schools. Partnered with Extension Service to offer nutrition education to teachers Facilitated school applications for HUSSC awards (Santa Rosa won 9 Gold Awards of Distinction)

UF/IFAS Extension Services Family Nutrition Program (FNP) Interactive Nutrition Education Provided monthly nutrition education at 6 elementary schools Evidence-based curriculum delivered by 2 nutrition educators Partner agency for school “family night” and staff nutrition education/wellness programs Developed monthly web-based parent newsletter Provided program evaluation tools -

4H Youth Development - After-school program offered experiential learning activities in nutrition and healthy lifestyles at 7 elementary schools - “4H Health Rocks” healthy lifestyles curriculum utilized at 1 middle school and elementary after-school programs - Provided 4H curricula to teachers for school enrichment programs Horticulture & Agriculture Programs - Agent and Master Gardeners assisted with building school gardens - - Agent provided educational support to teachers and students

 Improved “parent-friendly” BMI letters sent home after screening identified students at either 85%  Created nutrition education display boards for 6th grade BMI screenings  Developed BMI brochure to increase parent education: What is BMI? Why is it an important screening tool? Liquid calories count NIH calorie requirements chart (ages 4-18)  Kid Power Nutrition Education  Outreach to Pediatricians

Successful policy change efforts 1. BMI Wellness Policy Training: New mandatory yearly training for SRC schools that discusses faculty’s “role in preventing or combating childhood obesity” by honoring the Wellness Policy guidelines 2.No Food as a Reward: Alternatives such as social rewards added to Wellness Policy 3.Reviewed after school snack compliance with Wellness Policy, resulting in total makeover of snacks ordered to meet requirements. Snacks meeting HUSSC guidelines were added to Wellness Policy 4.Implemented Walking School Bus district policy