The Wellness Policy Mandate. Will You Be Ready for July 1, 2006? Pennsylvania Department of Education Division of Food and Nutrition Pat Birkenshaw, State Director Child Nutrition Programs Vonda Fekete, M.S., R.D.,L.D.N.

Local Wellness Policy Public Law , Section 204 Each LEA participating in National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program Establish policy for schools under the LEA Intent of Congress = Local level Awaiting guidance from USDA 1 st day of school after July 1, 2006

Local Wellness Policy Requirements Goals for: –Nutrition education –Physical activity –And other school based activities Designed to promote student wellness

Local Wellness Policy Requirements Nutrition guidelines for all foods available on each school campus during the school day Objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity

Nutrition Standards for Competitive Foods Voluntary Phased in over 3 years For competitive foods only Provide assistance for meeting requirements Consistent standard for “healthy” Uniform request (nutrient content and package size) for food manufacturers to better respond

Local Wellness Policy Requirements Establish a plan for measuring implementation Designation of one or more persons (LEA or at each school) charged with operational responsibility for ensuring school meets wellness policy

Local Wellness Policy Requirements The development involves: –Parents –Students –School Food Authority –School Board –School Administrators –Public

Coordinated School Health

What is Coordinated School Health? Integrates efforts of eight components Can strongly influence student health Focus is improving quality of each component and collaboration among people working on them Emphasizes needs assessment, planning based on data, sound science, analysis of gaps and redundancies in school health programming, and evaluation

What is Coordinated School Health? School Health Coordinator School Health Councils

School Health Coordinator Responsible for managing and coordinating all school health policies, programs, activities and resources

School Health Councils Representatives from different segments of school and community: ParentsTeachers Students School Administrators Community Service Providers Provides guidance to school health coordinator Can institutionalize health promotion in school or district

Action Steps Form team Investigate councils that already exist at the district or building level that involve many of the same people Investigate policies that already exist at the district or building level

Resources Project PA “Preventing Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Parents Can Make a Difference” Environmental Strategies Mini Grants Poster and Essay Contest Increasing School Meals Participation- Breakfast

Resources USDA Team Nutrition –Wellness Policy Section –Making It Happen-coming soon! –Changing the Scene HealthierUS School Challenge National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE)

Resources American Cancer Society ool_health.asp Action For Healthy Kids Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA) Family and Community Careers Leaders of America (FCCLA)