Alliance for a Healthier Generation

There is no single cause and no single solution for childhood obesity. As a result, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference in a child’s health including homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities.

The Alliance is leading the charge against the childhood obesity epidemic by engaging directly with industry leaders, educators, parents, healthcare professionals, and—most importantly—kids.

Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015 and to inspire young people to develop lifelong healthy habits.

What We Do

Supports more than 12,000 schools in all 50 states as they transform their environments into places where students have better access to physical activity and healthier foods before, during and after school.

Engages community centers, afterschool programs, faith-based organizations, parks, recreational facilities and dozens of other organizations who play an essential role in empowering youth to live healthier lives.

Activates more than 2.5 million teens and tweens to commit to eat healthier, move more and serve as leaders with their peers.

By engaging and activating leaders who can transform the environments and communities that nurture our children, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation:

What We Do

Build a coalition of major health insurers, employers and national medical associations to provide more than one million children with access to at least four follow up visits with their primary care provider and at least four follow up visits with a registered dietitian each year as a part of their regular health insurance benefits.

Broker voluntary agreements with the beverage, snack and dairy industries to reduce calories and portions of beverages and snack foods sold to kids in schools that has contributed to an 88 percent decrease in total beverage calories shipped to U.S. schools between 2004 and 2009.

“If schools do not deal with children’s health by design, they deal with it by default.”

Health is Academic, 1997

Healthy Schools ProgramProvides technical support to over 12,000 schools across the country

Recognizes successful schools through a national award program

Robert Wood Johnson FoundationGrant Renewal

• On June 13, 2011, the Alliance announced it has received $23.2 million grant from RWJF to expand and extend its Healthy Schools Program through 2014

• Since 2006, RWJF has provided more than $50 million to support the Healthy Schools Program nationwide

• Largest investment in a single program as part of RWJF’s $500 million commitment to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States by 2015

Best Practices Framework

• Student Wellness (includes Before/Afterschool Programs & Physical Activity)

• Competitive Foods and School Beverages

• Health Education

• Physical Education

• Policy/Systems

• School Employee Wellness

• School Meals

A set of best practice criteria that provide guidelines for a healthier school environment

The Six Step Process

• Step 1 Start a Wellness Council

• Step 2 Complete an Inventory

• Step 3 Develop an Action Plan

• Step 4 Identify Resources

• Step 5 Take Action

• Step 6 Celebrate Success

Our Hands On Support

• Guides School Wellness Councils through the process of developing a healthier school environment

• Brokers connections to local, state and national resources schools need to implement their action plan

• Showcases school’s successes through our recognition program and communications strategies

Healthy Schools Program

In Florida since 2006:- 494 schools receive onsite support

- 380 schools have enrolled via HealthierGeneration.org

- 1 Florida Relationship Manager serves over 150 schools in 8 school districts across Florida

- 3 Relationship Managers in Miami-Dade County support all Miami schools

- All schools in Escambia and Osceola receive on site support

- All schools in Pinellas enrolled (11 receive on site support)

Resources to Support School Action Plans

• Content experts to answer questions about how to effectively implement action steps

• Implementation Toolkits for each content area

• Professional development opportunities such as Web-based seminars (Webinars), consultations with content managers

• Searchable online Resource Database to find local, state, and national resources; funding opportunities; and member discounts

Resources (cont.)

• Success Stories and Helpful Tools for Healthy Schools eNewsletters

• Food and beverage product navigator and calculator

• Paul Pierce Physical Activity Break videos

• Be Well book (www.bewellbook.org)

• And more… check out our website at www.healthiergeneration.org

The National Recognition Award

The Healthy Schools Program National Recognition Award is an honor given nationally to showcase and acknowledge schools that have implemented changes in order to create healthier school environments.  To earn an award, schools must meet best practice criteria in each of the 7 content areas outlined in the Healthy Schools Program Framework.

Since 2006-2007, 96 schools in Florida have received

national recognition.

2011 National Recognition AwardsJune 12th – 13th, 2011, Little Rock, AR

• Silver: 16 Schools (15 in Miami)

• Bronze: 30 Schools (25 in Miami)

Sunrise Elementary School, Kissimmee, FLBronze Recognition, 2009-2010

Made following a healthy lifestyle part of their school’s culture.

“My children start their school day with physical activity, have access to healthy lunch options and look at their teachers as role models in living a healthy lifestyle. This has helped establish a foundation of healthy living that they actively embrace.”

– Sunrise Elementary School Parent

Success Story

Success StoryHow did they do it?•Different areas of the school are involved…it’s truly a team effort: administration, school nurse, cafeteria manager, guidance counselor, PE coach, and teachers made up the Wellness Committee.

•The more we inform students and staff about the changes needed and why, the more they implement them into their lifestyles.

•Students are hand-on learners: we show them what 5 lb. of fat looks like and what it does to the body; do taste testings in the cafeteria to introduce fruits and vegetables and show them correct portion sizes.

•School policy doesn’t allow fast food items in the school. Students are encouraged to bring healthy snacks.

•Parents hear about the changes in wellness programs and newsletters in the school newsletter.

“Health and success in school are interrelated. Schools cannot achieve their primary mission of education if students and staff are not healthy

and fit physically, mentally, and socially.”

National Association of State Boards of Education

What can you do?

• Enroll in the Healthy Schools Program online to access:

– Team of national experts

– Resource database

– Technical newsletters

– Toolkits in program content areas

Join the Healthy Schools Program at www.healthiergeneration.org/schools