Wellness Policy at a Glance

Newburgh Enlarged City School District

Presented by Nancy Faust Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

SJH

Objectives

• Review the Federal Policy Requirements • Discuss the philosophy of the Wellness Policy • Preview The Wellness Quick Guide• Demonstrate the Link between Health and

Academics and the Coordinated School Health Approach

• Review the Goals of the District’s Wellness Committee

• Conclude with examples of a Coordinated School Health Approach

Federal Policy

• Goals for Nutrition Education, Physical Activity and other wellness promotion activities

• Nutrition guidelines for all food available on each campus

• Guidelines for school meals that are not less restrictive than USDA guidelines

• Plans to measure how well schools meet policy goals

Philosophy of the Wellness Policy

• “Newburgh Enlarged City School District is committed to providing school environments and experiences that promote children’s health, well being and ability to learn by supporting a Coordinated School Health Approach.”

Wellness Policy

• “The Board of Education recognizes that children need access to healthful foods and opportunities to be physically active in order to grow, learn and thrive; and that good health fosters positive student attendance and education.”

Wellness Policy

• “The Board of Education also recognizes that healthy eating and physical activity are essential for students to achieve their academic and physical potential, mental growth and lifelong health and well being.”

Philosophy of the Wellness Policy

• The Wellness Policy integrates the eight components of Supportive Learning Environments

Philosophy of the Wellness Policy and Supportive Learning

Environments

• “Learner centered classrooms• Positive school climate• Meaningful stakeholder involvement• Professional learning communities

• Coordinated school health• Social and emotional learning• Continuum of support services• Shared Leadership”

Wellness Policy/ Supportive Learning Environments

and NYS Supportive Learning Initiative

Wellness Policy and Coordinated School Health Approach

• The Coordinated School Health Approach also has eight key components and is a research based Model which provides a framework for the Wellness Policy

• The School Health Index is a research based assessment tool to analyze and evaluate the Coordinated School Health Model

Coordinated School Health Approach

Wellness Policy Quick Guide

• “School Food Service - Children will be encouraged to have a healthy breakfast and lunch through the School Food Service Program. Research has shown the importance of these two meals and their link to improved learning.”

Wellness Policy Quick Guide• “Snacks – Healthy snacks for

school and school sponsored events will make a positive contribution towards a student’s diet and health. Nutritious food and beverage items include fruits,vegetables,water and whole-grain items.”

Healthy Snack Suggestions

• “ Fresh fruits and vegetables • Fat free/low fat cheese (string cheese) &

dairy products (yogurt) • Whole grain baked snack items, pretzels or

cereals • Trail mix, granola or all fruit bars, and flavored

club soda without added sugar or chemicals. • 100% Fruit juice • Fat free/low fat white/chocolate milk”

• (per single serving)

• “Less than 7 grams of fat per serving

• 2 grams or less of saturated fat

• 0 grams of Trans saturated fats

• 360 milligrams or less of sodium

• 15 grams or less of sugar (carbohydrates)”

Healthy Snack ChoicesChoose Sensibly Guidelines

Wellness Quick Guide

• “Rewards – Our schools will discourage the use of foods or beverages, especially those that do not meet the nutritional standards of the District’s policy as rewards for academic performance or good behavior, and will not withhold food or beverages as a negative consequence.”

School Celebrations/Birthday Parties

“Promote student’s health

Consider including at least one serving of fruits, vegetables, low- fat milk and dairy foods, water and whole-grain items.”

Non-food reward and celebration

ideas• “Class leader of the day • Coupon for a special privilege or prize • Certificate • Indoor/outdoor games for the class • Special art project • Gift of a book • No homework coupon • Lunch/Special acknowledgement with teacher

or principal • Free ticket (s) to school event.”

Wellness Quick Guide

• “Fundraising/Items sold at school events- Schools will be encouraged to feature healthy choices and non-food item and services.”

Wellness Quick Guide

• “Physical Activity – Our schools will provide every student (regardless of ability) with regular, age appropriate physical education as well as moderate to vigorous physical activity in accordance with nationally recommended guidelines and NYS Education Department regulations.”

Wellness Quick Guide

• “Recess- All elementary school students will have at least 20 minutes a day of supervised recess to engage in physical activity.”

Eat Well Play Hard = Academic Success

Goals of the District’s Wellness Committee include:

• “Providing a K-12 Health Education Curriculum that helps students achieve the NYS Standards and National Standards.

• Providing guidelines for affordable and healthy school meals and foods consumed in schools.

• Developing and publicizing a resource directory to assist the district and families with information to promote healthy lifestyles.

• Implementing the Wellness Policy in the District’s goals and the improvement plan for each school.

• Establish a means to analyze and evaluate the progress of Wellness activities in the district and individual schools .(The CDC’s School Health Index is a research based outcome measurement tool).”

Conclusion and Examples of a Coordinated School Health Approach

from a Health Services Perspective

• Utilizing the School Health Index as a research tool employs a planning and an evaluation process that includes a wide variety of stakeholders and is aligned with the following health related behaviors and conditions that impact academics:

Health Behaviors and Conditions that Impact Academics

• Tobacco use• Unhealthy dietary behaviors• Inadequate physical activity• Alcohol and other substance abuse• Sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection,

sexually transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancies

• Unintentional injury and violence-related behaviors • Acute and chronic conditions such as Asthma,

Diabetes, Mood Disorders, Seizures • Absenteeism

Academic Intervention from a Health Services Perspective

• Implementing a Coordinated School Health Approach Model utilizing the research based School Health Index, Supportive Learning Environments Model, Response to Intervention Model, and the Wellness Policy, Health Services is positioned to be a valuable partner and stakeholder.

Academics and Health Services Department Interventions / High Quality Health

Promotion and Prevention

• Screening for health problems• Mandatory hearing, vision, dental, scoliosis,

body mass index screening of students, comprehensive physical exams and social histories

• Promote immunizations and monitor for communicable disease

• Identification of acute health problems• Referrals

Academics and Health Services Department Interventions/Early Identification and

Intervention• Participation in Response to Intervention Team• Participation in Section 504 team • Monitoring health issues • Individualized Health Care Plans and Teaching

Plans for students with mild to moderate acute/ chronic health problems

• Provide for administration of medication and treatments

• Identify community resources for families• Case management and coordination

Academics and Health Services Department Interventions/ Intervention for Severe and

Chronic Health Problems• Individualized Healthcare Plans and Teaching

Plans for students with severe chronic health problem

• Daily interventions for intensive health needs (Diabetes, Asthma, Food Allergies, Seizure Disorder, Mental Health Disorders, ADD/ADHD) and case management and coordination

• Participation in the CSE process • Participation in the 504 process.

NECSD Wellness Committee

• Is an excellent example of the Coordinated School Health Model and has voluntary members from most of the eight components of the Model. We would love to include a representative from the Heath Education and Social and Psychological Services Component.

• Many thanks to the team at SJH for starting this initiative and board members, administrators, directors, parents, community partners, and the many colleagues and friends that have continuously supported efforts to reach this milestone.

Bibliography

• NECSD Wellness Policy (2009).• US Department of Health and Human

Services, Center of Disease Control and Prevention, Healthy Youth-Division of Adolescent and School Health.

• US Department of Education Smaller Learning Communities Program.

• US Department of Education Special Education Program

Discussion of health risk behaviors and the School Health Index

• Tobacco use• Unhealthy dietary behaviors• Inadequate physical activity• Alcohol and other substance abuse• Sexual behaviors that result in HIV infection, sexually

transmitted diseases, and unintended pregnancies• Unintentional injury and violence-related behaviors • Acute and chronic conditions such as Asthma, Diabetes,

Mood Disorders, Seizures • Absenteeism

• SEE THE RUBRIC FOR DETAILS