Action for Healthy Kids

Purpose:

To foster sound nutrition and physical activity in children, youth and schools

Target Population:

All children

Program Goals:

• Systematic, sustainable changes of sound nutrition and good physical activity occur in all schools
• Schools, families and communities engage to improve eating and physical activity patterns in youth
• Action for Healthy Kids is the trusted, recognized authority and resource on creating health-promoting schools that support good nutrition and physical activity

Years in Operation:

2002 - Present

Results:

• Action for Healthy Kids has played a role in educating the public on the epidemic of child-hood obesity and the role schools play in addressing the epidemic. The program has also mobilized government agencies and legislators at the federal, state and local levels to address the issue. A wide variety of organizations, both nonprofit and for profit, are now working with Action for Healthy Kids to reverse the current trend in obesity.
• Action for Healthy Kids currently has organized 9,000 volunteers on Action for Healthy Kids teams nationwide. Health and education leaders have been recruited as team leaders and are actively contributing their expertise to further the program’s goals.
• Action for Healthy Kids organized national “Healthy Schools Summits” in 2002 and 2005, hosted by the U.S. Surgeon General and First Lady Laura Bush. Theses summits served to highlight the grassroots efforts of Action for Healthy Kids partners and volunteers nationwide

Funding:

This program is funded by contributions from donors. In 2007, the National Dairy Council and the National Football League were “Guardian” supporters; the organizations contributed more than $500,000 each.

Key Partners:

National Dairy Council; National Football League; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation;
Kellogg’s Corporate Citizenship Fund; Kraft, Inc.; Pfizer Animal Health; Anthem Blue Cross
Blue Shield Foundation; Aetna Foundation; United States Department of Agriculture

What Works and Why:

Action for Healthy Kids has been successful in part because it was founded on the principle of collaboration with diverse groups, individuals and organizations that work to curb childhood obesity. Action for Healthy Kids Teams and members of the Partner Steering Committee (a committee formed of national partner organizations who oversee the program) represent more than 55 national organizations and government agencies. Partner Steering Committee members state that their involvement with the program helps them make school wellness a high-priority issue within their organizations. Specifically, 97 percent of committee members report that they use the program for knowledge, model approaches, programs, and materials supporting school wellness practices. Alternatively, in keeping with the collaborative approach between participating organizations and Action for Healthy Kids, 79 percent of committee members have provided guidance to the program on major initiatives.

Structure and Operations:

• Action for Healthy Kids periodically publishes special reports about children’s health and ways to take action to foster health-promoting schools.
• Action for Healthy Kids facilitates and participates in events, such as the National Healthy Schools Summit, which launched the nationwide Action for Healthy Kids initiative in 2002.
• Other Action for Healthy Kids programs include:
  • Campaign for School Wellness — A comprehensive approach to supporting wellness in schools is necessary to help students develop lifelong behaviors of good nutrition and physical activity. Action for Healthy Kids works with schools to improve school wellness practices and achieve sustainable change to improve the health and learning of students.
  • Game On! The Ultimate Wellness Challenge — This is a yearlong program that challenges America’s youth, their families, and schools to incorporate healthy food choices and physical activity into their daily lives. A series of four theme-based challenges spaced throughout the school year promotes, engages and recognizes students for their efforts to make better food choices and move more.
  • Recharge! — This is a kit that promotes national standards for health education, physical activity, and family involvement, as well as the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Each ReCharge! kit includes an instructor’s notebook with 29 hands-on lesson plans, equipment to implement the lessons, a training DVD, and more for educators and families.

Barriers to Success:

• Action for Healthy Kids must contend with escalating childhood obesity statistics nationwide.
• Schools have countless priorities and therefore require a great deal of assistance in order to fulfill their roles in the Action for Healthy Kids program.
• Community engagement is vital, and must be continuous, for the success of the program.
  

More Information:

http://www.actionforhealthykids.org

Download:

Download this program information in PDF format.