Evolution of a Wellness Policy

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Evolution of a Wellness Policy
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Education? Policy ?Environment
• Helen Mont-Ferguson, M.B.A., R.D.

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EDUCATION
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 1995
• Nutrition Educator Coordinator Nutrition
  Education Program developed with the assistance
  and cooperation of Unified Support Services,
  outside partnerships and agencies
• UMass Extension 3 FT educators providing
  nutrition education classes (4 lessons per class)
• NEDC Distribution of nutrition education
  curriculum to ALL 2nd 4th grades of Boston
  Public Schools GRATUS
• SOS Operation Frontline Nutrition Ed. Culinary
  Classes
• Project Bread Promotion of Breakfast Program
  with emphasis on relationship between nutrition,
  learning and behavior.
• Healthy School Meals InitiativeTeam Nutrition
  established

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expanding the nutrition education program
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 1998 Partnership with HSPH developed
• concept of a multi-thematic,
  interdisciplinary nutrition education PA
  curriculum introduced. Piloting and
  implementation of Planet Health to 6th, 7th
  8th grades. Technical Support to teachers
• Eat Well Keep Moving multi-thematic curriculum
  for 4th 5th graders.

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Boston Steps
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Five year 7.25 million dollar CDC community
  mobilization effort to reduce the burden of
• Overweight/obesity
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• By addressing key risk factors
• Lack of physical activity
• Poor nutrition (caloric intake and types of
  foods)
• Tobacco use
• Environmental triggers for asthma
• And providing disease management support

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Boston Steps General Approach
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Address determinants of behavior (eating and
  physical activity) at multiple levels
• Individual knowledge, attitude, skills.
• Interpersonal family, friends, social networks.
• Organizational work, school, other institutions.
• Community environment, norms, marketing.
• Public policy local, state and federal levels.

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The Next Wave of Wellness
Social Ecological Model
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Boston Public Schools Steps School Health
Council Guiding Principals
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Schools will have ongoing assessments of
  nutrition, fitness and physical environment
• Schools will have an integrated system of
  clinical management for chronic disease
• Schools will adopt and enforce policies that
  support wellness opportunities at both the
  individual school and district level
• Focuses on a Coordinated School Health Approach.

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Policy Development..
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 2004 Boston Public Schools Department of Food
  Nutrition Services developed the Healthy Beverage
  Snack Policy for all vending, snack lines and a
  la carte foods
• These Guidelines adhere to and are supported by
  MA Action For Healthy Kids and pertain to ALL
  foods offered in the Boston Public Schools

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Policy Development
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 2006
• Wellness Policy mandated by USDA
• Developed and approved by school committee in
  April 2006 for the district
• 4 components
• Nutrition Education
• Physical Education/Physical Activity
• Healthy Foods
• Other school-based activities designed to promote
  student wellness

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Wellness Policy..
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 2007
• Wellness Coordinator Hired
• All schools required to develop Wellness Action
  Plans which need to be a component of the
  schools Whole School Improvement Plan(WSIP)
• Mini-grants offered on a competitive basis to
  assist in plan implementation
• Technical Support provided

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Boston Collaboration for Food Fitness
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 10 million dollar grant offered by the Kelloggs
  Foundation
• Boston has been awarded 500,000 for planning and
  developing a process oriented approach to
  wellness.

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Chefs Initiative
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Supported by BPHC Steps and Project Bread
• Professional chef in 2 pilot middle schools

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Alliance For a Healthier Generation
The Next Wave of Wellness

• 1 million dollar donation to Boston Public
  Schools by the Kessler Family through the
  Alliance For a Healthier Generation a
  partnership between the Clinton Foundation, the
  AHA and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Assists schools in the development,
  implementation and evaluation of their Wellness
  Programs.
• A 4 year program beginning with the rolling out
  of 30 schools yearly to eventually include all
  Boston Public Schools
• Includes the hiring of a Relationship Manager
  to provide technical support to schools by local
  and national agencies.

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At the State Level
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Stalker Institute
• Provides programs on nutrition and health
  promotion, in conjunction with the comprehensive
  school health model, using an interdisciplinary,
  collaborative team approach.
• The Institute offers conferences, programs, and
  courses, and a lending library for teachers,
  school food service personnel, health educators,
  child nutrition professionals, and other members
  of the Massachusetts school community
• Offers a comprehensive Wellness Website which
  provides national information on other state
  districts wellness policies johnstalkerinstitute
  .org
• Provides the A List an updated and
  ever-expanding list of vending and snack products
  that meet the Massachusetts A La Carte Food
  Beverage Standards to Promote a Healthier School
  Environment (Massachusetts Standards) developed
  by MA Action For Healthy Kids

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Environment
The Next Wave of Wellness

• Education, Policy and now
• 1st Annual Boston Public Schools Wellness Summit
  taking place in March. This will allow schools to
  showcase their healthy school environments and
  allow for sharing of information.
• All community partners are invited to attend and
  to showcase the technical support they have
  provided to schools.
• Changing the Scene- USDA Training

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