P R O M O T I N G T H E H E A L T H O F S T A F F A N D S T U D E N T S A W O R K I N P R O G R E S S

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1 School Wellness Committees P R O M O T I N G T H E H E A L T H O F S T A F F A N D S T U D E N T S A W O R K I N P R O G R E S S

2 Wellness Committees Potential to impact school nutrition and physical activity environments through wellness policies and initiatives. Can encourage co-workers to make lifestyle choices that support their health. Improve the health and academic success of the students by supporting them in an environment where health is valued.

3 ISD 192 Wellness Committee 2007 Several activities offered per year organized by several people interested in the topic of wellness for staff Flu Clinic Physical Activity Challenge of some type. Car Seat Safety Checks Family Swim night Sought donations for prizes for staff Minimal administrative interest and no financial support from district. Insurance broker brought written resources from the district s insurance provider.

4 Added Student Wellness to our Focus 2008: Blue Cross Blue Shield Grant Award was received with 4 other Dakota County School Districts to improve the nutrition and physical activity environment for staff and students. Wellness Committee development was mandated as part of grant activities Federal Mandate required wellness policy development. District policy was written and put on the shelf.

5 Challenges for Wellness Committee Small committee base with big plans. Gain support from committee to take on student wellness. Seeking buy in from administration and staff. Grant opportunity Assessment Data Start small pilot projects?? Communication and Publicity Needed Dakota County Public Health District Communication Person

6 Building Relationships Spent time talking with principals, administrators, staff. Educate about opportunity Explain importance of it for staff and students Ask for their help and support Be bold. Who are some likely and unlikely leaders??? Set reasonable goals Utilize resources available to us

7 Progress. Representatives from all schools in district, Community Education, food service, HR, Public Health, parents, administration, bargaining units including health, secretarial, and teachers. Dusted off district wellness policy and began to use it to guide our wellness activities, evaluate effectiveness and redefine our work. Dakota County Public Health Support Mini- grants Technical support Web site Wellness Bulletin Boards in each building Monthly staff wellness activities Weight Watchers group Student wellness activities Taste testing Active Recess Active Classroom

8 Membership 1 district committee Started as staff focused wellness committee. Representatives or Wellness Champion from each school and represent a variety of work groups. Teachers, food service, health, secretarial unit, community education representation, local public health agency, parents and students. Adding a Human Resources representative and Public Health involvement was a defining moment! Administration Helped find/assign members to attend meetings

9 Wellness Plans Dusted off district wellness policy and began to use it to guide our wellness activities, evaluate effectiveness and redefine our work. Dakota County Public Health Support Mini- grants Technical support Web site Wellness Bulletin Boards in each building Monthly staff wellness activities Weight Watchers group Student wellness activities Taste testing Active Recess Active Classroom

10 Wellness Information for Staff

11 Opening Day of School Wellness Walk

12 Staff Taste Testing

13 Taste Testing and Education

14 Wellness Committees need. Administrative Support Wellness Champions Passion and belief that what they are doing is important. Someone willing to lead the group and allow others to take ownership. Solicit new members A plan Strategic plan Educate while seeking buy-in from others A little $ helps too!! Apply slow sustained pressure Time to plan, implement and evaluate Resources..human and financial

15 Respect for members Honor their time, commitment and ideas Set and stick to meeting dates and times. Keep meetings short and concise Develop and follow an agenda Incorporate ideas of members and the schools they represent Divide the work Sub committees Program committee Policy Committee Publicity Activity Organization Committee Walk Across Minnesota Weight Watcher Group Running Clubs Web site Employee Wellness

16 Homecoming Fun Run

17 Spread the word!! Inform others about what the wellness committee is doing Ask others to become involved Inform administration and staff about financial opportunities and initiatives. Talk with other districts.get ideas Be courageous and try something start small Seek parental support to support your work Get and stay visible

18 Running Club

19 Passion and Purpose Decide on activities to conduct.variety to appeal to a wide variety of participants. Include students and staff and parents Surveys to gather data Wellness topics/events Classroom practices Parents Use inexpensive ways to promote wellness for students, staff and families District web site, newsletters, s, school house news, etc, student hand books, PTO s or PTA groups, etc. Encourage others to take the step and do something new to promote wellness.running Club, Century Club. Success leads to excitement which leads to more success. Celebrate!!! Be creative and have fun!!

20 Breast Cancer Awareness Day

21 Wellness Challenge Traveling Trophy 2010

22 Resources School Employee Wellness: A Guide for Protecting the Assets of Our Nation s Schools Cooperative effort of Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Local Public Health Agency Websites of various health organizations such as American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, etc. Other grant funding agencies, hospitals, clinics, physical activity and nutrition based organizations, individuals with a passion for this type of work. Donations

23 Ride the Wave

24 ISD 192 Future Plans Solicit new members and increase membership to 2-3 members per building. Incorporate parents in the work of promoting health and physical activity. Seek additional funding sources: continue our relationship with our insurance broker. Seek additional grant opportunities.

25 More to do.. Develop more subcommittees and divide the work among the members. Increase publicity about the wellness efforts of individuals and schools. Revise wellness policy to support our vision. Continue to plan for future nutrition and physical activity practice changes

26 Resources