Purdue Extension Does…school wellness

I am not the cupcake police.

It wouldn’t be the first time I walk into a school building and I get a look of “uh-oh, hide the cupcakes.” Over the years, I have grown to enjoy the funny pun at my job. While I don’t walk around wearing a uniform and badge, it is often the perception that my job is to take away all the cupcakes and make kids healthy. …ah, if only it were that easy. Health is a serious, life-long journey. One that we owe it to ourselves and our families to take great pride in nurturing. It is my job to help “make the healthy choice, the easy choice.”

Recent changes in government policy have required schools to submit updated school wellness policies…wait, do our schools have school wellness policies. The answer to that is “YES!” All schools in our county are required to have a wellness policy. Each local education agency participating in federal Child Nutrition Programs, including the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, is required to develop and implement a wellness policy as established by the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, and recently enhanced by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. Wellness policies can be integrated into the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model for school health, and can help put into action several provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act, including Title I and Title IV.

You might be asking yourself why is it important for our schools to have wellness policies? Schools are in a unique position to help children, adolescents and communities develop healthy eating habits and also encourage physical activity. Whether in the lunchroom, having a snack, or celebrating a success, students who have healthy food and beverage choices available are more likely to benefit in the classroom as well as adopt eating habits that will promote health later in life. The same goes for physical activity. Schools can encourage students to be physically active during different parts of their day. Classroom breaks, recess, commuting, and before/after-school activities are wonderful opportunities for physical activity.  Let’s do a little math…healthy eating habits + physically active students = happy, healthier students building a foundation for lifelong health. As childhood obesity continues to be a challenge, it’s time to put this simple math problem into action.

We all know that policy does us no good if we do not implement it. There are a lot of factors that go into play when we discuss implementation of school wellness policies. Common questions and concerns I hear are “our students won’t eat fresh fruit and vegetables,” “we do not have enough time in the school day for more physical activity,” “does staff have to follow the same policy,” “what if parents do not support our policy,” and the list goes on. Each of these questions is valid. If it were easy, we wouldn’t even be talking about it. My job is to assist schools in finding ways to reduce barriers and achieve the success they seek. I truly believe EVERY child has the RIGHT to live healthy and we as a community have a responsibility in making that happen.

Each school will have its own unique challenges and solutions but to make this successful the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) emphasizes the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC). Locally, we have the support of the Welborn Baptist Foundation. (http://www.heroesinitiative.org/about-heroes) The foundation supports the HEROES program to provide financial and guiding support to elementary and middle schools so that they can commit, implement, and evaluate their own school’s health, based on the CDC’s research-based and proven Coordinated School Health (CSH) Model. HEROES stands for Healthy, Energetic, Ready, Outstanding, and Enthusiastic Schools.

Many schools in Dubois County have participated in the HEROES program and others have also done outstanding work related to health and wellness of their students. Because students spend so much time at school or going to and from school, it is vital that we as a community do what we can to nurture these programs and help them be successful. After all, one day, it will be one of those very students leading the charge against the next set of hurdles. So even though I don’t get to wear a badge and uniform and call myself the “cupcake police,” I value the work I do and more importantly I value the work of schools and their wellness teams as they are truly helping to pave the path for a healthier future for all of our children.

Ashlee (Niehaus) Sudbury
Community Wellness Coordinator
Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program