To achieve the Obesity Funding Priority outcomes, the Foundations focused their efforts in schools using the coordinated school health model. The School Wellness Initiative supports participating school districts in the development and implementation of comprehensive plans for capacity building, implementation and evaluation.
The School Wellness Grants Program, a program under the School Wellness Initiative, provided short-term funding to certain established wellness coalitions for activities designed to improve access to physical activity, nutritious foods and a healthier school environment.
Participating districts include twenty-three (23) school districts in the following Ohio counties: Athens, Franklin, Hocking, Jackson, Meigs, Morgan, Perry, Vinton and Washington.
Capacity Building Phase
The Capacity Building Phase helps participating school districts develop active, responsive school wellness councils that work to positively impact the lives of children, families and staff in the school communities through effective and comprehensive planning. School wellness councils include diverse school and community leaders convened to assess, plan, implement, and evaluate strategies for improving the health of students through programming and policy.
Implementation Phases
The Implementation Phase allows participating districts to carry out activities to address priority areas identified in the wellness plans, developed during the planning period. The Foundations offered funding over multiple years to participating school districts. Implementation projects focused on activities and policies designed to improve access to physical activity, nutritious foods and to create a healthier school environment, including coalition development, walking trails, equipment, vending improvements, curriculum enhancements, and health services.
Evaluation
The Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs at Ohio University has been engaged by the Foundations to assist with on-going monitoring and assessment of the School Wellness Initiative. The Voinovich School worked with school districts to provide technical assistance and build sustainability for the Initiative. They compiled comprehensive and executive reports to summarize outcomes, successes and opportunities experienced by districts during the capacity building and implementation phases. To learn more about the Initiative, see the School Wellness Initiative reports below.
School Wellness Initiative Reports
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