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Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Forum Gives Educators Tools to Transform School Health Environments

Posted on: Monday, 31 July 2006, 12:01 CDT

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- President Bill Clinton addressed representatives from 170 schools from across the country today at the first ever Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools Forum. 202 schools from 12 states, including many schools where children are most at risk for obesity, are part of the Alliance's Healthy Schools Program pilot year and will receive hands on technical support to make their school healthier.

President Clinton encouraged participants to be agents of change in their communities and gave clear guidance to schools nationwide about how to create healthy environments for their students and staff by announcing the Alliance's Healthy Schools Criteria. The forum, which is being held at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Ark., is being sponsored by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation -- a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation. The Forum marks the official launch of the Alliance's Healthy Schools Program.

"I am thrilled to be here today with members of these schools who are willing to roll up their sleeves and do the hard work of making their schools healthier places for their children to learn," said President Bill Clinton. "I believe these standards can be a great step forward in shaping the health, education, and well-being of the next generation and they will encourage more and more schools to provide healthy environments for the millions of students in America's schools today. Thank you all for coming and I look forward to working with all of you."

To address the root causes of childhood obesity, the Alliance recognizes not just the vital role played by nutrition, but also the critical need for environments like playgrounds that encourage kids to be physically active. That is why after announcing the Healthy Schools Criteria, President Clinton announced a new partnership with KaBOOM!, a nonprofit organization that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America and which will mobilize communities to build new playgrounds in a number of our pilot schools across the country.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation announced the Healthy Schools Program in February, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The Healthy Schools Program is designed to effect real change in schools through a criteria based recognition program that rewards schools for creating a healthier place for students to learn.

The criteria announced by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation today outline standards that address food offerings in school cafeterias and competitive foods, physical activity during and after the school day, physical education and health education and staff wellness programs. Schools across the country can apply for recognition at the Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. The criteria can be found on the Alliance website (http://www.healthiergeneration.org/ ) on July 31.

A key component of the Healthy Schools Program is the provision of support and assistance to schools striving to meet the criteria. The Forum is the first time the schools participating in the support portion of the program will be publicly announced. More than 200 schools from 12 states are currently enrolled in the pilot and will receive direct assistance from the Alliance to help them assess their current school environment, develop action plans and implement changes that will make their school environments healthier. (list attached)

In this first year, the program is focusing on schools whose student population, based on specific socio-economic and demographic factors, is most at risk for obesity. Ironically, these children are often the last to receive help and interventions from programs like the Healthy School Program because they are the most difficult to reach. By implementing the Healthy Schools Program first in at-risk schools, and testing the program in the most challenging environments, it is expected that the program will achieve long- term success across all student populations.

"What makes the Healthy Schools Program stand out is its hands-on approach to helping schools gain recognition," said Dr. Raymond Gibbons, president of the American Heart Association. "We aren't just releasing a set of criteria and expecting schools to reach those goals on their own, but we are giving them support along the way. In addition, the program is different from other school health efforts in that it recognizes achievements around broader, school-wide change, rather than just one aspect of health such as physical activity or nutrition."

The Forum provides participants with opportunities to learn skills that will help them change the environments in their schools to better promote health and wellness among students and staff. Keynote speakers include President Clinton, Governor Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher and Dr. Howell Wechsler, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Division of Adolescent and School Health.

The Alliance has partnered with Governor Mike Huckabee to serve in a leadership capacity for the organization. Gov. Huckabee will address Forum participants on Aug. 1.

"I'm pleased to be able to address the inaugural Healthy Schools Forum," said Governor Mike Huckabee. "The schools in this room have committed to building a healthier environment for their students. I'm glad that with the technical help and healthy schools criteria announced at this forum, we will be able to produce real, on the ground change in these schools, helping to fight childhood obesity and create a healthier generation."

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provided the initial grant to support the Healthy Schools Program.

"School is where our children spend their days and where they learn habits that stay with them for life," said Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "The schools that are taking part in the first year of the program will help us write the lesson plan to improve health for millions of children."

Making changes in the school environment is one strategy in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's comprehensive effort to reduce childhood obesity across the nation. The Alliance has also partnered with the number one kids' television network Nickelodeon on the Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge -- an on-air, online and grassroots effort to mobilize kids to adopt healthy lifestyles. To date, over 100,000 kids have pledged to Go Healthy as a result of the campaign.

Recently, the Alliance and the nation's largest beverage companies announced new guidelines that will help schools provide lower calorie and more nutritious beverage to students. These guidelines are part of the Healthy School Program criteria. The Alliance hopes that its work with the beverage industry sets the stage for working with other industries that can help schools make healthy choices easier for students.

As the new school year begins, all schools nationwide can apply for recognition and receive online tools and resources by going to http://www.healthiergeneration.org/ . The Alliances Healthy School Builder will help schools determine if they qualify for recognition and will provide actionable steps to help them reach the various award levels. The Healthy School Builder will be available on Aug. 11.

The event is held in cooperation with the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, with many of the events taking place at the school.

About The Alliance for a Healthier Generation:

The Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association partnered in May 2005 to create a new generation of healthy Americans by addressing one of the nation's leading public health threats -- childhood obesity. The Alliance focuses on preventing childhood obesity and creating healthier lifestyles for all children.

The Alliance targets several areas that will spark change and slow the increasing rates of childhood obesity in the U.S. and encourage healthier lifestyles for young people. The effort will focus on four key areas: industry; schools, healthcare professionals and kids. For more information visit http://www.healthiergeneration.org/

Healthy Schools Program City State School Name Fayetteville AR Holt Middle School Little Rock AR Pulaski Heights Elementary School Little Rock AR Pulaski Heights Middle School Borrego Springs CA Borrego Springs Elementary School Borrego Springs CA Borrego Springs High School Borrego Springs CA Borrego Springs Middle School Cupertino CA Collins Elementary School Cutler CA Cutler Elementary School Cutler CA El Monte Junior High School Cutler CA Orosi High School Fresno CA El Capitan Middle School Fresno CA Roosevelt Elementary School Inglewood CA Daniel Freeman Elementary School Inglewood CA Inglewood High School Inglewood CA Warren Lane Middle School Oakland CA Claremont Middle School Oakland CA Oakland Technical Senior High School Oakland CA Peralta Elementary School Rancho Cordova CA Cordova High School Rancho Cordova CA Cordova Meadows Elementary School Rancho Cordova CA Mills Middle School San Francisco CA A. P. Giannini Middle School San Francisco CA Francisco Middle School San Francisco CA Galileo High School San Francisco CA John Yehai Chin Elementary School San Francisco CA Lincoln High School San Francisco CA Ulloa Elementary School San Jose CA Galarza/Hammer Elementary School San Jose CA Joaquin Miller Middle School Danbury CT Danbury High School Danbury CT Morris Street School Danbury CT Rogers Park Middle School Falls Village CT Housatonic Valley Regional High School Falls Village CT North Canaan Elementary (K-8) School Hartford CT Barnard-Brown Elementary School Hartford CT Hartford Public High School Hartford CT Quirk Middle School Plainfield CT Moosup Elementary School Plainfield CT Plainfield Central Middle School Plainfield CT Plainfield High School Clewiston FL Clewiston High School Clewiston FL Clewiston Middle School Clewiston FL Westside Elementary School Ft Myers FL Mariner Middle School Ft Myers FL North Fort Myers High School Ft Myers FL Robinson Littleton Elementary School Havana FL East Gadsden High School Havana FL Havana Elementary School Havana FL Havana Middle School Kissimmee FL Kissimmee Elementary School Kissimmee FL Kissimmee Middle School Kissimmee FL Osceola High School Labelle FL Labelle Elementary School Labelle FL Labelle High School Labelle FL Labelle Middle School Lauderhill FL Boyd A. Anderson High School Miami FL Felix Varela Senior High School Miami FL Hammocks Middle School Miami FL Miami Springs High School Miami FL Miami Springs Middle School Miami FL Oliver Hoover Elementary School Miami FL South Hialeah Elementary School Pensacola FL Bellview Middle School Pensacola FL C.A. Weis Elementary School Pensacola FL Pensacola High School Port Richey FL Bayonet Point Middle School Port Richey FL Fox Hollow Elementary School Port Richey FL Ridgewood High School Quincy FL Gretna Elementary School Quincy FL James A. Shanks Middle School Quincy FL West Gadsden High School Tallahassee FL Amos P Godby High School Tallahassee FL Griffin Middle School Tallahassee FL John G. Riley Elementary School Bloomington IL Bloomington High School Bloomington IL Bloomington Junior High School Bloomington IL Sheridan Elementary School Blue Island IL DD Eisenhower High School Chicago IL Benito Juarez High School Chicago IL Black Magnet Elementary School (K-8) Chicago IL Hyde Park Career Academy High School Chicago IL Orozco Community Academy (grades 1-8) Kinmundy IL South Central Elementary School Kinmundy IL South Central High School Kinmundy IL South Central Middle School Naperville IL Highlands Elementary School Naperville IL Kennedy Junior High School Naperville IL Naperville North High School Round Lake Park IL Round Lake (Magee) Middle School Round Lake Park IL Round Lake Senior High School Round Lake Park IL W. J. Murphy Elementary School St. Charles IL St. Charles North High School St. Charles IL Thompson Middle School St. Charles IL Wasco Elementary School Carmel IN Cherry Tree Elementary School Indianapolis IN Arlington Elementary School Indianapolis IN Franklin Community High School Indianapolis IN Franklin Township Middle School (7-8) Indianapolis IN Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate School (5-6) Indianapolis IN Perry Meridian 6th Grade Academy Indianapolis IN Perry Meridian High School Indianapolis IN Perry Meridian Middle School Indianapolis IN Rosa Parks-Edison Elementary School Detroit MI Earhart Middle School Detroit MI Maybury Elementary School Detroit MI Northwestern High School Detroit MI Osborn High School Detroit MI Trix Elementary School (K-8) Detroit MI Western International High School Detroit MI Winterhalter Elementary School (K-8) Grand Rapids MI Central High School Grand Rapids MI Southwest Community Campus (K-8) Mount Clemens MI King Academy Mount Clemens MI Mount Clemens High School Mount Clemens MI Mount Clemens Middle School Saginaw MI Arthur Eddy K-8 Academy Saginaw MI Arthur Hill High School Sterling Heights MI Bemis Junior High School Sterling Heights MI Henry Ford II High School Sterling Heights MI Magahay Elementary School Cass Lake MN Cass Lake-Bena Elementary School Cass Lake MN Cass Lake-Bena Middle School Cass Lake MN Cass Lake-Bena Secondary School Red Wing MN Burnside Elementary School Red Wing MN Red Wing Senior High School Red Wing MN Sunnyside Elementary School Red Wing MN Twin Bluffs Middle School Waubon MN Waubon Secondary School(5-12) Waubon MN Waubon-Ogema Elementary School Orange NJ Forest Street Elementary School Orange NJ Orange High School Orange NJ Orange Middle School Pine Hills NJ John H Glenn School Pine Hills NJ Overbrook High School Pine Hills NJ Pine Hill Middle School Sparta NJ Helen Morgan Elementary School (K-4) Sparta NJ Mohawk Avenue School (5) Sparta NJ Sparta High School Sparta NJ Sparta Middle School West New York NJ #2 Elementary School West New York NJ Memorial High School West New York NJ West New York Middle School Harlem NY P.S. 197 West Babylon NY John F Kennedy School West Babylon NY West Babylon Junior High School West Babylon NY West Babylon Senior High School Easton PA Cheston Elementary School Easton PA Easton Area High School Easton PA Easton Area Middle School Lancaster PA Burrowes Elementary School Lancaster PA McCaskey High School Lancaster PA Reynolds Middle School Langhorne PA Neshaminy High School Langhorne PA Neshaminy Middle School Lansdowne PA Penn Wood High Senior School Levittown PA Carl Sandburg Middle School Levittown PA Samuel Everitt Elementary Milford PA Delaware Valley Elementary School Milford PA Delaware Valley High School Milford PA Delaware Valley Middle School New Hope PA New Hope Solebury Elementary School New Hope PA New Hope Solebury High School New Hope PA New Hope Solebury Middle School Norristown PA A.D. Eisenhower Middle School Norristown PA Marshall Street Elementary School Norristown PA Norristown Area High School Philadelphia PA Blankenburg Elementary School (K-8) Philadelphia PA Cayuga Elementary School Philadelphia PA Central East Keltonville Middle School Philadelphia PA Childs Elementary School Philadelphia PA Edwin H. Vare Middle School Philadelphia PA Germantown High School Philadelphia PA Olney High School Philadelphia PA Pennell Joseph School Philadelphia PA Roosevelt Middle School Philadelphia PA South Philadelphia High School Philadelphia PA University City High School State College PA Easterly Parkway Elementary School State College PA Mount Nittany Middle School State College PA State College Area High School Yeadon PA Bell Avenue Elementary School Yeadon PA Penn Wood East Junior High School Eau Claire WI DeLong Middle School Eau Claire WI Lakeshore Elementary School Eau Claire WI Memorial High School Eau Claire WI North High School Green Bay WI John F. Kennedy Elementary School Green Bay WI Lombardi Middle School Green Bay WI Southwest High School Hortonville WI Hortonville Elementary School Hortonville WI Hortonville High School Hortonville WI Hortonville Middle School Kaukauna WI Dr. H. B. Tanner Elementary Kaukauna WI Electa Quinney Elementary School Kaukauna WI Kaukauna High School Kaukauna WI Nicolet Elementary School Kaukauna WI River View Middle School Oneida WI Oneida Nation Middle/High School Oneida WI Oneida Nations Elementary School Rosholt WI Rosholt Elementary School Rosholt WI Rosholt High School Rosholt WI Rosholt Middle School

American Heart Association; Clinton Foundation

CONTACT: Press Office of Clinton Foundation, +1-212-348-0360; or KellyKennai of American Heart Association, +1-202-785-7925; or on-site media room,+1-501-907-9714

Web site: http://www.healthiergeneration.org/http://www.americanheart.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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