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News Alert Archives
Fact Sheet: The Healthy Schools Summit
Background
The nation’s children are facing a health crisis. Few are meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and many are physically inactive. Childhood overweight issues are recognized as a national epidemic, resulting in earlier onset and increased prevalence of chronic illness like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We have a responsibility to promote knowledge, attitudes and behaviors among our children that help develop eating and fitness patterns that can improve health, intellectual development and overall quality of life. To foster this, change is necessary and students, parents, teachers, school officials, community and business leaders, and local, state, and federal program administrators all must be actively involved. The crucial role schools play in helping shape our children’s future makes them an essential partner in promoting a healthy lifestyle, by providing a “healthy school environment.”
A partnership of more than 30 national education, fitness, nutrition and health organizations will hold a Summit to address the school’s role in responding to the child health crisis. This event will inform participants about the issues; provide solutions, resources and tools; and motivate stakeholders to work together for positive change in their communities and schools. State teams will be formed and launched to work toward creating healthier school environments by taking action at state, district and building levels.
Summit Date and Location
The two-day Summit meeting will take place October 7-8, 2002, in Washington, D.C.
Projected Summit Attendees
The Summit will target all groups that have an interest and responsibility in the education and health of children, and most specifically as it relates to school nutrition and fitness — e.g., school administrators, government leaders at state and federal levels, food service directors, counselors, dietitians, nurses, health and fitness teachers, as well as health practitioners and concerned members of the community. Approximately 450 participants are expected to attend.
Summit Objectives
Motivate opinion leaders, practitioners, and the concerned public who are involved with and committed to improving children’s nutrition and fitness in the K-12 school environment.
Gain the commitment of Summit participants in helping to implement a “Commitment to Change”* for a healthy school environment at the national, state and local level.
Initiate and launch Action for Healthy KidsState Teams that will develop state action plans — gaining momentum after the Summit.
Provide information, direction and resources to help school leaders create a healthy school environment.
Attract media attention and build support for the importance of creating a healthy school environment, with a focus on nutrition and fitness.
Content and Key Topics
Obesity epidemic: What it is, why it’s occurring, who it affects
Healthy children and achievement: Links between good nutrition, physical activity and educational achievement
Elements of a healthy school environment
How to create a plan for change: Resources, planning tools and successful models
Focus on nutrition and physical activity: Current practices, trends, challenges and bbest practices
Overcoming obstacles in the school environment
Tools/programs that work
Leadership training and coalition-building *The “Commitment to Change” is based on the call to action for schools in The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001.
Mission of Healthy School Summit: Taking Action for Children’s Nutrition and Fitness
The Healthy School Summit collaboration of more than 30 national education, fitness, nutrition and health organizations is working to create healthier school environments that contribute to children’s health and well-being. Establishing life-long healthy eating and exercise patterns will help each child reach his or her true potential — one of the greatest investments we can make.
For more information, visit www.actionforhealthykids.org
You can rely on the National Dairy Council for credible,
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