Action for Healthy Kids: Wellness Tool

1. Conduct Initial Homework

Your Objectives

Begin the process of developing a wellness policy by gathering information to answer the following questions.

• Your role and responsibility -- What are you responsible for doing?
• Existing laws, programs and policies -- What is your district currently doing with regards to child nutrition, education, and physical activity? Specifically:
  • What is the current policy regarding the nutrition value of breakfast, lunch, and (if applicable) before- or after-school snacks?
  • What is the current policy regarding vending machines and other food outside the school meals program?
  • What are the goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities?
  • What federal and state laws and regulations impact the district's wellness policies?
  • What is the current policy regarding recess?
  • What are the recommendations from national governing agencies regarding physical activity, physical education, nutrition education, and nutrition guidelines for competitive foods, as they apply to your district?
• Health of Students -- How does the health of children in your district compare to the state and country as a whole? You may find information relevant to this question via your Department of Education, physical education tests, and/or nurse records.
• School Governance -- How do policies get shaped and executed in your district? Who is involved? What legal and legislative restrictions are there?
• Local Support -- What local organizations (including non-profit, health, and corporations) might be enlisted to help improve nutrition, physical education, nutrition education, and/or physical activity offered to students in the district?