HUSSC Local Wellness Policy Criteria: Taking Steps to Create a

Healthier School Environment

March 6, 2014 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. EST

HOUSEKEEPING

RecordingsHandouts

Q&A’s

Presenters

• Katie Bark, RD, LN, SNS Montana State University

• Dr. Kimberly DeBruycker, Superintendent, Gallatin Gateway Schools, MT

• Ebony James, MS, RD USDA/FNS• Jenilee McComb, Child Nutrition Director,

Provo City School District, UT• Erika Pijai, MS, RD USDA/FNS

Objectives

• By the end of this presentation, you will – Understand LWP requirements– Know the LWP criteria for HUSSC– Identify resources for HUSSC and LWP– Become aware of Team Nutrition resources and

the new LWP Web site– Learn examples of successful LWP implementation

HUSSC Overview

• General• School health environment• Your role

POLL QUESTION #1

POLL QUESTION #2

Local School Wellness Policy (LWP)Overview

Federal law requires all local educational agencies/districts to have a local school wellness policy in place.•2004 Child Nutrition Reauthorization•Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Proposed Rule

Title: Local School Wellness Policy Implementation under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010

Published: February 26, 2014

Comment Period:

Through April 28, 2014

Local School Wellness Policy (LWP) Requirements

Leadership• Designate LEA/school official(s) to ensure LWP

compliance.• LWP to indicate who is responsible for LWP

oversight.

LWP RequirementsLWP Team

Required to permit certain groups to participate in LWP development, implementation, reviewing and updates:

ParentsStudentsSchool food authority

representativesPE teachers (New*)

School health professionals (New*)

School boardSchool administratorsThe public

LWP Requirements

LWP Content• Goals for– Nutrition promotion (New*)– Nutrition education– Physical activity– Other school-based activities that

promote student wellness

• Use evidence-based strategies (New*)

Examples of Evidence-Based Strategies

• Smarter Lunchrooms Movement www.smarterlunchrooms.org– Using creative names for fruits and vegetables

and targeted entrees– Training staff to encourage students to select

fruits and vegetables– Placing unflavored milk in front of other

beverage choices– Bundling “grab and go” meals that include fruit

and vegetable items

Nutrition Guidelines for all Foods

Wellness policies must be consistent with:

• Meal pattern regulation • Smart Snacks regulation

(*New) Policies for Food and Beverage Marketing

• Only allowed to market/advertise those foods and beverages that are consistent with the Smart Snacks standards.

• Would not apply to marketing that occurs at events outside of school hours

• Requesting public comment

Examples

Applies to:• Exterior of vending

machines• Posters• Menu boards• Coolers• Trash cans• Cups used for

beverage dispensing

Does not apply to: Personal clothing Personal items Packaging of

products brought from home

Educational tools

LWP RequirementsMonitor, Assess, Public Updates

• Written LWP• Info/updates on LWP• Annual Progress Report• Triennial Assessment

(*New)

Monitoring and Oversight

• Included as part of the administrative review• Every 3 years

Reviewing and Commenting on the Proposed Rule

• Federal Register– www.regulations.gov– Search - “Local School Wellness Policy

Implementation under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act”

• FNS Website– http://www.fns.usda.gov///school-meals/local-s

chool-wellness-policy

POLL QUESTION #3

POLL QUESTION #4

22

Local School Wellness Policy Interagency Work Group

• USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)• US Dept of Education (ED)• US Dept of Health and Human Services - Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Purpose:Provide training and technical assistance to districts,

school food authorities, and State educational agencies Help establish healthy school environments

What’s Needed?Needs Assessment Activities• Literature review;• Survey of school health researchers and practitioners;• Conversations with school nutrition professionals; • Town-hall meetings with school health stakeholders;• Discussions with Carol M. White Physical Education

Program grantees; and• Online surveys and focus groups with LWP stakeholders

5-Year Technical Assistance and Guidance Planhttp://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy

What’s NeededThemes from All Technical

Assistance ActivitiesSupport and Collaboration

Communication

Tools and Resources

Accountability

Strategies for SuccessThemes from All Technical

Assistance ActivitiesStrategies for Success

Support and Collaboration

Communication

Tools and Resources

Accountability

• Get buy-in from state/district/school leadership• Create shared vision of success• Collaborate across school departments• Prioritize LWP implementation

• Frame LWP as an educational issue to garner support• Clear communication about new LWP requirements

• Use simple tools for LWP implementation• Refer to district/school success stories• Gain support from key stakeholders with resources that emphasize academic, financial, and health benefits associated with LWPs• Establish a true system of accountability• Keep key documentation on file

Katie Bark, RD, LN, SNS

• Project Director, Montana Team Nutrition Program, Montana State University

• In collaboration with Office of Public Instruction• kbark@mt.gov or (406)994-5641• www.opi.mt.gov/MTeamNutrition

Strengthening Training Capacity

• School Wellness Coach Network (4 -.2FTE)

• School Food Service Peer Network (13)

• Action for Healthy Kids (four local teams) and Eat Right Montana Coalition

Together Everyone Achieves More

Provide Funding to Keep School Wellness in Action

• Mini-Grant Programs ($500,2,000 to 5,000)• Support “staff time” to coordinate LWP or

complete an activity

Facilitate Community Engagement

• Offer to facilitate school-community round table discussions

• Can be the catalyst to encourage a school to take the HUSSC Challenge, or

• Provide support for farm to school or nutrition education

Increase Access to Resources and Training Opportunities

• “How To Guides” on School Wellness Policy or best practice (recess before lunch)

• Professional Development Workshops for staff

• Web-based School Wellness Policy Report• One-on-One Technical Assistance

Dr. Kimberly DeBruycker

SuperintendentGallatin Gateway Schools, MT

What is a Healthy School Nutrition Environment?

• The six components of a healthy school nutrition environment are:– A Commitment to Nutrition and Physical Activity; – Quality School Meals; – Other Healthy Food Choices; – Pleasant Eating Experiences; – Nutrition Education; and – Marketing.

Source: Montana Team Nutrition

Commitment to Nutrition and Physical Activity

• Initial Steps:–Research– Local trainings - provided access for all staff

interested–Wellness plan with community–Development of a Food Service Team–Design a school brochure

Quality School Meals

• Appearance - texture, color, arrangement, choice

• Consistency• Samples• Taste Tests

Other Healthy Food Choices

• Snack Cart - healthy options• Cold Lunch - sandwich, fruit, vegetable, milk• Hot Lunch - entree, fruit, vegetable, milk• Samples• Taste Tests• Water in cafeteria

Pleasant Eating Experience• Call students by name frequently• Ellyn Satter - Division of Responsibility• Recess Before Lunch • Following Montana Behavior Initiative• Wellness Plan implementation of non-food rewards• Tolerance activities at meals - Mix It Up At Lunch • Seating chart changed about every 20-25 days• Provide restaurant atmosphere• Staff eating with students• Sheriff and other guests to eat with children

Pleasant Eating Experience

Comfortable Cafeterias Videohttp://opi.mt.gov/streamer/schoolfood/ComfortableCafeterias.mp4

Nutrition Education• Teachers trained - Serve Safe or other• Staff meetings• School plan for operation of cafeteria• Surveys• Interviews of students• Taste Tests• Student meal

planning• Lots and lots of

reading!

Marketing • Lucky Tray Day• Newsletters - combination of all food service

and health issues • October 2009 Newsletter example http://gallatingatewayschool.com/news/newsletters-archive.php• Websitehttp://gallatingatewayschool.com/news/menus.php

Marketing

• Signs all around the school - building an environment

• Visiting other schools for ideas• Assembly with student participation/skits

annually

Marketing Pictures

Marketing! Marketing!

Provo School District, Provo, Utahwww.facebook.com/ITSMealsProvowww.ITSMealsProvo.com

JENILEE MCCOMBCHILD NUTRITION PROGRAM DIRECTOR

WELLNESS POLICY• http://policies.provo.edu/students-3000-series/3401-wellness/ Nutrition

Activity

SMART SNACKS IN SCHOOLS

FARM TO SCHOOL

SERVING CHILDREN

HEALTHIER US SCHOOL CHALLENGE• Ten Provo School District schools have been distinguished as

winners of the Bronze HUSSC Award.

MARKETING OUR PROGRAM

www.facebook.com/ITSMealsProvo

Take your LWP to higher heights: Apply for HUSSC

• 2004 HUSSC LWP Criteria– Required a copy of Local Wellness Policy

• Start somewhere• Move FORWARD

Take your LWP to higher heights: Apply for HUSSC

• 2012 – HUSSC CriteriaAll Award Levels

• Submit copy of school’s local wellness policy with HUSSC application and provide descriptions for the following:– Three ways your school is working to meet local wellness policy

goals– How parents, students, school administration and staff, and the

community are involved in the implementation of the local wellness policy at your school

• Food not used as a reward/Physical Activity not used as punishment

• Other Criteria for Excellence

Take your LWP to higher heights: Apply for HUSSC

• 2014 – HUSSC Criteria – More changes on the way

• Keep Moving Forward!

Resources: HUSSC Implementation• Brochure (Print/Download/Order)• FAQs• Archived HUSSC Webinars• Success Stories• Whole Grain Resource for the National

School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs

• Stay Tuned to TN Website for the updated HUSSC Application Toolkit!

• Resources available to download: www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/healthierus

Resources: LWP

• USDA’s new “School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources” website– Local School Wellness Policy Process– Required Wellness Policy Elements– Healthy School Nutrition Environment– Samples, Stories, and Guidance– Research Reports– Grants/Funding Opportunities

http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/school-wellness-resources

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Key Information for LWPs:

Read and Comment on the Proposed Rule:http://www.fns.usda.gov///school-meals/local-school-wellness-policy

School Nutrition Environment and Wellness Resources Website: http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/school-wellness-resources

USDA Wellness Policy Web site: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy

CDC: www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/npao/wellness.htm

Suggestions for resources? Stories to share? Email us: TeamNutrition@fns.usda.gov

Nutrition Education Resources

Resource:Healthier Middle Schools: Everyone Can Help!

• Audience-tested communications tools to engage school community in wellness efforts:– Teachers– Principals– Parents– Foodservice Managers– Students

• www.TeamNutrition.usda.gov

POLL QUESTION #5

Closing Remarks

Questions?

Email us at teamnutrition@fns.usda.gov

Thank you for your attention!