wellness What is the new Wellness What are the new federal

							 What is the new Wellness                               What are the new federal                                 What is the link between
          Policy?                                        policy requirements?                                    health and academics?
                                                                                                           Research continues to show the link between health
                                                    Wellness policy must include:
                                                   Wellness policy must include:
Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act                                                                and academic achievement. The federal Wellness
of 2004:                                                Goals for nutrition education, physical           Policy helps schools strengthen that link. In addition
                                                         activity, and other wellness promotion            to the Nutrition and Physical Education
"Not later than the first day of the school year
                                                         activities.                                       components mentioned on the previous page,
beginning after June 30, 2006, each local
                                                    www.mascd.org/publications/Focus/FOCUS4-05.pdf         schools can include other elements of the
educational agency participating in a program
                                                    www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org                         Massachusetts Coordinated School Health Program,
authorized by Richard B. Russell National
                                                    www.ma-hperd.org                                       such as:
School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) or
the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.                                                                     Parent/Community Involvement
1771 et seq.) shall establish a local school
                                                        Nutrition guidelines for all food available on    www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/parent/pandc.pdf
                                                         each school campus                                www.mascd.org/publications/Focus/FOCUS4-05.pdf
wellness policy for schools under the local
                                                     www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/nutrition/pdf/summary.pdf
education agency."
                                                     www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools
                                                                                                               Counseling & Psychological Services
                                                                                                           www.nasponline.org
                                                     www.teamnutrition.usda.gov
                                                                                                           www.mentalhealthscreening.org/schools
        What!?! Another Mandate?
                                                        Guidelines for school meals that are not          www.AdolescentWellness.org
Yes. This mandate is a unique opportunity to             less restrictive than USDA guidelines
establish a local infrastructure to promote                                                                    Health Services
                                                    www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr4509.pdf
wellness and to remove health-related                                                                      www.nasn.org
                                                                                                           www.msno.org/book.html
barriers to teaching and learning.                      Plans to measure how well schools meet
                                                                                                           www.mass.gov/dph
                                                         policy goals. Make at least one person in
The following guidelines and resources also              each school responsible for ensuring that
support schools to meet the goals of No Child            the school develops and implements the
                                                                                                               Health Promotion for Staff
                                                                                                           www.mass.gov/dph/fch/dchp.htm
Left Behind and the Safe and Drug Free                   Wellness Policy.
                                                                                                           www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org/WellnessResources.html#
Schools legislation. The goal is to provide a       http://actionforhealthykids.org/pdf/report_small.pdf
                                                                                                           staffwellness
safe, supportive learning environment.
                                                    www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/makingithappen.html
                                                                                                               Health Education
                                                                                                           www.doe.mass.edu/cnp/hprograms/cshp
                                                                                                           www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/health/1999/1099.pdf
                                                                                                           www.aahperd.org/aahe/pdf_files/standards.pdf

“Schools could do more than perhaps any                                                                        Healthy School Environment
other single institution in society to help                                                                www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/
young people…live healthier, longer, more                                                                  www.asthmaregionalcouncil.org/about/focus_schools.html
satisfying, and productive lives.” Carnegie                                                                www.mphaweb.org/HealthySchools.htm
Council on Adolescent Development
                                                                                                               Family & Consumer Science Education
                                                                                                           www.johnstalkerinstitute.org
                                                                                                           A GUIDE
                                                  ABOUT THE ADVISORY COUNCIL
              NEXT STEPS                                                                             TO IMPLEMENTING
                                               The IHEHSAC was established by the
HOW CAN MY DISTRICT IMPLEMENT                  Education Reform Act of 1993. The purpose              YOUR DISTRICT’S
        THIS POLICY?                           of the Advisory Council is to advise the
                                               Commissioner and the Board of Education on            WELLNESS POLICY
                                               matters pertinent to the implementation of the
 Form a Health Advisory Council to            Education Reform Act in the Commonwealth.
   develop your local wellness policy. As
   in the Coordinated School Health            2006-2007 Advisory Council Members
   Model, members may include parents,         *Marc Alterio, Health & Wellness consultant
   students, school committee members,         Bob Anthony, Adolescent Wellness, Inc.
   administrators, food service members,       Jessica Blom-Hoffman, Northeastern University
   and the public.                             Patricia Boland, Berkshire Hills RSD
                                               Lydia Burak, Bridgewater State College
 Include the wellness policy in the
                                               *Mary Connolly, Cambridge College, Curry College
   school district goals and improvement
                                               Kathleen DeFillippo, Lawrence Public Schools
   plan for each individual school.
                                               Patricia Degon, Shrewsbury High School
 Identify a district administrator who will   Eileen DiBattista, Medford Public Schools
   ensure the school complies with the         Marion Freedman-Gurspan, MA DMH
   law and to help develop and                 Denise Gaudette, New Bedford Public Schools
   implement the wellness policy.              Ellie Goldberg, MA PTA
                                               Greg Miller, MA Coalition for Suicide Prevention
 Identify a wellness coordinator in each
                                               Mary Ni, Salem State College
   building, or for your district, who can
                                               Dave Nichols, Andover Public Schools
   ensure that policies are developed and
                                               Melissa Pearrow, U Mass-Boston
   implemented.
                                               Judith Robinson, Groton-Dunstable RSD
 Conduct a needs assessment to                Anne Sheetz, MA DPH
   identify needs and to set goals. The        Coleen Walsh, Springfield Public Schools
   CDC’s School Health Index is a helpful      *Co-chairs
   resource.
 Publicize and build widespread               DOE Liaison and Contact for Questions
   support for your district’s policy in the
   local community.                            Carol Goodenow, Ph.D.                              Prepared by the Massachusetts
                                               Director, Coordinated School Health Programs           Interdisciplinary Health
 Establish a way to measure and               Massachusetts Department of Education              Education and Human Services
   monitor the progress of the wellness
                                               350 Main Street                                     Advisory Council (IHEHS-AC)
   policy activities.
                                               Malden, MA 02148
 Monitor the wellness policy and make         (781) 338-3603; cgoodenow@doe.mass.edu
   changes as needed.                          www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/councils/health.html
                                                                                                   Supporting school health by
                                                                                                   moving from policy to action.