A collaborative effort among: District 186 Schools Springfield Urban League Head Start SIU School of Medicine Illinois Department of Public Health YMCA of the USA Generously funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Why should District 186 schools want students to be active, healthy, and fit? Academics (i.e., test scores) improve as fitness improves and activity increases Daily activity improves behavior and reduces disciplinary problems Healthy, fit kids may have better attendance rates Healthy, fit kids are more likely to become healthy, fit adults Healthy, fit kids may influence the health of other family members

Current District 186 efforts CATCH program implemented across district –Physical activity –Classroom activity –Nutrition (“Go, Slow, Whoa foods”) Wellness (CATCH) teams in each school New Wellness Policy under consideration Reform of vending and other food policies

Springfield Collaborative for Active Child Health Goal: To prevent and control the child obesity epidemic through a multi-disciplinary, community partnership Partners: District 186, SUL Head Start, IDPH, YMCA of the USA, SIU SOM 2008: Grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Mc Clernand Iles Fairview Ridgely Enos Dubois Butler Lindsay Springfield Collaborative District 186 Grade Schools

What the Collaborative offers Measurement tools and expertise − BMI, activity, nutrition information − Assessment of school outcomes Medical student and resident efforts − Classroom lessons for 4 th grade intervention schools − Extensive health fair support − Active K at Enos Consistent Health Messaging − SIU and CCHC Pediatric and Family Medicine Clinics − Goal: Include other local providers

What do we measure? Eight Schools (4 control/4 intervention) Measures, fall and spring 1.BMIs (Body Mass Index: Wt(kg)/Ht²(m)) − 1 st and 4 th grades 2.SOFIT (System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) − 1 st and 4 th grades − PE class level of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA) (examples: walking, running, jumping rope) 3.SPAN (School Physical Activity and Nutrition) − 4 th grade − Forty nine multiple choice questions about activity, nutrition, and health knowledge

Overweight and Obesity in Children

Obesity in 1 st and 4 th Grade Children at Eight District 186 Schools, Spring 2013

Obese and Overweight 1 st and 4 th Grade Students District 186, Spring of 953 (32.5%) of 1 st and 4 th grade students were obese (16.7%) or overweight (15.8%) In an average 20 student classroom: 3 are overweight and 3 are obese

Proposed Wellness Policy

Fitnessgram Results 4 th Grade Compares a student’s ability to perform fitness maneuvers to an established standard For our 8 schools, from fall 2012 to spring 2013: –Abdominal Curl Ups- 6 of 8 (75%) schools improved –Aerobic Capacity- 5 of 8 (62.5%) schools improved –Push Ups- 5 of 8 (62.5%) schools improved

Results from Student Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) Survey

Conclusion The Springfield Collaborative: –Provides measures of student activity and knowledge –Strongly supports the District’s efforts to improve student health through CATCH, Wellness policies, improved school nutrition, and other initiatives –Educates students, parents, and school staff –Teaches physicians to be active in the community, and to communicate the importance of wellness to their patients –Reinforces consistent health messaging across sites

Generously funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Thank You. Questions/Comments?

Socio-Ecological Model Springfield Urban League Primary Care Providers Head Start Schools SIU School of Medicine Springfield Public Schools IL Dept of Public Health Parents Elementary Schools