1. STUDENT SUCCESS Eat Healthy + Play Hard =
Opening slide … to have on screen before beginning presentation

2. Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development
Introductory slide
Delighted to have the opportunity to discuss an incredibly important topic with you and to share this exciting new tool with you … the Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development.
My name is ______________ … and I work as ________ in the Mississippi Department of Education.

3. School wellness policies are required for school year 2006-07.
School wellness policies are also “the law.” This new Federal requirement is not the most important reason to establish a school wellness policies … it is just one more reason to do the “right thing.”
The article shown here (from the December 2004 NASBE journal) … which you have as a handout … outlines the new requirement in detail.

4. Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004
This requirement was established by the US Congress as part of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004.

5. Senator Tom Harkin
“On one hand, the specter of malnutrition and hunger continues to haunt millions of Americans, especially children. At the same time, we are confronted with a grave public health threat in the form of obesity and overweight, which are quickly becoming a major threat not just to individuals but to our Nation as a whole.”
One of the Act’s sponsors … Senator Tom Harkin from Iowa … had this to say about WHY school wellness policies are important for America’s children:
“On one hand, the specter of malnutrition and hunger continues to haunt millions of Americans, especially children. At the same time, we are confronted with a grave public health threat in the form of obesity and overweight, which are quickly becoming a major threat not just to individuals but to our Nation as a whole.”

6. Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development
Our new guide … the Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development … was created by the Mississippi Department of Education (Offices of Healthy Schools and Child Nutrition) to make it easy for schools to meet the new Federal requirement by the deadline of the school year
In just a few minutes, we’ll go through the specifics of the steps included in this helpful guide … but we have to discuss a few more reasons WHY school wellness policies are important for children.

7. Developing EFFECTIVE School Wellness Policies
WHY ?
WHAT ?
HOW ?
WHO ?
WHEN ?
Today I am going to outline the development of an EFFECTIVE school wellness policy with you.
As you may already know, all Mississippi schools that receive funds from the US Department of Agriculture for Child Nutrition Programs will be required to have a School Wellness Policy for the school year
An EFFECTIVE School Wellness Policy will meet this requirement … and work to improve the health and academic performance of Mississippi children.
An EFFECTIVE policy will not end up on a shelf in a binder … it will truly help to promote wellness in each local school.
To outline this issue, I am going to answer five basic questions relating to school wellness policies … WHY, WHAT, HOW, WHO, and WHEN.

8. WHY ?
Let’s start out with the most important question of all … WHY do Mississippi schools need a school wellness policy?

9. Our kids are facing a weight, nutrition, and health crisis.
Using the David Letterman approach, we’ll start the countdown of the reasons WHY Mississippi schools need a school wellness policy … with reason number 10.
Mississippi children, like children … across the US and around the world … are facing a weight, nutrition, and health crisis.
This slide shows a malnourished child … although this is not usually what we think of when we think of malnutrition in children.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the reasons WHY this overweight child is a snapshot of malnutrition.

10. More than overweight kids
If you have read a newspaper or watched TV anytime in the past few years, you already know that there is a problem with childhood obesity in the US.
As we talk a bit more about this problem … in Mississippi and the US … it is important to remember that the reasons WHY we need school wellness policies are about more than overweight children.

11. Weighty Health Issues Overweight Overfed Undernourished Sedentary
Diabetes (type 2)
CVD risk factors
Eating disorders
In fact, there is a long list of weighty health issues confronting American children.
We do not have time to discuss all of these problems today … but we will go over a few of the more important statistics, especially those that most directly affect children here in Mississippi.

12. Mississippi CAYPOS Age Group 2001 2003 Elementary OVERWEIGHT 21% 16%
At risk of OVERWEIGHT
16%
Middle school OVERWEIGHT
16.2%
18.5%
18.3%
20.7%
High school OVERWEIGHT
14%
15.7%
15.4%
31.4%
When we look at the number of overweight children in Mississippi schools, we see some distressing trends … at all age levels.
The Mississippi CAYPOS survey has shown an increase in the percentage of overweight children in just two years … from 2001 to In this graph, you can see the upward trend in middle and high school aged children (CAYPOS did not measure elementary school children in 2001).
Overweight in children is defined (by CDC) as a BMI-for-age above the 95th percentile, while at risk of overweight is defined as a BMI-for-age between the 85th and 95th percentiles.
Many pediatric health experts believe that any child with a BMI-for-age above the 85th percentile is at increased risk for the health problems associated with overweight at an early age … including Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and joint problems.

13. Overweight, overfed … but UNDERnourished
However, children in the US are not just overweight, they are OVERfed and UNDERnourished … leading to the picture of malnutrition that we talked about before.

14. Over 40 percent of kids’ calories come from ADDED fat and sugar.
OVERFED
Over 40 percent of kids’ calories come from ADDED fat and sugar.
What do nutritionists mean when they say that American children … and children here in Mississippi … are malnourished?
First, they mean that children are OVERFED … most American children get plenty of calories. However, many of these calories are EMPTY calories … meaning that they do not contain any nutrients (protein, vitamins, minerals, or fiber) in them.
Currently, over 40 percent of kids’ calories come from ADDED fat and sugar. This is not the fat in cheese or even the fat in hamburger … and this is not the sugar in bananas or carrots.
This is the fat in French fries and snack foods … and sugar in soft drinks and candy.

15. Undernourished
The UNDERNOURISHED problem comes from what children are not getting … all those missing nutrients, like protein, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Let’s take a closer look at one critical nutrient for children's healthy growth and development … calcium.
This graph shows the percentage of children who meet 100 percent of an Adequate Intake (AI) for calcium at various ages.
As you can see, we do a great job of meeting children’s calcium intake under the age of one … and a good job of calcium intake up to the age of five. This is primarily due to what nutrition program? WIC!!
However, as you can also see, we do not maintain this healthy momentum with calcium intake once children reach school age.
The situation is truly grim for teenagers … especially young women. Only 10 percent of teens girls get an adequate intake of calcium on a regular basis.

16. 2003 Youth Risk Survey (YRBS)
Health Behavior MS
USA
Overweight
15.7%
13.5%
At risk for being overweight
15.4%
No moderate physical activity
82%
75%
Less than 3 servings milk/day
89%
82.9%
Less than 5 servings F+V/day
80%
78%
More than 3 hrs. TV/school day
54.1%
38.2%
No PE at school
77%
72%
When we compare the children in Mississippi to the total US population kids … in terms of the factors we have been discussing, we again see disturbing trends.
The 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) of Mississippi high school students shows that they are:
More likely to be overweight or at risk of overweight
More likely to watch more TV and less likely get moderate physical activity or have PE in school
Less likely to get the recommended amounts of milk … or fruits and veggies

17. SEDENTARY Less PE in school More screen time
Only 1/2 get regular physical activity
14% of teens report NO physical activity
Physical activity is obviously another important component of children’s health … and an important factor in whether or not they will become overweight.
As we will discuss later, being sedentary may also be a factor in children’s academic success.
Like their counterparts across the country, kids in Mississippi are getting less PE in school … and spending more time on screen entertainment (TV + DVD + computers + video games).
Surveys show that only about 1/2 of young people in America get the recommended amounts of physical activity … and 14 percent of teens report NO physical activity at all.

18. “One in three children born in the US in 2000 will become diabetic …”
Type 2 DIABETES
“One in three children born in the US in 2000 will become diabetic …”
CDC ~ 2003
As I noted when we began this discuss of WHY schools need a wellness policy, the combination of poor nutrition and inactive lifestyles leads to some serious health problems.
One of the most serious is Type 2 diabetes … which used to be considered a disease that afflicted sedentary adults in their 50s and 60s.
Type 2 diabetes now shows up routinely in children under the age of ten. It is becoming so prevalent that the CDC estimates that 1 of every three children born in the US in the year 2000 will get Type 2 diabetes some time during their lifetime.
This overall figure for children in the US fails to point out that some ethnic groups are genetically more susceptible to this devastating disease. Research at the University of Mississippi estimates that one in two African-American children will get diabetes.
And remember, is just one of the serious conditions that are more common in overweight children.

19. These problems have far-reaching consequences.
Health consequences
Cardiovascular, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes
High blood cholesterol, respiratory ailments, and orthopedic and dental problems
Psychological consequences
Self-esteem, withdrawal, anxiety, body image
Academic consequences
Attendance, classroom behavior, cognitive development, test scores, and academic performance
In fact, the weight, nutrition, and health problems of children have far-reaching consequences for our country and our state.
The consequences are appearing more and more frequently in headlines like these … in publications from US News and World Report to our local newspapers.

20. Mississippi Health Challenges
Health Issue MS
Asthma in childhood
10th in US
Cancer deaths
5th in US
Diabetes rates
2nd in US
Heart disease deaths
1st in US
Obesity rates in adults
Sedentary lifestyle (no activity)
Unfortunately, when is comes to health issues … as you can see here, Mississippi ranks at the top of all the “wrong lists”

21. Mississippi Budget Challenge
Obesity-related costs $757 million dollars per year, over half of those expenses were paid by Medicare and Medicaid
In terms of the state of Mississippi, the consequences of our health challenges are just as substantial as those facing individuals.
In fact, the obesity-related costs for the state of Mississippi are estimated to be $757 million dollars per year … with over half of these expenses being shouldered by the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

22. Schools play a central role in creating solutions.
Reason number 8 for WHY school wellness policies are important for Mississippi schools is that … schools play a central role in creating the solutions to these problems.

23. SCHOOLS Real Solutions FAMILY PRE-SCHOOL COMMUNITY HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY
Obviously, the solutions to complex problems are also complex. Real solutions to the weight, nutrition, and health problems of children in the US will involve changes by everyone from families to industry.
However, schools play are central role in improving the health and performance of children for several reasons:
Children spend lots of time in school and many now eat breakfast, lunch, and snack in a school setting. School meals may provide the most calories … and the most nutrients … for kids, especially during the school year.
In schools, we can educate children about healthy choices … and also provide the opportunity for kids to practice those choices.
Schools are also the places where we try to do the best that we can do for kids … on all levels, including nutrition, fitness, and health.

24. Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Succeed
Mississippi Families
Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Succeed
In order for Mississippi families to be fit, healthy, and ready to succeed in the complex world ahead of them … schools must meet the challenges of improving their students’ nutrition and fitness.
And, school wellness policies are one important part of the puzzle.

25. Nutrition and fitness help children behave well in school.
The reasons WHY wellness policies are important also affect the day-to-day operations of schools … which brings us to reason number five: Nutrition and fitness help children behave well in school.

26. Nutrition and fitness improve academic performance.
The effect of nutrition and fitness on academic performance is so important that it deserves being a reason on its own … reason number four.

27. Nutrition and Fitness Reduce fatigue Reduce irritability Reduce apathy
Reduce anxiety
Reduce depression
Reduce infections
Reduce absences
Studies have also shown that nutrition and fitness help improve reduce important things in schools.
Nutrition and fitness have been to shown to help reduce:
Fatigue
Irritability
Apathy
Anxiety
Depression
Infections
Absences

28. Nutrition and Fitness Improve energy levels Improve participation
Improve attendance
Improve energy levels
Improve participation
Improve behavior
Improve test scores
Improve academic success
Multiple research studies have shown that nutrition and fitness can help improve behavior … and much more … in schools.
Nutrition and fitness have to shown to help improve:
Attendance
Energy levels
Participation in classroom activities
Behavior
Test scores … and academic success

29. student health the missing link in school improvement?
The effect of nutrition and fitness is so powerful that many education experts now wonder whether health is the missing link in school improvement.
As we look for ways to make certain that we “leave no child behind”, we must insure that we leave no child’s health behind.
Or, as the PE teachers say, leave no child on their behind!

30. Children’s health is not just about weight, nutrient intake, and Type 2 diabetes … health is academic!

31. Healthy kids = healthy schools = healthy communities = healthy world
Reason number two for WHY we need effective school wellness policies is a simple equation … one that adds up in anyone’s book:
Healthy kids = healthy schools = healthy communities = healthy world

32. Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Succeed
Mississippi Families
Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Succeed
If our goal is Mississippi families that are fit, healthy, and ready to succeed in today’s complex world, we must start by creating the healthiest possible environments in our schools.
Effective school wellness policies are essential for healthy school environments.

33. WHAT ?

34. Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development
The Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development describes exactly WHAT schools need to do in order to meet the Federal requirements … and to do the right thing for families at the same time.

35. Make it easy for schools …
… to have a policy in place by school year
… to begin or continue a discussion on kids’ health.
… to take baby steps toward successful improvements.
The Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development was specifically designed to make it easy for schools:
… to have a policy in place by the deadline … the school year
… to begin a … or continue an existing … discussion on kids’ health.
… to take baby steps toward successful improvements in nutrition and physical activity.

36. School Wellness Policy
Goals
Nutrition Guidelines
Community Involvement
Implementation
School Year
The Federal legislation outlines WHAT the basic requirements of a school wellness policy should be … and when policies must be in place.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the requirements … and how the Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development makes it easy to meet them.

37. WHAT ?
GOALS for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the local education agency determines is appropriate
The first requirement for a school wellness policy is GOALS … “for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that are designed to promote student wellness in a manner that the local education agency determines is appropriate.”
A school is required to have some specific goals … but is not required to have goals in all areas.

38. Each Commitment Minimum requirements Federal regulations
Mississippi statutes
Optional policy statements
Possible GOALS
Appendices
Examples
Resources
In the School Wellness Policy Guide for Development, we chose to call these goals COMMITMENTS … in order to underscore the commitment of the Mississippi Department of Education to students who are fit, healthy, and ready to succeed.
Each commitment first describes the minimum requirements of Federal regulations and Mississippi statutes … which must be included in all school wellness policies in the state.
Each commitment also describes several optional policy statements … which schools may choose for goals in their individual policies. Schools may also choose to create other goals which are different from those outlined in the Guide.
Where necessary, the commitments are supported by appendices … which include examples and/or resources.

39. Commitment to Nutrition
On page 6-7, you can see the first commitment … to nutrition.
As just noted, the Commitment to Nutrition first describes the Federal requirements and Mississippi statutes which must be part of every school wellness policy in Mississippi.
The commitment then lists several different optional policy statements … which a school might chose for a goal … in the area of nutrition.
The photos here are from a program in the __________ school designed to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among elementary-aged children.
PAGE 6-7

40. Commitment to Physical Activity
The commitment to physical activity … essential for overall health, healthy weight, and academic success … is described on page 7.
The photos here show a physical activity program for children in the __________ school … and a walking program for staff (and parents?) at the _____________ school.
PAGE 7

41. Commitment to Comprehensive Health Education
Comprehensive Health Education is another necessary commitment to insure that children are fit, healthy, and ready to succeed.
This commitment … outlined on page 8 … again includes items required by Mississippi statute and possible optional policy statements to be used as goals.
The photos that you see here showcase some fun materials for nutrition education activities … and a physical education class in the _________________ school.
PAGE 8

42. Commitment to Marketing a Healthy School Environment
In Mississippi, we have also included a commitment to Marketing a Healthy School Environment.
Marketing … or “selling” … is as essential as education when it comes to nutrition, fitness, and health.
This assembly at the ___________ school is just one example of how schools can “sell the sizzle” of tasty, healthful fruits and vegetables.
PAGE 8

43. WHAT ?
Nutrition GUIDELINES selected by the local educational agency for ALL foods available on each school campus under the local educational agency during the school day with the objectives of promotion student health and reducing childhood obesity
In addition to goals, each school wellness policy must establish Nutrition GUIDELINES … “for all foods available on each school campus under the local educational agency during the school day with the objectives of promotion student health and reducing childhood obesity.”
This means that school must have guidelines for foods and beverages in student stores, vending machines, and fundraising programs, as well as foods used as classroom rewards.

44. APPENDICES
In order to make it easy for schools to choose appropriate guidelines for their situation, the Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development includes an appendix with examples guidelines … and a websites where school wellness policies will be posted as they are developed.
This is Appendix A on pages 10 through 12.
PAGE 10-12

45. WHAT ?
ASSURANCES that guidelines for reimbursable school meals are not less restrictive than the regulations issued by the USDA
Since Child Nutrition Program meals (breakfast, lunch, and snack) are already covered by specific USDA guidelines, school wellness policies need only specify that the school will not establish less restrictive guidelines for these meals.
If they wish, schools may establish standards or guidelines in addition to those from USDA. For example, a school might wish to add a protein source to a breakfast program … or to focus on fresh fruits and veggies in an after-school snack program.

46. Reimbursable School Meals
The Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development includes implementation as one of the commitments … which you can see on page 9.
PAGE ___

47. WHAT ?
WAYS of measuring how well the school wellness policy is being implemented, including designation of one or more persons at each school with operational responsibility for ensuring that the school is meeting the policy
The US Congress also mandated that school wellness policies must have a plan for implementing the policy … “including the designation of one or more persons at each school with the operational responsibility for ensuring that the school is meeting the policy.”

48. Commitment to Implementation
The Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development includes implementation as one of the commitments … which you can see on page 9.
PAGE 9

49. WHAT ?
INVOLVEMENT of parents, students, teachers, representatives of the school food authority, school board and school administrators, and the public, in developing the policy
A school wellness policy must be a team effort … with the “Involvement of parents, students, representatives of the school food authority, the school board and school administrators, and the public.”

50. HOW ?
Let’s start out with the most important question of all … WHY do Mississippi schools need a school wellness policy?

51. Three Steps for Success
Gather input and assess current situation.
Develop and approve a school wellness policy.
Implement an effective school wellness policy.
Pages 2 and 3 of the Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development describe the three essential steps for successfully developing a school wellness policy.
Briefly, the three steps are:
1. Gather input and access the current situation regarding nutrition and physical activity.
2. Develop and approve a school wellness policy using district procedures and timelines.
3. Implement an effective school wellness policy.
Again, these steps … and resources … are described in more detail on pages 2 and 3 of the Guide.
PAGE 2-3

52. WHO ?
After the WHY, WHAT, and HOW, we come to the most important question of all … WHO!!
And the answer is simple … YOU!!
YOU are an essential member of the team necessary for your school to develop the best wellness policy possible.
NOTE: Add remarks as appropriate to the audience.

53. A team approach … Doctor Dietitian Therapist Dentist Orthodontist
Public Health
YWCA/YMCA
Boys/Girls Club
Extension
College/University
Students
Families
Teachers
Coaches
Nurses
Counselor
Principal
Superintendent
Foodservice staff
After-school staff
The team necessary to develop and implement an effective school wellness policy include people from the school … as well as people from the community.
Policies are most appropriate and effective when they include the input and involvement of a wide variety of individuals with diverse viewpoints, expertise, and resources.

54. WHEN ? And, finally, the last question … WHEN?
Since the Federal law mandates that all schools must have a policy in place by the beginning of the school year , it is time to get started.
Take just a minute or two to think about what needs to happen in your school … and when you can get started on developing a policy in your school.

55. Develop an effective school wellness policy.
Goals
Guidelines
Community Involvement
Implementation
School year
USDA Team Nutrition
For more specifics and sample policies, you can visit the USDA Team Nutrition website … the URL listed in your handout under USDA.
As your school works to develop an effective wellness policy, there is no need to reinvent any resources or information.
The websites listed in the Mississippi School Wellness Policy Guide for Development and those that you received in the handout with this session will allow you to concentrate on the important tasks of developing the right policy for your school and your community.

56. Child Nutrition Programs
Who Benefits?
Families
Teachers
Administrators
Child Nutrition Programs
When schools establish effective wellness policies, the benefits are many … and substantial.
School wellness policies benefit families, teachers, and administrators …

57. Who Benefits?
… and most importantly, wellness policies benefit those people who are most important to schools … STUDENTS!!
Students

58. Thank You
Thank you for your time and attention … and for ALL that you do to make sure that Mississippi families are fit, healthy, and ready to succeed.
We look forward to hearing your success stories as you develop school wellness policies across our state.

59. Mississippi Department of Education Office of Healthy Schools www. mde
Mississippi Department of Education Office of Healthy Schools
For more information, you can visit the MDE Office of Healthy Schools website at URL listed here.
You may also contact me at ______________________
Created by
Dayle Hayes, MS, RD

60. STUDENT SUCCESS Eat Healthy + Play Hard =
Final slide … can be left on screen during Q-and-A