Local Wellness Policy
RCCI and Private Schools
Charleston, WV
September 23 and 25, 2014
Local Wellness – Why?
 Reaches beyond USDA-funded meal programs to
influence childhood health
 Puts responsibility at the local level
 Recognizes the critical role of schools in curbing the
epidemic of childhood overweight
 Provides an opportunity for school districts to create
an environment conducive to healthy lifestyle choices
How did it all start?
• The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization
Act of 2004 (Sec. 4 P.L 108-205)
• LWP required components:
Nutrition education
Physical activity
Nutrition Guidelines for all Foods
and Beverages on School Campus
Other school based activities designed to promote
student wellness
Update to LWP
• Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010
• LWP required components:
Nutrition education and Promotion
Physical activity
Nutrition Guidelines for all Foods
and Beverages on School Campus
Other school based activities designed to promote
student wellness
Update to LWP – Cont.
 Requires PE teachers and school health
professionals to participate in the development
of LWP, periodic review and update.
 Transparency to the public
 Assessment and report
 One designated official
 Local Wellness Council in place with quarterly
meetings
WVBE Policy 4321.1
•§126-86-12. Local Wellness Policy.
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12.1. The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Section 204 of Public Law 108-265, requires that all local education
agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program develop a local wellness policy by the first day of the 2006-2007 school year. The
local wellness policy provides an opportunity for schools to create an environment that promotes wellness. Sponsors must at a minimum
complete an assessment of each school to identify areas of improvement. Policy provisions must exceed current state and federal minimum
requirements to demonstrate improvement.
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12.2. Development of the policy shall involve a broad spectrum of the school and community members including health care providers,
food service personnel, teachers, students, parents, board members and educational administrators.
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12.3. The policy must address each of the following areas:
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12.3.1. Nutrition education;
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12.3.2. Physical activity;
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12.3.3. Nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages available on school campus; and
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12.3.4. Other school-based activities to promote student wellness.
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12.4. The policy must include an evaluation plan for measuring the implementation of the policy and progress that is being made.
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12.5. A timeline must be established for implementation, assessment and evaluation of the policy. A county-wide assessment must be
conducted biannually to determine progress in targeted areas and to identify areas needing improvement.
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12.6. The Local Wellness Policy must be county board approved.
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12.7. The county-wide policy must govern all schools and must be submitted to the WVDE’s, Office of Child Nutrition biannually.
Additionally, the policy must include current revisions and evidence of yearly progress.
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12.8. Failure to submit the local wellness policy to the WVDE’s, Office of Child Nutrition as required may result in a non-compliance
violation and suspension of federal meal reimbursements pending compliance with local wellness policy requirements.
What Makes a Good Wellness
Council?
Step 1 – Build a Strong Team
• HHFK Act of 2010 requires a diverse group of
stakeholders.
• What makes a good represented Wellness
Council?
– Teachers, students, local churches and other
community group representatives, health
professionals (health and PE teachers), school
nurses, school principals, parents or PTA,
representatives that usually get involved in
fundraising for schools, etc.
What Makes a Good Wellness
Council?
• Activity
– Who are your current LWC members?
– How do you involve members?
– Do you have representation from:
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School/Facility personnel
Administrator
Students/Residents
Health professionals
Teachers
Others?
Step 2 – Assess the Environment
• Look at what the existing policy and practices
in your district are and the gaps around
nutrition promotion and education, nutrition
guidelines, physical activity and other schoolbased activities to promote student wellness.
• Healthier US School Challenge, a national
recognition program, requires collecting
information and assess the school wellness
practices and environment.
Step 2 – Assess the Environment
• Activity:
– “Checklist for Improvement at Residential Child
Care Institutions”
Step 3 – Draft the Policy and Procedure
• Create a policy that spells out what you want
to accomplish regarding district wide wellness
practices.
• Avoid vague language (“recommend”, “shall”,
“promote”).
• Use words like “will”, “shall”, “must” and
“require” that ensure school compliance.
• Stakeholders Buy-In
• Check for compliance with HHFK Act.
Step 3 – Draft the Policy and Procedure (cont.)
• Nutrition promotion and education, physical activity and other schoolbased activities that promote student wellness.
• Nutrition guidelines to promote student health and reduce childhood
obesity for all foods available in each school district.
• Permit and encourage parents, students, representatives of the school
food authority, physical education teachers, school health professionals,
the school board, school administrators and the general public to
participate in the development, implementation, and review and update
of the local wellness policy.
• Inform and update the public (including parents, students and others in
the community) about the content and implementation of the local
wellness policies.
• Measure the local school wellness policy periodically on the extent to
which schools are in compliance, the extent to which the local school
wellness policy compares to model wellness policies, and the progress
made in attaining the goals of the policy. These assessments should be
made available to the public.
Step 4 – Adopt the Policy
• Follow appropriate procedures to approve
policy in your facility.
Step 5 – Develop Action Plan
• Action Plan required areas:
– Nutrition Education and Promotion
– Nutrition Guidelines
– Physical Activity
– Other School-Based Activities that Promote
Student Wellness
Step 5 – Develop Action Plan
• Activity – List activities that your facility has
conducted:
– Nutrition Education and Promotion
– Nutrition Guidelines
– Physical Activity
– Other School-Based Activities that Promote
Student Wellness
Step 6 – Measure, Evaluate, and
Sustain the Effort
• Measurable objectives in Action Plan.
• Confirm that one or more designated person(s)
has(have) the authority to ensure that the school is
meeting the policy
• Periodically review how well the policy is being
managed and enforced.
• Document areas of exemplary actions as well as areas
concern
• Make note of any recommended updates or
amendments to the policy and procedure as the
process moves on
• Capture success stories and share with others.
Step 7 – Communicate the Results
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Federal requirement to inform and update the public about the wellness policy, assessment
and assessment results.
Communication methods include:
District website
District communications, such as automated telephone calls, emails and texts
Parent group presentations and information in emails to parents
A table with information at back to school meetings and parent conferences, open houses,
parent nights, sports/athletic code meetings and registration events
Information sent home with District School Meal Menus
Information sent home with snack, party and classroom volunteer lists
Staff meeting presentations and emails
Principal/School Newsletters
Student handouts
Parent mailings (consider a postcard with the website for more information)
Posters at school
Student announcements at school
Student Handbooks
Local Newspaper, television and media outlets
LWP Activities OCN Will Assess
During Reviews
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Is there a LWP?
How does the public know about the LWP?
LWP must be available to the public.
When and how does the review and update of
the LWP occur?
• Who is involved in reviewing and updating the
LWP and what is their relationship with the
SFA?
LWP Requirements under Proposed
Rule
• Evidence-Based Strategies and Techniques:
Nutrition education and Promotion
Physical activity
Other school based activities designed to promote
student wellness
• Marketing and advertising: Smart Snacks Rule
Review and Transparency Provisions
- Content and implementation of the LWP
- Annual progress report: website address for
LWP, each school’s progress and summary of
schools events and activities related to the
LWP.
- Assessment of the LWP tri-annually.
Resources for LWP
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Team Nutrition
Action for Healthy Kids
Policy Assessment Tool
Fuel Up to Play 60
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Try This WV
Questions?
Cybele Boehm
Coordinator
Office of Child Nutrition
304-558-3396
cboehm@k12.wv.us