Helpful Resources
For Families
A Food Guide Pyramid for Kids
The new Food Guide Pyramid for Kids, the first food pyramid specifically aimed
at children 6 to 11 years old, is available along with games, helpful tips, and
educational materials at http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/index.html
Ideas for Healthy Snacks
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, with input from experts and parents,
developed two resources with healthy snack ideas for parents, teachers, after
school programs, and other caregivers. There is a one-page version that can be
used as a handout or model newsletter article at
http://www.cspinet.org/nutritionpolicy/snacks_summary.pdf.
There is also a more extensive list of snack ideas for people and programs that
want more detail at www.cspinet.org/healthysnacks
Increasing Activity - VERB
VERB is a national, multicultural, social marketing campaign coordinated by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that encourages young people
to be physically active every day. This web site includes resources and
information to make regular physical activity "cool" for young people and a fun
thing to do.
http://www.verbnow.com/
Fruits & Veggies – More Matters
The CDC and the Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH), have partnered with
many other organizations to launch a new public health initiative Fruits & Veggies-More
Matters. The new site offers the following:

A calculator to find out how many fruits and vegetables you need each day, based
on your daily calories needs

Tips on how to include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet

Information on exciting new fruits and vegetables to try

Delicious recipes and much more!
http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/
HealthierUS.gov
If you talk to Americans, there is hope. They say they generally know what will
make them healthier, but they are confused about what specific information is
credible and accurate. HealthierUS.gov will be that source of credible, accurate
information to help Americans choose to live healthier lives.
http://www.healthierus.gov/
Body and Mind (BAM)
This site is an interactive tool for adolescents, providing up-to-date information
and encouragement to increase their level of physical activity and establish fitness
habits that will stay with them for life.
http://www.bam.gov/
Choosing Healthier Foods and Increasing Activity
The risk of obesity among Asian-American children increases the longer they are
in the United States. The School of Public Health at the University of California,
Berkley, offers materials for families in English, Vietnamese, and Korean about
making healthy choices and being active.
http://nature.berkeley.edu/cwh/activities/asian_lang_publications.shtml#increase
For Professionals
Legislation and Regulations
The Child Nutrition and Women Infants and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of
2004 (P.L. 108-265)
This act amends and renews the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act
and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966. Section 204 requires that all local education
agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program create local wellness
policies before the start of the 2006-2007 school year. In response to this
mandate, both federal and non-federal agencies have responded with tools and
resources for schools to assist with developing local wellness policies.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Governance/Legislation/Historical/PL_108-265.pdf
RI Senate Bill 565 SUB A, Chapter 79 / House Bill 5563 SUB A, Chapter 74
This law amends RIGL §16-2-9 and §16-7.1-2 and creates §16-21-28. The law:
 Broadens the powers and duties of school committees to include the health
and wellness of students and employees;
 Requires that the school committee establish a school health and wellness
subcommittee responsible for – but not limited to – the development of
policies, strategies and implementation plans that meet the requirements of
the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004. A member of
the school committee must chair the committee. Membership must be a
majority not employed by the school district, and include at least one
parent; and,
 Requires that district strategic plans include strategies to decrease obesity
and improve the health and wellness of students and employees through
nutrition, physical activity, health education and physical education.
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05074.htm
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/PublicLaws/law05/law05076.htm
Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs (R-16-21-SCHO)
State of Rhode Island Departments of Education and Health (last amended June
2005)
“The Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs are promulgated
pursuant to the authority conferred under RIGL Chapters 16-21, 35-4, and 23-118(4) and are established for the purpose of adopting prevailing standards
pertaining to school health programs.”
http://www.rules.state.ri.us/rules/released/pdf/DOH/DOH_3592.pdf
For Professionals
School Wellness Policy Tools and Examples
Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition
(These are included in Tools section of this toolkit)
School District Nutrition and Physical Activity Model Policy Language
http://www.thriveri.org/documents/3.4_RI_Model_Policy_Language.pdf
Nutrition Guidelines for School Vending and A La Carte Foods
http://www.thriveri.org/documents/3.5_RI_Nutrition_Guidelines.pdf
RI Approved Product List: School Vending & A La Carte Foods in RI Schools
http://www.thriveri.org/documents/3.6_RI_Approved_Products.pdf
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Team Nutrition: Local Wellness Policy
This clearinghouse contains reference materials to assist school districts with
developing local wellness policies for physical activity and nutrition, tools and
resources for implementation, and un-reviewed sample policies.
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/wellnesspolicy.html
Action for Healthy Kids
Wellness Policy Tool
This searchable database was developed by Action for Healthy Kids in
partnership with CDC to compliment USDA's local wellness policy web site. This
site helps districts identify policy options and write their own policies. Users can
adapt or copy sample language from un-reviewed policies gathered from across
the country.
http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/wellnesstool/index.php
National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA)
Model School Wellness Policies
“The model nutrition and physical activity policies below meet the new federal
requirement. This comprehensive set of model nutrition and physical activity
policies is based on nutrition science, public health research, and existing
practices from exemplary states and local school districts around the country. The
NANA work group's first priority was to promote children's health and wellbeing. However, feasibility of policy implementation also was considered.”
http://www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org/
New England Dairy & Food Council
School Wellness resources
This site provides step-by-step resources for creating wellness councils and
policies, including:
 The Law
 Getting Started
 Policy Development Tools
 Nutrition and Fitness Support Materials, and
 Wellness Resource Links
 Power point presentation “Developing A Local Wellness Policy” from the
School Nutrition Association
http://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/ (see School Wellness on sidebar)
School Health Programs
This web site shows how important quality school health programs are for all
children. The site provides information for parents, school personnel, and
community leaders to help make sure that all children get the information they
need to grow up healthy.
http://www.schoolhealth.org
Center for Health and Health Care in Schools
This site provides information for school personnel, health professionals, parents
and students on a wide variety of health topics related to schools. A list serve is
available also.
http://www.healthinschools.org
The American Cancer Society and School Health Councils
Promoting Healthy Youth, Schools, and Communities - A Guide to CommunitySchool Health Councils
This guide provides detailed instructions for creating and running a School Health
Council, with chapters on creating a vision, developing an action plan, taking
action, and maintaining momentum.
http://www.cancer.org/downloads/PED/Guide_to_Community_School_Health_C
ouncils.pdf
National Association of School Boards of Education (NASBE)
Safe and Healthy Schools Project
“NASBE aims to assist policymakers and practitioners create safe, healthy, and
nurturing school environments for all of the nation's children and youth. The Safe
and Healthy Schools Project maintains a constantly-updated online database of
state school health policies of all 50 states’ laws and policies regarding 39 major
topics in school health. NASBE has also developed an array of landmark policy
guides on a variety of issues concerning children, youth, and school health that
have helped inform the development of education policies across the country.”
http://www.nasbe.org/index.php/prjects-separator/shs
Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn: A School Health Policy Guide, Parts I, II, III
“The Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) of the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) asked NASBE to help states, districts, and
schools develop policies that would help prevent long-term chronic diseases. The
resulting policy guide complements CDC's school health guidelines, which
provide state-of-the-art, scientifically reliable information on what constitutes
effective school health programs.”
http://www.nasbe.org/index.php/prjects-separator/shs/78-model-policies/122policies-to-encourage-healthy-eating
For Professionals
School Physical Activity & Nutrition Self-Assessment Tools
Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition
Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey
(This is included in Tools section of this toolkit)
http://www.newenglanddairycouncil.org/wellness/RI-School-Nutrition-PASurvey.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
School Health Index (SHI)
“The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve
their health and safety policies and programs. It's easy to use and completely
confidential… This popular self-assessment and planning tool for schools is now
available online!… Just need a paper copy? Download the PDF, customize and
print a copy, or order a printed copy.”
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/shi/
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Changing the Scene
“USDA developed this kit of materials to help you take action to improve your
school nutrition environment. A Guide to Local Action [PDF] is the centerpiece.
The kit:
 Gives you general guidelines for establishing your team and planning for
change
 Explains each of the six components of a healthy school nutrition
environment
 Provides criteria for determining success
 Offers ideas for getting activities started
 Presents guidelines for identifying, contacting, and working with all the
groups you want actively involved on your team
 Provides tips for attracting media attention and working effectively with
the media
 Cites references and resources
The kit also includes Support Materials and Other Resources”
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/kit.html
For Professionals
Reports on Schools and Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity
Institute of Medicine
Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance
“In 2002, Congress charged the Institute of Medicine (IOM) with developing a
prevention-focused action plan to decrease the number of obese children and
youth in the United States. The primary emphasis of the charge was to examine
the behavioral, social, cultural, and other broad environmental factors involved in
childhood obesity and to identify promising approaches for prevention efforts.”
This web site contains a report about the action plans and childhood obesity facts.
http://www.iom.edu/focuson.asp?id=22593
National Association of School Boards of Education (NASBE)
State Education Standard, Vol. 5, No. 2, December 2004, “The Obesity
Epidemic: What Schools Can Do”
This edition includes articles on the role of schools, health policies, and more.
http://www.nasbe.org/index.php/standard/276-ses-oe-v52
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report
“Public Health Strategies for Preventing and Controlling Overweight and Obesity
in School and Worksite Settings: A Report on Recommendations of the Task
Force on Community Preventive Services.” MMWR October 7, 2005 /
54(RR10);1-12.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5410a1.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5410.pdf