Webinar: Local School Wellness Policies Thank you everyone for attending our webinar on Local Wellness Policies. My name is Linda Fischer, I’m an Educational Specialist with ESE and I will be presenting the webinar today. I’m joined today by my colleague, Ebonique Faria. Ebonique will be moderating the webinar for us today. Let’s get started. Confirmation of Attendance: To receive confirmation of attendance: Enter your first & last name into the webinar system. For those participating as a group (and who have not registered individually), please be sure to include the names of all participants in your group. Participation certificates will only be issued to registered and confirmed attendees. A survey will be sent via email after this webinar. Once the survey is completed, you Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 1
will be able to print a certificate. The Power Point and handouts will be available on the security portal and the JSI website within the next week. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 1
Civil Rights/Non-Discrimination Statement: This Civil Rights/Non-Discrimination Statement MUST be included on any and all program materials associated with the Child Nutrition Programs. The statement must be the exact statement from USDA and can not be altered. The current statement can be found on The MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education child nutrition program website at www.doe.mass.edu/cnp or on USDA’s School Meals website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/school -meals/child- nutrition-programs Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 2
Professional Standards This webinar provides 1.5 hours toward Professional Standards training requirements. The two key areas include: 1) Program Management Topic: 3230-Evaluate and utilize resources to promote a healthy school environment 2) Communications and Marketing Topic: 4150-Communicate within the school and to the community through multiple approaches to inform and educate stakeholders Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 3
Learning Objectives By the end of this presentation, participants will identify: 1) the required components of local school wellness policies. 2) the assessment and implementation criteria for local school wellness policies. 3) best practices and resources that may be used to strengthen local school wellness policies. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 4
What is a Local School Wellness Policy? A local school wellness policy (“wellness policy”) is a written document that guides a Local Educational Agency’s (LEA) or school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well -being, and ability to learn. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 5
History/Background • The wellness policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004. • It required LEAs participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and/or School Breakfast Program (SBP) to develop a wellness policy by school year 2006. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 6
History/Background The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 further strengthened LWPs from 2004. The final rule expands the requirements to strengthen policies and increase transparency. The responsibility for developing, implementing, and evaluating a wellness policy is placed at the local level, so the unique needs of each school under the LEA’s jurisdiction can be addressed. Provisions of the Final Rule: On July 29, 2016, the USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) finalized regulations to create a framework and guidelines for written wellness policies established by LEAs. The final rule requires LEAs to begin developing a revised local school wellness policy during School Year 2016-2017. LEAs must fully comply with the requirements of the final rule by June 30, 2017. See USDA handout “Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger- Free Kids Act of 2010: Summary of the Final Rule” for more information. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 7
History/Background • In July 2010, the Massachusetts legislature passed “An Act Relative to School Nutrition” (MGL 223, Chapter 111, 105 CMR 215.00), which called for “regulations facilitating the establishment of School Wellness Advisory Committees” • Regulations were passed by the Public Health Council in July 2011 and went into effect in August 2012 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 8
History/Background • Regulations for School Wellness Advisory Committees were developed to ensure that all Massachusetts school districts have a system in place to deal effectively with school health issues. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 9
Local Discretion and Local Wellness Policies • LEAs can determine the specific policies appropriate for the schools under their jurisdiction. • Local policies may be more strict but at a minimum, must include all required elements specified in Federal and State regulations. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 10
Legislative Requirements of a Local School Wellness Policy • Must be a group of individuals from the school/district • Must be a standing committee (as opposed to a single-issue task force) • The superintendent must be made aware of members of the wellness committee/team • The Wellness Committee is charged with making recommendations concerning school health/wellness policies, programs, and practices
Legislative Requirements of a Local School Wellness Policy • The committee must meet at least 4 times per year and keep minutes • Conduct a needs assessment, and develop and implement an annual action plan • Must include attention to nutrition, physical activity, obesity • Build support with all stakeholders • Monitor progress • Write annual report and communicate
School Wellness Advisory Committee Membership At a minimum, LEAs must permit participation by: • the general public and the school community including: • parents • students • representatives of the school food authority • teachers of physical education • school health professionals • the school board • and school administrators in the wellness policy process. Membership should reflect the cultural, linguistic, and ethnic composition of the community as much as possible. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 13
Stakeholder Participation LEAs are required to permit stakeholders in the: • Development • Implementation • Periodic review • Update of the LWP Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 14
Elements of a Written Local School Wellness Policy At a minimum, policies are required to include specific goals for: • Nutrition education and promotion • Physical activity • Other school-based activities that promote student wellness including: • Bullying Prevention Policies and Plans • Tobacco-Free Schools • Indoor Air Quality • Sex Education • Stress Reduction • School district will provide a clean, safe, enjoyable meal environment for students. • School district will schedule lunch time as near the middle of the school day as possible. • School district will prohibit the use of food as a reward or punishment in schools. • Food or physical activity is not used as a reward or punishment. • School district will make efforts to keep school or district-owned physical activity facilities open for use by students outside school hours. • Nutrition guidelines for all foods available or for sale on school campus Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 15
Elements of a Written Local School Wellness Policy At a minimum, must include goals for: • Policies for other foods and beverages available during the school day (e.g., in classroom parties, classroom snacks brought by parents, or other foods given as incentives) • Special attention should be paid to students with food allergies and special dietary needs. • Policies that allow marketing and advertising of only those foods and beverages that meet nutrition standards Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 16
Elements of a Written Local School Wellness Policy • LEAs should make information available describing how the wellness committee is going to operate. The description should include information on public involvement, public updates, policy leadership and the evaluation plan for LWPs. • LEAs are required to review and consider evidence-based strategies in determining these goals. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 17
Annual Needs Assessment and Action Plan • A needs assessment of LWPs must be conducted annually. • Develop and implement an annual action plan with measurable goals and objective based on the needs assessment
Annual Action Plan • Develop an annual action plan with measurable and observable goals and objectives to promote student wellness based on your LWP • Objectives should be SMART: S – Specific M – Measureable A – Appropriate R – Realistic T – Time-linked
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