Local Wellness Policy for RCCIs:

A Team Approach

What is a Local Wellness Policy?

It is a written document that guides RCCIs to establish a school environment that promotes student health, well-being and ability to learn.

Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004

Reauthorization Act of 2010: Health and Hunger Free Kids Act

New Local Wellness Policy Proposed Rule is currently under review- tentative effective date: July 1, 2015.

Legal Authority

Are RCCIs expected to have a wellness policy?

Yes! Because of the responsibility the RCCI has in providing nutrition and physical activity to children in residence, FNS believes it is important for each RCCI to address wellness policies that will affect the health and development of its residents.

Answer Question #1 on Handout

Local Wellne

ss Policy

Form a Committe

e

Assess Your

Needs

Draft a Policy

Build Awarenes

s and Support; Adopt the

Policy

Implement,

Measure, and

Evaluate

Form a Committee Publicly announce

committee formation so others know to join if interested.

Build Committee Framework: Decide a meeting

time and place. Create a template for

notes and documentation.

Ideas for Committee Members:

Teachers, Other Staff, Community Members, Parents (if possible), students (if possible), other stakeholders

Form a Committe

e

Answer Question #2 on Handout

Assess Your Needs Perform an

assessment of your school nutrition environment.

Examples of a few assessments: WellSAT

(www.wellsat.org) Alliance for a

Healthier Generation- Healthier Schools Program Inventory

Use your assessment to determine what should go in your policy.

Assess Your

Needs

Let’s Look at the WellSATAnswer Question #3 on Handout

Draft Your Policy

1. Specific goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other school-based wellness activities;2. Nutrition guidelines for all foods available on each RCCI campus during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood obesity;

3. Permit parents, students, representatives of the RCCI, teachers, and the general public to participate in the development, implementation, and the review and update of the policy;4. Inform and update the public about the content and implementation of the policy;5. Be measured periodically on the extent to which the RCCI is in attaining the goals it set for wellness and make this assessment available to the public.

What must be included…

Draft a Policy

Be sure to refer back to your assessment to develop goals.

For example, if your assessment shows a weakness in nutrition education for students, create a goal to offer two or three nutrition education programs for the next school year.

Another example: if your assessment shows a weakness in the amount of physical activity offered to students, create a goal to add instructional time that incorporates physical activity or start a walking club.

Goal Writing

Answer Question #4 on Handout

Nutrition Guidelines

Ensure that nutrition guidelines for foods available to students in your facility encourage health and reduce obesity.

Answer Question #5 on Handout

Ensure that the public is made aware of the efforts of the committee with regard to the Local Wellness Policy.

The public must be made of aware of updates, progress made towards goals, assessments and ways to be involved.

Public Notification

Answer Question #6 on Handout

Encourage outside input of policy. Adopt policy through local established procedures.

Successful policies have the full support and understanding of all

parties involved!

Build Awareness and Support;Adopt the Policy

Build Awarenes

s and Support; Adopt the

Policy

Answer Question #7 on Handout

Now it’s time to put your plan in action! Set regular meeting times for the committee to

work and track progress. Evaluate progress and update goals as necessary. Create a public notification system: the public

needs to be aware of meetings, updates, progress and all assessments with regard to the policy.

Work to improve the health environment of your school!

Implement, Measure and Evaluate

Implement,

Measure, and

Evaluate

Questions?