Monitoring Policy Implementation

Michelle Murton, School Nutritionist

Overview Policy Advisory Committee

Policy Monitoring Development of Monitoring Process

Monitoring Tool Purpose Format and Content Proposed Distribution

Food and Nutrition In Nova Scotia Schools Policy Advisory Committee (PAC)

Provincial committee co-chaired by the Department of Education (DoE) and Health Promotion and Protection (HPP)

Diverse group of school food and nutrition stakeholders from across Nova Scotia

Advisory body to DoE and HPP

Tasked with leading policy monitoring and evaluation

Policy Monitoring

“School boards will monitor and evaluate policy implementation and effectiveness related to nutrition and the promotion of healthy eating and participate in

the provincial evaluation of the policy.”

From Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Public Schools (September 2006)

How do we police our policy?

NS FOOD POLICE!

unhealthy

Policy Monitoring…continued

There are no Food Police in Nova Scotia! In each school community there are champions who help keep schools on the right path.

We envision the Food and Nutrition Policy being part of Health Promoting Schools planning and evaluation frameworks. (This is already happening in our school boards.)

We cannot evaluate our policy’s effectiveness unless we know it has been properly implemented!

Development of a Monitoring Process

Ad Hoc Monitoring Committee struck by the PAC to lead development of a process and creation of a tool to monitor policy implementation, including awareness of new Provincial Breakfast Program Standards

Committee included provincial representation from all school boards, educators, public health nutritionists, and HPP evaluation staff

Gathered samples of monitoring tools and processes used in Nova Scotia, Canada, and abroad

Monitoring Tool - Purpose

Determine the level of progress schools have made toward full implementation of the policy

Help identify gaps or weaknesses related to implementation

Provide additional education related to the policy components

This will help identify resources required, as well as further inform planning for government, school boards, health districts and schools

Monitoring Tool - Format

Rubric Complements existing tools used by school boards Familiar to many schools Useful as a planning tool

Monitoring Tool Implementation Levels for Directives

LEVEL 1

Fully Implemented

LEVEL 2

Mostly Implemented

LEVEL 3

Working Toward Implementation

LEVEL 4

Not Implementing

What full implementation of the policy directive would look like in a school

Good progress or effort made toward implementing the policy directive

Some action toward or awareness of the need for implementing the policy directive

No action or effort made to implement the policy directive

Monitoring Tool Achievement Levels for Guidelines

LEVEL 1

Fully Achieved

LEVEL 2

Mostly Achieved

LEVEL 3

Working Toward Achievement

LEVEL 4

Not Achieving

What full implementation of the policy guideline would look like in a school

Good progress or effort made toward implementing the policy guideline

Some action toward or awareness of the need for implementing the policy guideline

Little or no action or effort made to implement the policy guideline

Monitoring Tool – Content continued

The tool contains a rubric for each of the twelve policy directives and five guidelines

Tool includes four open-ended questions: What are your school’s next steps for working toward full policy

implementation? What supports does your school need in order fully implement the

policy? Does your school offer a breakfast program at no cost? Is your school aware of the new Provincial Breakfast Program

Standards, released February 2008?

Sample Policy Directive - Pricing

To ensure that healthy food and beverage choices are accessible to the majority of students, schools will make affordability the primary consideration when setting prices or profit margins. Meal programs in particular will be priced with this in mind.

Rubric for Pricing Directive

LEVEL 1

Fully Implemented

LEVEL 2

Mostly Implemented

LEVEL 3

Working Toward Implementation

LEVEL 4

Not Implementing

All healthy food and beverages sold during the school day are priced to be affordable for the majority of students (e.g. little or no profit margins exist; food is a ‘service’ ).

Prices and profit margins for healthy school meals are set so they are affordable for the majority of students.

Some steps have been taken to ensure healthy food and beverages are affordable to students.

Affordability for students is not a consideration when setting school food and beverage prices or profit margins.

Completion of Tool

Schools will be asked to gather key individuals responsible for food and nutrition within their school to work through the tool (e.g. Health Promoting Schools Team; educators, food service staff, parents, students)

Intended to: be reflective, educational

help schools plan ahead

identify need for resources

Simple on-line tool will be created so schools can submit this information easily

Proposed Distribution

The monitoring tool and instructions for its completion will be sent from the DoE and HPP to school boards. Boards will distribute this information to schools (electronically).

Contact people will be available in each school board to answer questions about completion of the tool (i.e. members of Ad Hoc Monitoring Committee).

Data Analysis

Data analysis to be completed by DoE; HPP to theme open-ended responses

Results will be examined by Ad Hoc Monitoring Committee

Recommendations regarding next steps for policy implementation, business planning, and resources will be sent to the PAC, DoE, and HPP

Results will be communicated to boards and district health authorities to assist with coordinated planning related to school food policy implementation

Next Steps

Editing final content French translation Building on-line tool Pilot testing Creation of ‘Users Guide’

Thank you!