“A whole child approach is what’s needed,” said Kim McLaughlin of Action for Healthy Kids. Florence Selin of the American Dairy Council suggested getting people involved by making things fun, the more fun the better, even something as simple as the creative renaming of menu items. She added that providing resources for parents was key to easing the transition of health concepts to the home.
When schools and the community come together to form health goals in an organized wellness program, it can generate not only fun and excitement, but a consistent message and improved parent engagement, all part of a whole child approach.
Healthy Schools NY is an offshoot of the state health department. Healthy Kingston for Kids is in partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County.
“Grants bring grants”
A panel called Partnerships for Success included Dawn Fucheck, board president of the Newburgh Enlarged City School District for the past four years, and the district’s food service director, Andy Calvano, who talked about successful Breakfast in the Classroom programs for the 11,000 district students in their 13 buildings. “If everyone’s on board, it goes wonderfully,” he said.
Also on the panel was Jackie Lawler, an epidemiologist from Orange County’s health department. She said her county has many farms, and makes connecting farmers to schools a priority. She has encouraged other districts to apply for grants, citing available farm-to-school grants available. Cornell Cooperative Extension will help make connections with farmers.
“You don’t have to start from scratch,” she said. The process gathers momentum. “Grants bring grants,” she said.
