Did you know...

• Eight districts established sustainable school health advisory councils, also known as wellness committees, to lead school health initiatives within the district.
• All districts completed the School Health Index, an assessment tool.
• 96% of schools now offer low-fat or skim milk every day.
• 93% of schools now offer at least one appealing a la carte low-fat fruit, vegetable and dairy product everyday. 
• 93% of schools now offer at least one appealing low-fat fruit, vegetable and dairy product every day as part of school meals.
• 79% of schools have increased availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in the school
• 75% of schools provide at least 20 minutes of recess to elementary students every day and students are encouraged to be active.  This is non-structured physical activity, not including physical education class.
• 96% of schools now make indoor and outdoor physical activity facilities available to students and staff outside school hours.
• 89% of schools now make indoor and outdoor physical activity facilities available to community members outside school hours.
• 64% of schools or districts now offer accessible free or low-cost fitness programs for staff members
• 36% of schools have had coaches participate in asthma training.
• 43% of schools have participated with Open Airways, a student asthma management program.
• 36% of schools now require Asthma Action Plans to be on file for students with asthma.
• 29% of schools have made improvements to the built environment (trails, playgrounds, etc)

Jefferson-Lewis Eat Well Play Hard Community Project and Schools

Jefferson County Public Health Service currently works with both Jefferson and Lewis County Schools through Eat Well Play Hard (EWPH).  EWPH’s goal is to combat childhood overweight/obesity and reduce chronic disease risk by working in partnership with the community and schools to implement environmental changes that support the EWPH strategies and target children ages 2-10 and their families.  The three core EWPH messages used to help accomplish this goal are to increase age-appropriate physical activity, increase intake of vegetables and fruit, and increase intake of low-fat and fat-free dairy foods. 

EWPH works with school wellness committees to:

• Assess the overall health needs of the school
• Identify the greatest needs within the school environment related to physical activity and nutrition
• Narrow the focus of the committee to addressing 1-2 identified needs
• Assist in obtaining funding to implement changes
• Provide school with resources and technical assistance to help create a healthier school environment for students, families and staff