Approaches to Enhancing Wellness Policy Implementation in Schools to Promote Healthy Behaviors and Prevent Obesity

Abstract

ObjectiveTo create health promoting school environments through school-level implementation of Local Wellness Policies (LWP, federally mandated school system/district documents outlining food/physical activity/health education policies).DescriptionThe following will be examined: the impact of a school-level intervention to enhance LWP implementation by training teachers to be wellness champions/providing technical assistance to support wellness team goals/activities Wellness Champions for Change, (WCC); the added benefit of training students to be wellness champions/creating a student-led wellness teams trained in health literacy (WCC-students, WCC-S); the differential impact of LWP implementation by home/school-neighborhood environment. In the final years, curricula will be prepared for dissemination.EvaluationThrough a cluster-randomized design (elementary/middle schools within systems randomized to WCC, WCC+WCC-S, or control), student-level impact will be evaluated by following 1080 3rd/6th grade students for 2 years (5 timepoints), measuring weight status (height, weight, body composition), diet (24-hour recall-ASA-24), and physical activity (accelerometry). School-level impact (n=30) will be assessed using mixed methods (surveys, interviews, document reviews). Differential impact of the home environment will be assessed through caregiver surveys and real-time data collection among the children in their home environment (ecological momentary assessment). School-neighborhood food/physical activity environments will be characterized using GIS mapping. Dissemination strategies (online continuing education for teachers/toolkits for students) will be tested for fidelity/reach.Conclusions and ImplicationsLWPs are in place to promote health among students, however little is known about how to help schools implement LWPs and the impact of LWP implementation on student health. Findings will provide information on the student-level impact of strategies for enhancing LWP implementation, including for whom these strategies are most effective, with mechanisms planned for dissemination.FundingUSDA Grant #2016-68001-24927 ObjectiveTo create health promoting school environments through school-level implementation of Local Wellness Policies (LWP, federally mandated school system/district documents outlining food/physical activity/health education policies). To create health promoting school environments through school-level implementation of Local Wellness Policies (LWP, federally mandated school system/district documents outlining food/physical activity/health education policies). DescriptionThe following will be examined: the impact of a school-level intervention to enhance LWP implementation by training teachers to be wellness champions/providing technical assistance to support wellness team goals/activities Wellness Champions for Change, (WCC); the added benefit of training students to be wellness champions/creating a student-led wellness teams trained in health literacy (WCC-students, WCC-S); the differential impact of LWP implementation by home/school-neighborhood environment. In the final years, curricula will be prepared for dissemination. The following will be examined: the impact of a school-level intervention to enhance LWP implementation by training teachers to be wellness champions/providing technical assistance to support wellness team goals/activities Wellness Champions for Change, (WCC); the added benefit of training students to be wellness champions/creating a student-led wellness teams trained in health literacy (WCC-students, WCC-S); the differential impact of LWP implementation by home/school-neighborhood environment. In the final years, curricula will be prepared for dissemination. EvaluationThrough a cluster-randomized design (elementary/middle schools within systems randomized to WCC, WCC+WCC-S, or control), student-level impact will be evaluated by following 1080 3rd/6th grade students for 2 years (5 timepoints), measuring weight status (height, weight, body composition), diet (24-hour recall-ASA-24), and physical activity (accelerometry). School-level impact (n=30) will be assessed using mixed methods (surveys, interviews, document reviews). Differential impact of the home environment will be assessed through caregiver surveys and real-time data collection among the children in their home environment (ecological momentary assessment). School-neighborhood food/physical activity environments will be characterized using GIS mapping. Dissemination strategies (online continuing education for teachers/toolkits for students) will be tested for fidelity/reach. Through a cluster-randomized design (elementary/middle schools within systems randomized to WCC, WCC+WCC-S, or control), student-level impact will be evaluated by following 1080 3rd/6th grade students for 2 years (5 timepoints), measuring weight status (height, weight, body composition), diet (24-hour recall-ASA-24), and physical activity (accelerometry). School-level impact (n=30) will be assessed using mixed methods (surveys, interviews, document reviews). Differential impact of the home environment will be assessed through caregiver surveys and real-time data collection among the children in their home environment (ecological momentary assessment). School-neighborhood food/physical activity environments will be characterized using GIS mapping. Dissemination strategies (online continuing education for teachers/toolkits for students) will be tested for fidelity/reach. Conclusions and ImplicationsLWPs are in place to promote health among students, however little is known about how to help schools implement LWPs and the impact of LWP implementation on student health. Findings will provide information on the student-level impact of strategies for enhancing LWP implementation, including for whom these strategies are most effective, with mechanisms planned for dissemination. LWPs are in place to promote health among students, however little is known about how to help schools implement LWPs and the impact of LWP implementation on student health. Findings will provide information on the student-level impact of strategies for enhancing LWP implementation, including for whom these strategies are most effective, with mechanisms planned for dissemination.