Site‐specific school wellness committees: a model to support the sustainability of the Shaping Healthy Choices Program (626.15)

Abstract

The Shaping Healthy Choices Program (SHCP) is a school‐based intervention that integrates 5 components: nutrition education; family and community partnerships; regional agriculture; foods available on school site; and school wellness policies. The current study used a mixed‐methods approach to assess the effectiveness of site‐specific school wellness committees (SSWCs) to sustain SHCP activities, and create a best practices model for sustainability of SHCP components. The SSWCs were formed in the Northern (NC) and Central Valley (CV) California SHCP intervention schools as a way to create a sustainable, community‐driven infrastructure that would support the efforts of the SHCP and additional health and wellness concepts. Community‐based Participatory Research (CBPR) strategies were utilized to develop SSWC objectives. Baseline results from the School and Community Actions for Nutrition (SCAN) Survey served as a platform to launch SSWC objectives. The SSWC objectives identified and implemented by the NC school included a garden sustainability plan, and farm‐to‐home produce boxes. SSWC objectives identified and implemented by the CV school included a community‐driven health fair, a running club, healthier classroom snacks, a garden sustainability plan, and a community‐adapted version of the SCAN. Data collected from SSWC members helped to refine site‐specific goals and implementation plans for the next year.Grant Funding Source: UC ANR 11‐1018