The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) School Health Branch (CDC Healthy Schools) shared the news that 17 State Departments of Education have been awarded Fiscal Year 2018 funding through the “Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Conditions in Schools”.
According to the CDC, the purpose of this project is to (1) Increase the number of students who consume nutritious food and beverages; (2) Increase the number of students who participate in daily physical education and physical activity; and (3) Increase the number of students who can effectively manage their chronic health conditions.
Those states to receive receiving funding under this five-year NOFO include:
Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Washington.
These state grantees will support the implementation and evaluation of evidenced-based strategies and activities to:
- Priority 1: Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Health Conditions in Schools.
- Priority 2: National Professional Development and Training to Improve Student Health
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MASSACHUSETTS SCHOOLS?
If you have contacts within your state’s Department of Education, now is the time to reach out to them to discuss how your school or district may be able to participate (and possibly receive some of this funding!) by using Playworks as one of your healthy school initiatives.