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NHLBIHIN

HIN Health Action e-Bulletin

August 16, 2006

Make School Wellness a Reality

Many of you may be involved with School Wellness Policy Committees that are working to implement those policies in the fall of 2006. We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) can help schools with tasks and requirements. We Can! was developed to help communities and families combat the current epidemic of childhood obesity. The program's materials and resources can be used as is, or can be adapted to local programs.

Who can make it happen? We Can! All schools can.



We Can! Help with Staff and Community Education

We Can! offers school staff low cost, practical tools for teaching behaviors around healthy food choices. We Can!'s ready-to-use materials can be downloaded or ordered in quantity at deep discounts.
  • For forming planning committees, enlisting community support, and finding co-sponsors for wellness events, the We Can! Energize Our Community: Toolkit for Action is a helpful, general resource.
  • For visuals and prizes to reinforce school wellness activities, look to:
    • Who can make it happen? We Can! All Parents Can posters
    • We Can! wrist bands for youth and adults



We Can! Help with School Curricula

For classroom or after school programs, We Can! showcases three science-based curricula for youth:

  • Catch Kids Club - for grades K-5
  • Media Smart Youth: Think, Eat, Be Active - 10 sessions for ages 11-13
  • Student Media Awareness to Reduce Television (S.M.A.R.T.) - for 3rd and 4th grade
The curricula focus on healthy nutrition, increased physical activity, decreased screen time, and the media's role in food marketing. Be sure to click through all the links to learn more about each program.



Help Your School Institute a School Wellness Policy

Here is how you can help:
  • Share the We Can! materials information with your School Wellness Policy Committee and staff such as health education teachers, school food service personnel, and physical education coordinators, who have prime responsibility for the nutrition and physical activity components.
    • Ask them to visit the We Can! Web site at http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov and click on Get Involved.
    • Encourage them to call 1-866-35-WECAN (1-866-359-3226) to order materials or to learn more about becoming a We Can! General Community Site.






Archived page, reproduced from a 2008 copy. It is reference material, not current guidance.