School Partners

Schools play a critical role in helping children develop lifelong healthy habits. Children spend up to half of their waking hours in school, making it an ideal place to teach healthy habits, but also to provide an environment that supports healthy behaviors.  Children with unhealthy behaviors or chronic conditions may miss more school, have lower academic achievement, and face more social and emotional challenges. When school health policies and practices are put in place, opportunities exist for all students to grow to be healthy and successful adults.

School Partners and the Healthy Lifestyles Initiative (HLI)

The HLI provides a framework for community collaboration and alignment across sectors, including schools. These methods are based on approaches that contribute to lowering rates of childhood obesity and increasing practices of healthy lifestyle behaviors. The HLI encourages partners to consider incorporating strategies such as a consistent community messaging and policy change to create a “MAPPS” for Change plan for your school.  

“MAPPS” for Change strategies:

• M– Consistent use of message – 12345 Fit-Tastic!
• A- Consistent assessment of weight status and behaviors.
• P– Customized healthy lifestyle plans for all.
• P– Policies and environment that enable healthy eating and active living within the school or surrounding community.
• S– Statistics or storytelling to track progress and support process improvement.

How can we join the Healthy Lifestyles Initiative (HLI) movement?

1. Sign Up as a partner
2. Look for an email from Fit-Tastic! org (within a day or so). We’ll grant you access to download all the 12345 Fit-Tastic! handouts, materials and activities for FREE!
3. HLI staff can support you in filling a MAPPS for Change action plan, connecting you with existing resources in your area or providing materials or technical assistance based on the ideas you have!

As a partner, you can download 12345 Fit-Tastic! handouts and materials, you’ll receive email updates and newsletters from us, and you’ll be added the HLI partner network!

How have schools been involved with the HLI?

There are many ways schools can incorporate the Healthy Lifestyles Initiative and MAPPS for Change strategies. Here are some examples from school partners:

• Included the 12345 Fit-Tastic! information and message in newsletters to parents
• Infused the 12345 Fit-Tastic! message into existing school events, such as Health and Science Night, by including posters, handouts, materials and activities that modeled each of the 5 messages.
• Created a before school walking club, including staff, parents and students.
• Shifted discipline policies to prohibit the withholding of physical activity/recess as punishment.
• Created policies to serve healthy food at family events.

To get ideas for school wellness polices and practices, see our Healthy Schools Working Group’s top 11 school wellness policies, complete with resources for administrators, staff and families.

Additional resources for creating healthy and active school environments can be found below:  

• The Healthy Schools Index  
• The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT)
• Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs: A Guide for Schools 
• The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model   
• Fuel Up to Play 60
• Alliance for a Healthier Generation
• Missouri Healthy Schools
• Kansas School Wellness Policy Resources 
• Youth Compendium of Physical Activities for Classroom Teachers
• School wellness policies