Thursday, November 21, 2024
11/21/2024
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) in partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) is applying for $400,000 from funding opportunity number CDC-RFA-DP18-1801 Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Conditions in Schools Implementation of Student Health and Academic Achievement in activities in Arizona’s local educational agencies (LEA’s) is not new to Arizona as we have been implementing Coordinated School Health now the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model since 2006. However, without funding the need to continue to build capacity and provide support for LEA’s through professional development and technical assistance remains. This grant offers Arizona the opportunity to harness the momentum of existing Arizona Department of Education Health and Nutrition Services Division Programs (ADE/HNS) at a statewide level such as Healthology that promote the WSCC model and continue to provide training regionally on School Health Advisory Councils (SHAC), School Health Index, Local Wellness Policy, School Nutrition Environment and Services, Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs and the management of chronic conditions. Additionally, continue the partnerships and collaborations that ADE and ADHS have sustained throughout the years both internally and externally to build upon and maintain an infrastructure for student health and academic achievement. The ADE currently administers multiple state and federally funded programs that impact school health including: School Health and Safety Program, National School Lunch, School Breakfast, Summer Food Service, USDA Foods Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, At-Risk After School Meals, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and the 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant programs. This CDC grant opportunity will allow further promotion and expansion of Arizona’s Coordinated School Health Program, which was previously branded as Healthology. ADE and ADHS believe that providing professional development in the context of the WSCC model not only to LEA’s, but with internal and external partners is and has been one of the most successful statewide strategies to help increase skill level(s) among individuals both trained and untrained to facilitate individual, school-wide, and district-wide improvements for the purpose of improving student health, thereby increasing student achievement. The key factor is helping administrators and all staff develop joint or collaborative policies, processes, that become everyday practices, with a common understanding about the correlation of heath and academics. Our intentions are to increase effectiveness of policies and practices to promote physical activity, improve nutrition, impact chronic disease management, while building school and community support for creating healthier school environments. Arizona shows a unique need in terms of health disparities. The Arizona Chronic Disease 2012-2015 Strategic plan included burden data indicating that almost 12% percent of the population is school-age children with almost 43 percent of those children qualifying for free or reduced-price school lunches. According to 2012 Kids Count Data Book, 31% percent of Arizona children and teens (10-17 years old) are overweight; with 49% not exercising regularly. Additionally, 17% of children in Arizona are children with special health care needs; and 9% have asthma. Finally, Arizona has the third highest percent of children who do not have health insurance in the nation. Based on these findings we will work regionally to include our most vulnerable populations with the highest needs inclusive of schools located in areas disproportionately affected by chronic diseases and the risk factors that cause them.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).
