Local Wellness Policy Next Steps: Implementation
The Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 requires each local education agency or school district participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program to develop a local wellness policy that promotes student health and addresses the childhood obesity epidemic.
The Reauthorization Act required schools to implement a local wellness policy by the start of the 2006-2007 school year. The wellness policies were to include:
- Goals for nutrition education, physical activity and other activities
- Nutrition guidelines for all foods available at schools
- Plans for implementation
- Plans for monitoring and evaluating the policy
By establishing such policies, schools are creating a healthier school environment while decreasing childhood obesity rates and diet-related chronic diseases in children. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides assistance to schools to create and implement local wellness policies.
Since the policy is set at a local level, it allows programs to meet the individual needs of each school district. Team Nutrition, part of the USDA, is one example of how the federal government is working to help implement local wellness policies. Visit the USDA Web site for examples of wellness policies and best practices.
Milk can and should be an important part of a wellness policy. School is where many students get virtually their entire dairy consumption for the day. Ensure that your policies provide children with access to the dairy they need for growth and development. See Dairy in School Wellness Policies for more information.
Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association has several programs to help you put your wellness policy into action:
- New Look of School Milk
- Expanding Breakfast
- Dairy Vending
- Nutrition Expeditions Programs for 2nd & 4th Grades
- Bridges to Wellness
Additional resources include: