Childhood: School & Other Youth-Based Systems
School and other youth-based systems play a vital role in community health. The AZ Health Zone partners with school districts, charter schools, and other youth-serving programs to enhance nutrition and physical activity policies, systems, and environments (PSE). The AZ Health Zone’s School and Other Youth-Based Systems strategy includes eight PSE activities.
School & Other Youth-Based Systems Activities
- Policy Revision & Communication. Support written Local Wellness Policy and/or Empower review, revision, dissemination & two -way communication with partners.
- Wellness Committees. Support district and school-level wellness committees—including recruitment, formation, and participation.
- Staff Development. Provide school staff with Train the Trainer on evidence-based curricula and resources to support policy implementation and encourage students' healthy behaviors.
- School/Youth-Based Agriculture. Train partners to implement and sustain gardens and/or support local food procurement and implementation.
- Nutrition Practices & Environment. Support improvements in nutrition practices and environments, including the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement, School Meal Programs, and Out-of-School Time consistent with Empower.
- Physical Activity (PA) Practices & Environment. Support improvements in PA practices and environments by employing the tenants of a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (e.g., active transportation to and from school, active recess, classroom brain breaks.)
- Community Coordination. Support school and other youth-based programs and resources that meet an identified need (e.g., backpack programs, food pantries).
- Community Engagement. Engage residents in SNAP-Ed eligible communities in the process and planning using consulting, involving and collaborating techniques.
Evaluation of School & Other Youth-Based Systems
SEEDS. Every year, LIAs report all support provided to partners using the SNAP-Ed Electronic Data System (SEEDS). This helps us to understand what supports are provided.
SARN. Every year LIAs complete the Semi-Annual Report Narrative (SARN), describing their work in words and images. This helps us to understand how and why supports work or encounter challenges.
WellSAT Policy. LIAs work with districts or charter schools to review and revise their Local Wellness Policies as part of a cycle of policy improvement. We use the WellSAT Policy tool to measure the policy's quality and alignment with federal requirements.
SLM Scorecard. LIAs work with schools to complete the Smarter Lunchrooms Movement (SLM) Scorecard. The SLM Scorecard is part of a 4-step cycle of change to enhance the lunchroom environment.
DIG in Schools Tool. The Developing Integrated Gardens (DIG) in Schools tool helps LIAs and their school garden partners measure the integration of the garden into the broader school community. The DIG in Schools tool is part of a 4-step cycle to enhance school garden programs.