Teacher's Resource Guide - American Heart Association

Take Steps toward a Healthier School
Wellness Councils and Wellness Policies
The 2004 reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Program required all districts participating in the National School Lunch
Program to create a local wellness policy that addresses nutrition and physical activity by the start of the 2006–07
school year.
In addition, this federal legislation mandated that a committee be formed to create the local policy. Many states also
require the formation of local school wellness councils or school health advisory councils. Wellness councils bring
school staff, families, students and community members together to address pressing student health issues.
Interested in getting involved in your school’s wellness efforts? The Alliance for a Healthier Generation Healthy Schools
Program has the resources you need to start, lead or join a wellness council. Go to healthiergeneration.org/schools/
wellness/ for FREE information, tips, templates and tools.
Still have questions? E-mail the Healthy Schools Program at schools@healthiergeneration.org.
AMERICANHEART.ORG/HOOPS
©2010, American Heart Association. Also known as the Heart Fund. This resource guide supports the Jump Rope For Heart and Hoops For Heart programs. 06-3633 5/10