Survey takes the pulse of school-based wellness efforts

School board members, superintendents and other education and health advocates agree that student wellness programs can help children improve their health and do better in school, but they have different views about whether their local districts have the resources and time to institute effective school-based programs.
That was just one of a long list of findings included in a wide-ranging national survey of these key health and education leaders commissioned by CSBA and California Project LEAN to gauge school, health and community leaders’ support for various approaches to student wellness.

Through focus groups and extensive online surveys, researchers sought a representative national sample of school board members, state school board association leaders, health advocates and state public health nutrition officers. These experts were asked to describe school-based wellness programs in their regions and for suggestions on developing, implementing and evaluating local wellness programs. Researchers also asked whether local collaboration and training opportunities are adequate and whether the educational tools developed by CSBA and Project LEAN could help schools in other states improve their student wellness programs.
“The School Wellness Policy Development, Implementation and Evaluation 2007 Research Report” is part of a comprehensive campaign by CSBA and its partner organizations to promote nutritious eating and encourage students to get off the couch and onto the playing field.

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Download "School Wellness Policy Development, Implementation and Evaluation: 2007 Research Report" here.