Health Resources

New Publication on Food Safety in Schools

The National School Boards Association has released Eating Safely at School: What Education Policymakers Need to Know and Do to Prevent and Respond to Food-Related Illness in Schools. The document, which may be downloaded at no cost, helps schools craft effective food safety policies and practices.

Smart Moves, Smart Choices

Smart Moves, Smart Choices provides web-based videos to help teens in middle school and high school understand the serious risks of abusing prescription drugs. Five videos take a news-based approach to the topic and are accompanied by grade-appropriate lesson plans in science and language arts. They are embedded in an in-school newscast from PBS entitled “the News.” Smart Moves, Smart Choices was developed by the National Association of School Nurses with funding from Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Milk Matters

Milk Matters is a web site from the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development that promotes the importance of calcium for tweens and teens. The web site contains a section entitled “Just for Kids,” as well as classroom activities and materials for teachers.

Girl Talk

Girl Talk: Choices and Consequences of Underage Drinking is a program of The Century Council, a national not-for-profit organization funded by distillers dedicated to fighting drunk driving and underage drinking. The web site includes factual information on the effects of alcohol, lifestyle articles, and ways for teens to stay connected.

Physical Activity Grants for Youth

Nike, Inc. supports programs that increase and promote physical activity and seeks to (1) get youth more physically active; (2) get youth involved in the teamwork of sports; and (3) have a real, positive, and measurable impact. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status in communities where Nike has a significant employee or business presence. There is a rolling deadline. Contact Nike, Inc. directly for complete program information and application guidelines.

Champions for Healthy Kids

Champions for Healthy Kids is a grant program established by the General Mills Foundation, in partnership with the American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Council on Physical Fitness. Each year, the General Mills Foundation awards 50 grants of $10,000 each to community-based groups that develop creative ways to help youth adopt a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. In 2008, the deadline for grant applications was January 15, with winners announced in May. The 2009 competition will be posted in the fall of 2008.

Grants for Nutrition-Related Gardens

The National Gardening Association sponsors two grant programs to encourage schools to use gardens as a way to increase nutrition knowledge and healthy eating. To be eligible for either program, a school or organization must plan to garden in 2009 with at least fifteen children between the ages of 3 and 18.

The Youth Garden Grants, in cooperation with Home Depot, will award $1,000 Home Depot cards and educational materials to five schools, $500 gift cards and educational materials to 70 schools, and $250 gift cards and educational materials to 50 schools. The awards go to schools and community groups that have an educational focus to their gardens, including nutrition awareness and environmental education. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2008.

The Healthy Sprouts Awards, sponsored by Gardener's Supply Company, will award five $500 gift certificates and fifteen $200 gift certificates to Gardener's Supply. The awards support school and youth garden programs that teach about nutrition and the issue of hunger in the United States. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2008.