HSP Program Locations
"Being an RD coach is a great opportunity to touch the lives of students, in a fun and interactive way, that empowers them to make small steps towards overall health and wellness. I love being an RD coach because each week, I am able coach the students and see them progress in their nutrition behaviors as well as develop friendships where they begin to look at me as their personal nutrition expert." -Kuda Chimanya, MS, MPH, RD, LD
In 2007, the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot program was conducted in the states of Missouri and Kansas and included students in elementary, middle and high schools. During the first year of the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot program, more than 1,000 students in fifth through ninth grades took part in the new model.
The PE4life schools selected for participation include four school in the Kansas City metro area. In the fall of 2008, three more schools were added in Kansas City, bringing the total number of schools participating to seven.
During the ’08-’09 school year, a formal evaluation and assessment of the RD nutrition coaching component of the Healthy Schools Partnership program was conducted by the University of California Berkeley in the three new schools. Two elementary schools served as control schools providing only the PE4life program in their schools.
In total, approximately 2,300 students have participated in the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot program. All of the HSP schools in Kansas City participate in the USDA Fruit and Vegetable Program. The school district was able to include these additional schools because of the cost savings realized by having the RD nutrition coaches meet the nutrition education component requirement under the USDA program. Now these dollars are being used to purchase more fruits and vegetables for students.
Building on the success of the pilot initiative, the Healthy Schools Partnership is being expanded to a national program with the goal of having HSP included in PE4life programs across the country.
With support through the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, the program will be extended to additional schools in:
- Kansas City, MO The Healthy Schools Partnership will be fully implemented in Kansas City by fall 2009.
- Des Moines, IA Full implementation of the program will be completed by spring 2010.
- Washington, D.C. The Healthy Schools Partnership will be fully implemented in one school by fall 2010 and the remaining three schools in D.C. by January 2011.
- Chicago, IL Implementation of the Healthy Schools Partnership in Chicago will be completed by fall 2010.
- Tribal Community The Healthy Schools Partnership will be fully implemented in one school by fall 2010.