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Improving Vermont Schools’ Nutrition and Physical Activity Through Wellness Policies
More than 13,000 students in 13 school districts and schools benefit from Vermont’s integrated approach.

 

A girl working in a garden.

The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) and partners helped schools improve school nutrition and physical activity policies and practices. The statewide partnership involving VDH, Agency of Education, and Agency of Agriculture Food & Markets revised and promoted the Vermont School Wellness Policy Guidelines. The guidelines reflect the final rules of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 and incorporate the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model and related resources. A companion resource, the Vermont Wellness Policy Implementation Tool, helps schools monitor and evaluate strengthened policies.

The project also integrates Farm to School (FTS) activities in school wellness policies to foster participation of schools in the FTS Network.

Impact

More than 13,000 students in 13 school districts and schools benefit from Vermont’s integrated approach to align messaging and support around school wellness policies. Schools receive professional development and technical assistance from VDH, community VDH school liaisons, and other stakeholders to assess, revise, and adopt school wellness policies.

Additionally, about 83% of Vermont school districts report participation in FTS activities, the highest participation rate in the United States.

This program was supported by CDC’s State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity, and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health cooperative agreement (DP13-1305).