Healthy Students Initiative
The Healthy Students Initiative (HSI) is a seven-year Healthy Shasta project to develop and implement solutions to address and prevent childhood obesity in Shasta County schools. The goal of the Healthy Students Initiative is to improve the health and academic success of Shasta County students in three schools and to develop a roadmap for other local schools.
Research shows the academic success of students is strongly linked to their health. Students who are more physically active and consume a nutritionally balanced diet perform better in school. It is also easier for individuals to be more active and eat healthfully when their surroundings encourage such behaviors.
The Healthy Students Initiative has four areas of focus:
1. Increase physical activity among students and families.
2. Increase access to healthier foods and beverages on schools campuses.
3. Empower students, staff, and families to speak up for healthy choices.
4. Make long-lasting changes to support healthy eating and physical activity.
Healthy Students Initiative Partners
- Bella Vista Elementary, grades K-8, in Bella Vista School District
- Cypress Elementary, grades K-5, in Redding School District
- Lassen View Elementary, grades K-5, in Enterprise Elementary School District
- Shasta County Public Health
- Shasta Family YMCA
- The McConnell Foundation
Year One: 2008-2009 School Year
- During the first year of the Initiative, we will:
Build relationships within the school communities- Share ideas about effective programs and practices
- Work with school administration, staff, parents, and students to develop a customized plan for promoting healthy eating and physical activity at school
- Establish active School Health Councils
- Collect health and wellness information
- Research additional funding opportunities
Years Two through Seven: 2009-2015 School Years
During years two through seven of the Initiative, we will implement and refine the customized plans we developed in the first year. Potential strategies for enhancing healthy eating and physical activity at the schools include hiring full-time Physical Education teachers, providing a healthy breakfast to all students, enhancing school gardens, and providing resources to families on ways to eat healthier and be more active.
Contact Information
For more information, contact:
April Jurisich, MPH, RD
Healthy Students Initiative Coordinator
(530) 245-6843
ajurisich@co.shasta.ca.us
For a downloadable brochure on the Healthy Students Initiative, please click here.
