Through its WellSpot Designation Program, Well-Ahead Louisiana works with schools to help them meet wellness benchmarks.  These benchmarks include things like creating a School Wellness Committee, incorporating physical activity energizers in the classroom, and implementing Smart Snacks. 

Becoming a School WellSpot is a great first step to implementing the WSCC model at your school.  There are many resources that can help your school implement WSCC components and WellSpot Benchmarks. Visit our school resources webpage to learn more.

Most US children attend school for 6 hours a day and consume as much as half of their daily calories at school. The school nutrition environment and services is part of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

CDC recommends that schools implement policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. A healthy school nutrition environment provides students with nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition, and ways to learn about and practice healthy eating throughout the time children spend on school grounds—including before- and after-school.

To enhance your school nutrition environment, visit the resources below.

• Louisiana Fit Kids
• Louisiana Farm to School
• USDA Team Nutrition
• Nutrition Education Materials
• Smart Snacks in Schools
• School Vending Machines
• Access to Drinking Water

Schools are in a unique position to help students attain the nationally recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Physical education and physical activity is one component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong physical activity behaviors.

CDC recommends a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all available opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. This approach is referred to as a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). The goal of CSPAP is to increase physical activity opportunities before, during, and after school and increase students’ overall physical activity and health.

Lawmakers cleared the air for every student in the state in 2017 by passing Act 351. The legislation prohibits smoking across more than 1,400 schools statewide. Talk about breathing room! Click here to learn more about implementing a tobacco-free policy at your school. 

While cigarette use has steadily declined among youth, new vapor (or e-cigarette) products targeted to youth have changed the tobacco landscape. In Louisiana, vaping increased by 48% among high school students (from 8.3% to 12.3%) and 65% among middle school students (from 5.2% to 8.6%) between 2015 and 2017!

Check out Well-Ahead Louisiana’s Memorandum for School Administrators, School Nurses, Health Educators, and Coaches to learn how you can be a leader in stopping the vaping epidemic and ensuring a healthy and bright future for Louisiana’s youth! Vaping and tobacco resources can also be found here.

Healthy children learn more easily, and it is estimated that 51 million school hours are lost each year to dental-related illness. In addition, an estimated 17 million children in the U.S go without dental care each year. Dentists, physicians, community leaders, and schools can help create healthy smiles in Louisiana.  Click the links below to learn more about Well-Ahead Louisiana’s oral health efforts.

• Bright Smiles for Bright Futures: Basic Screening Survey – This survey’s aim is to assess oral health among Louisiana students. 
• Louisiana Seals Smiles: School-Based Dental Sealant Program – This school-based/linked program that targeted first, second, and sixth grade children in Louisiana. The six-year program provided dental sealants and fluoride varnish to eligible children throughout the state free of charge while in their school settings.

To learn more about any workshop listed below, visit Louisiana Healthy Schools on Eventbrite. 

• Calcasieu Parish Schools Health Services Professional Development - January 6 
• Jefferson Parish Physical Education Professional Development - January 6 
• Louisiana Healthy Schools Academy: Training of Trainers - January 14
• City of Monroe Healthy Schools Professional Development - January 17
• Lafayette Parish Physical Education Professional Learning Community - January 22
• Louisiana School Health Advisory Council Meeting - January 23 
• Louisiana Healthy Schools Webinar: Successes in School Health - January 29 
• Culinary Skills Training for School Food Service Professionals - April 2020 (Register at Louisiana Fit Kids)

School Nutrition

The Krewe provides professional development to schools and school district on the implementing policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. 

• Local Wellness Policies
• Smart Snacks
• Celebrations & Rewards 
• Food and Beverage Marketing 
• Healthy Eating Learning Opportunities
• Staff Role Modeling
• Healthy Eating Before and After School

Louisiana Team Nutrition, in partnership with the Louisiana Culinary Institute, has launched a regional culinary skills training series in that is focused on enhancing food preparation skills and knowledge of school food service professionals. The training has traveled the state, reaching Baton Rouge, Monroe, Bossier Parish, Lake Charles, Marksville, and the surrounding areas.  The next training will be in Baton Rouge in the 2019-2020 school year. To learn more, visit Louisiana Fit Kids or contact Stephanie Jodeir at Stephanie.Jodeir@la.gov 

Physical Activity and Physical Education 

The Krewe provided professional development on implementing a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all available opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. 

• Physical Education 
• Recess
• Classroom Physical Activity 
• Physical Activity Before and After School 
• Staff Involvement Family 
• Community Engagement 

Management of Chronic Conditions (Coming in the 2019-2020 School Year)

The healthcare needs of children with chronic illness can be complex and continuous and include both daily management and addressing potential emergencies. Health services in schools are a key component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Ensuring that students have the health services they need in school to manage their chronic condition is important in helping them stay healthy and ready to learn.

Health Education (Coming in the 2019-2020 School Year)

Health education is integral in providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful learners and healthy adults. Health education that provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and experiences needed for lifelong healthy eating and physical activity. 

Below is a current listing of content leads for the Healthy Schools Training Krewe. 

Physical Activity & Physical Education

• Christina Courtney, MS, MBCT
• JiJi Jonas, MSE
• Joanna Faerber, M. Ed., NBCT
• Andre Dicharry, M.Ed.
• Carolyn “Petsy” Mills, M.Ed.
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette - School of Kinesiology - The mission of the School of Kinesiology is to develop highly skilled graduate and undergraduate students who will be competitive in the job market based around core experiences that consists of innovative instruction, exposure to innovative scholarship, and community engagement. Dr. Ben Kern, Dr. Charles Duncan, and K-Lynn McKey serve as trainers for the Healthy Schools Training Krewe.

Child Nutrition & Wellness

• Jen Duhon, MS, RDN, LDN
• Joannie Miller, MS
• Tina Griffith, BS
• Pat Farris, MS, RDN, LDN

Social Emotional & Health Services

• Danielle Guillory, MSN, RN
• Dr. Barzanna White, SSP, PhD

Louisiana Healthy Schools Team

• Stephen Guccione (LDOE)
• Erica Gilliam (LDOE)
• Stephanie Jodeir (Well-Ahead)
• Emily Pineda (Well-Ahead)

• Louisiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (LAHPERD):Founded in 1934, the aim of this organization is to improve the quality of life through health and fitness and recreational activities. LAHPERD is an affiliate of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
• Louisiana School Nurse Organization (LSNO): LSNO is proudly celebrating almost 40 years of serving the health needs of school-age children in Louisiana and advancing the practice of school nursing.
• The School Nutrition Association of Louisiana (SNAL): SNAL is a nonprofit professional organization founded in 1954. SNAL has 77 local chapters across the state of Louisiana and more than 3,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the state of Louisiana. SNAL brings a unique, firsthand perspective to child nutrition issues.