Healthy Schools Academy

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Healthy Schools Academy Overview

The Healthy Schools Academy is a collaborative Training of Trainers (ToT) hosted by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the National Association of School Nurses, SHAPE America, and Springboard to Active Schools, in partnership with CDC Healthy Schools.

Join the Healthy Schools Academy partners for a 2.5 day ToT on February 13-15, 2019 at the Emory Conference Center in Atlanta, GA. All travel expenses for teams of three individuals from each of the 17 CDC-funded Healthy Schools Grantee states (including airfare, lodging, meals, and ground transportation) will be paid by the NGOs funded by National Collaboration to Support Health, Wellness, and Academic Success of School-Age Children (CDC RFA DP16-1601). States may request to send an additional individual as part of their team at the expense of the state (1801 Cooperative Agreement dollars may be used). These requests will be reviewed by the Healthy Schools Academy partners and CDC Healthy Schools, as space is available. All requests should be sent to Kate Holmes at kholmes@nnphi.org.

The goal of the ToT is to provide state teams with training on CDC and NGO tools and resources to support implementation of Priority 1, Strategy 2 (Professional Development and Training) for Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement through Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Management of Chronic Conditions in Schools (CDC-RFA-DP18-1801).

At the conclusion of the Healthy Schools Academy, participants will be able to:

Identify and apply evidence-based policies, practices, and programs to support school districts and schools related to physical activity and physical education, school nutrition environment and services, out of school time - healthy eating and physical activity, and school health services for managing chronic health conditions.
Develop an action plan for conducting professional development in their state that addresses the strategies and topic areas covered in the Healthy Schools Academy, is supported through follow-up opportunities with the NGOs, and meets the expectations outlined in the Healthy Schools Academy letter of agreement.
Network and learn from other Healthy Schools Grantees to enhance their work related to physical activity and physical education, school nutrition environment and services, out of school time - healthy eating and physical activity, and school health services for managing chronic health conditions.

Who Should Attend

States are encouraged to discuss potential team selections with their CDC Project Officer to identify three individuals who can lead and facilitate professional development events on physical activity and physical education, school nutrition environment and services, out of school time – healthy eating and physical activity, and managing chronic health conditions. These individuals must have experience providing trainings and technical assistance to adults, as well as expertise and/or experience in one or more of the Healthy Schools Academy topic areas.

The 2.5 day Healthy Schools Academy will be hosted by the following CDC-funded NGOs and cover the priority areas below

Priority Area 1 – Physical Education and Physical Activity in Schools: Springboard to Active Schools and SHAPE America
Priority Area 2 – School Nutrition Environment and Services: Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Priority Area 3 – Out of School Time - Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Priority Area 4 – School Health Services for Managing Chronic Conditions: National Association of School Nurses

Our intent is that each state will send trainers who are representative across priority areas so that over the course of the Healthy Schools Academy each state will receive training in all four priority areas. Training participants will each have the opportunity to attend six-hour training sessions in two of the priority areas above. For more information on the specific content provided during the Healthy Schools Academy, please review the agenda.

All trainers, along with their Principal Investigator (or their designee), must sign a letter of agreement to conduct at least two workshops in their state using the training content provided at the Healthy Schools Academy as part of their Healthy Schools Grantee work plan activities during Year 1 or Year 2. The letter of agreement outlines a commitment to the following activities:

Attend the entire 2.5 day Healthy Schools Academy.
Develop an action plan, in alignment with the annual Healthy Schools Grantees work plan, to address evidence-based policies, practices, and programs in the ToT topic areas.
Participate in periodic technical assistance follow-up opportunities with the CDC-funded NGOs.
Collaborate with the CDC-funded NGOs in evaluation efforts to meet both state and national performance/evaluation measures.