Google has always led the nation with its innovative and creative ideas in business and technology, and now they are aiming to help make the workplace a healthier place with healthy eating initiatives.  WorkHealthy America recommends similar ideas and helps you create policies which will help sustain these initiatives. . . .

Action for Healthy Kids is seeking schools to apply for nutrition grants for the 2012-2013 school year, and has committed to funding a minimum of 20 schools in North Carolina. Read more for helpful tips and application steps for a successful grant application!

Every June, NC Prevention Partners celebrates another amazing year of prevention at our Annual Meeting, celebrating the organizations across the state who have put prevention first, whether they are schools, hospitals, state agencies or private businesses. This year we want to celebrate YOUR progress with our Trailblazer and Gold Awards for WorkHealthy America participants. 

Congrats to the 22 schools and districts who have reached Zone Green!  Read more on how your school or district can get to Zone Yellow - a step towards the $1000 Zone Health Award!

Most North Carolina high school students satisfy their 1-hour Healthful Living and Physical Education requirement during ninth grade. Once this credit is earned, few students have the opportunity to focus on wellness during the school day. Jordan Matthews High School has addressed this issue by creating “JETS Time,” a daily enrichment period that includes opportunities for academic remediation, physical activity, and club interests.

On Thursday, February 2, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation and Be Active NC hosted a state engagement event to celebrate the successes of NC schools in wellness and brainstorm for continued progress.

Read more for a summary of the new USDA School Lunch Standards, resources from the NC Department of Public Instruction, and steps to make these changes in your school or district!

The 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act requires several revisions to all Local Wellness Policies in the United States.  We want all of you to be aware of these changes, as well as the benefits that USDA will be offering schools thanks to the new law. Read more for details, and let us know if you have any questions about how to implement these changes successfully.

Hope Valley Elementary promotes community wellness with the Second Annual Family Marathon. Read more to find out details on the event and get inspired to organize a similar event at your school!

This fall, Be Active North Carolina, Inc. issued a great challenge to school staff across the state to get active. More than 300 staff from 19 elementary, middle and high schools took on the challenge. Read on for tips on how to run a successful wellness challenge and find out who won! 

On December 13th, NC Prevention Partners hosted a WorkHealthy America^SM webinar and learned all about the success stories in worksite wellness in NC schools.

Interested in receiving the $1000 Zone Health Award for the 2011-2012 school year?  Be sure to take the Zone Health assessment by January 20th and send us your Superintendent or Principal Commitment Form!  Read more about important dates for the 2011-2012 Zone Health Award.

NC School Health Connection has launched a joint Events Calendar where programs across North Carolina can post events and trainings related to school obesity prevention.  This Events Calendar is a one-stop shop for schools to learn about opportunities for student and staff wellness training. 

Congrats to all North Carolina winners of the HealthierUS School Challenge! These schools are receiving national recognition for creating healthy environments by promoting physical activity and nutrition for their students. Read more about this award and the North Carolina winners!

Last Tuesday, October 25th, we held an interactive webinar on Staff Physical Activity Challenges.  The schools that attended gave us great ideas for how to make these fitness challenges fun and successful.  Read more to find out!

A recent study from Yale found that companies marketing sugary drinks have made promises to cut back on youth advertising, but their tactics are as aggressive as ever.  Read more to know the facts!

For four years, the program Youth Fit For Life has served hundreds of kids in western North Carolina, with the ultimate goal of reducing and preventing childhood obesity in Buncombe and McDowell counties.  This year the program reached an amazing 850 students across 19 afterschool sites - and measured some very impressive results. 

On September 23rd, 90 participants from 18 western NC school districts came together with a mission to build healthier schools for students.  Read more to find out how our state's schools, nonprofits, and government organizations are working together to fight childhood obesity.

A recent article on the Shape Your World Organization website highlights the strong school-community partnership going on in Pitt County, North Carolina.  Read more to find out how citizens and schools alike are benefiting from joint use of school grounds.

Two weeks ago, I was able to speak with Deirdre Moyer, the Student Health Coordinator for Rockingham County Schools. Deirdre has been in her job for only one year, but has already received awards for her district-wide wellness work. Read more for her tips!

We want to know your ideas, worries, and experiences related to opening your school for community physical activity.  Have you ever opened your school before for community use? Did you have a good or bad experience?  Are you considering this option in the future?  We want to learn from you.

For decades, loads of research has been conducted to find out exactly how to sell foods and products to consumers.  Now psychologists, economists, and marketing specialists are focusing all that knowledge and research on the cafeteria line to encourage teachers and students to make healthier choices.  The good news?  It's very cheap - and seems to be working.

Election season is upon us and candidates compete for our attention - and our votes.  Election Day at Ira B. Jones Elementary School in Asheville, NC gives students two opportunities: to get a lesson in the voting process and civic education, and to taste some delicious fruits and vegetables.

Get hands-on experience working in public health!

The start of a new school year is a great time for teachers and school staff - some of the busiest people we know - to ask, "What might be keeping me from regular exercise?" To answer that question, the CDC has developed a brief quiz to help us understand those barriers.

When it comes to children walking and biking to school, parents and school staff have many valid safety concerns. To alleviate these worries, National Center for Safe Routes to School has compiled several very helpful tip sheets for both parents and kids in order promote safe, active transport to school. 

North Carolina schools were among the award winners to be recognized for their wellness achievements at NC Prevention Partners' Annual Meeting in June.  Read more about the ideas and wellness activities of these award-winning schools!