Healthy kids, healthy schools

More resources for
healthy kids

• Nutrition: For children and teens
• Fitness: Getting started
• Healthy weight
• Recipes

At-home lessons for families

• Healthful habits for the whole family
1. MyPlate: Healthful foods you can choose
2. Fast food restaurants
3. Fitness: Fun for our family!
4. Screen time: How much is healthy?
5. Sugary drinks: What every kid needs to know
6. How much spaghetti should you have on your plate? (and other tales from the kitchen)
7. Healthful habits: How much sleep do kids need?

Young people who engage in healthy activities get better grades and feel better about themselves. Schools can play a critical role in helping establish these healthy behaviors that lead to academic — and lifelong — success.

That's what School Health Connection™, presented by Allina Health, is all about — an innovative, new program that gives educators tools and services to encourage healthy lifestyles in students, teachers and families.

Ten elementary schools have been selected as School Health Connection™ sites for the 2012–13 school year.

• Braham Elementary, Braham, MN
• Lafayette Charter School, Lafayette, MN
• Lakes International Language Academy, Forest Lake, MN
• Lincoln Center Elementary School, South St. Paul, MN
• Loring Community School, Minneapolis, MN
• Park Brook Elementary School, Brooklyn Park, MN
• Parkside Elementary School, Buffalo, MN
• St. Bridget Parish School, River Falls, WI
• Shakopee Area Catholic School, Shakopee, MN
• Wilson Elementary School, Owatonna, MN

The 10 elementary schools were chosen through a competitive application process. More than 80 schools submitted applications to receive the health expertise of the Allina Health medical community, plus:

• $10,000 in grant money to promote healthy activities in school;
• online learning tools and teacher training; and,
• a health fair for the entire school community, including free health screenings for teachers and parents.

Ten elementary schools in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin, will be chosen through a competitive application process and will receive the following benefits:

Applications were accepted through August 31, 2012. The application process is currently closed. All applicants will be notified of decisions via email by September 14, 2012.

Frequently asked questions

Allina Health announces Partnership Opportunity for 10 schools

Grants available through new School Health Connection™

MINNEAPOLIS (August 2, 2012) — If you could improve the health of an entire community through its children, how would you do it?

Allina Health is embarking on a comprehensive school partnership program to find out. School Health Connection™ — an innovative program that strengthens the connection between healthy students and academic achievement is in response to Governor Dayton's challenge for business to adopt schools.

"Young people who engage in healthy activities get better grades and feel better about themselves. Schools can play a critical role in helping establish those healthy behaviors that lead to academic — and lifelong — success," said Michael Marshall, MD, president of Allina Clinics.

School Health Connection™ will give educators tools and services to encourage healthy lifestyles in their students, teachers and families by offering schools the health expertise of the Allina Health organization, grant money to promote healthy activities in school, online learning tools, teacher training, and a health fair for the entire school community, including free health screenings for teachers and parents.

"By embracing schools and helping school communities to be healthier, Allina Health is making an investment in the future health of the communities we serve," said Kenneth H. Paulus, President and CEO of Allina Health. "We know that building a culture of good health is an important part of our mission, and getting our young people engaged is crucial to that endeavor."

Allina Health will select 10 elementary schools in Minnesota and western Wisconsin, through a competitive application process, to receive these benefits:

• Allina Health staff will work with the school to provide health screenings and assessments for staff and families. By providing educators, leaders and parents a collaborative opportunity to know more about their personal health, together they will have an opportunity to advance community health in creative and effective ways.
• $10,000 in grant funding will be awarded to each selected school — $9,000 to support healthy-lifestyle programs or equipment needs in their school, and $1,000 to fund a student-generated idea or program to improve health inspired by a student competition. Engaging directly with students will bring new and creative thinking to this persistent challenge.
• A physician from a local Allina Health primary-care clinic will consult with each school on a monthly basis for a full academic year, helping teachers, administrators and students proactively respond to health issues affecting their school.
• Allina Health professionals will provide two one-hour in-service training sessions for teachers and staff on topics selected by the school, such as youth obesity, nutrition, mental health, concussion prevention and treatment, or an issue specific to the school community.
• School staff and teachers will have access to online health learning tools, developed by Allina Health experts, that provide engaging lessons on activity, nutrition and mind-body balance. These lessons can stand alone or be integrated into existing lesson plans, and can be used in the classroom or for after-school programs.

"Healthy, active, well-nourished students are better learners," said Minnesota Commissioner of Education Brenda Cassellius. "They are more engaged in the classroom, demonstrate better retention of subject matter, and perform at higher levels in their daily work and tests. This program will provide some great resources and support for selected schools to promote good nutrition and healthy habits."

Applications will be accepted through Aug. 31, 2012.

About Allina Health

Allina Health (formerly Allina Hospitals & Clinics) is a not-for-profit system of hospitals, clinics and other health care services, providing care throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Allina owns and operates more than 90 clinics, 11 hospitals, and health care services, including home care, hospice and palliative care, oxygen and medical equipment, pharmacies and emergency medical transportation. More about Allina Health and the latest health information can be found online at allinahealth.org.