HSC Press Releases

For Immediate Release
Contact: Tara Kennon, 312-419-1810
tara@healthyschoolscampaign.org

Healthy Schools Campaign Launches Multi-Year Plan
to Address Childhood Obesity in Schools

Chicago, March 14, 2007 -- Healthy Schools Campaign announced today the launch of a holistic, school-based plan to combat childhood obesity in Chicago. The plan includes specific programs connecting community groups, parents, charter schools, students and local farms.

“The research is clear and the evidence is indisputable,” said Rochelle Davis, HSC founding executive director. “In order to change the course of this disease, and to fulfill the promise of a better future for all children, we need a comprehensive strategy that brings together school, health, community, education, culinary and civic leaders to help schools promote healthy eating and active lifestyles.”  

Public health officials and medical experts now define childhood obesity as an epidemic. In the last 25 years, the number of overweight children has more than doubled to 17 percent. Children in low-income and minority communities are disproportionately affected by the epidemic to such an extent that in some Chicago communities, more than 70 percent of children are overweight or obese.

HSC’s plan approaches the epidemic with the knowledge that schools have emerged as important places in which to address childhood obesity. Research shows that school-based programs that include healthy food, nutrition education, physical activity, parent involvement and lessons about food systems are key to preventing obesity in youth. Schools face numerous barriers to prioritizing student health and therefore often serve unhealthy food, provide limited physical activity and offer no nutrition education.

To address these barriers and to provide children with the healthy food and physical activity in school that can combat obesity, HSC’s strategy integrates the work of programs such as Parents United for Healthy Schools/Padres Unidos Para Escuelas Saludables, which provides parents with the knowledge and skills they need to advocate for school and district environments that promote healthy lifestyles; and the charter school food collaborative, which is pioneering new ways of delivering school food.

The breakfast briefing at which the plan was announced included a discussion of specific programs:

• Rochelle Davis shared HSC’s multi-level approach to addressing childhood obesity in schools through strong, innovative connections with multiple stakeholders.

• Jovita Flores, community health organizer for Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, spoke about how her community’s experience with Parents United created change in schools, with families, and at other venues such as local restaurants.

• Marc Arakelian, director of healthy lifestyles for Perspectives Charter Schools, discussed his experiences with HSC’s charter school food collaborative and how Perspectives has created a culture of school wellness focused in part around healthy and fresh school food.

• Martha Dewey Bergren, clinical assistant professor at the UIC College of Nursing and HSC board member, spoke about the important role that schools play in children’s health.

• Ken Papineau, director of coordinated school health for Chicago Public Schools, provided an overview of programs CPS has put in place to address food and fitness, including the local school wellness policy; HSC was instrumental in advocating the adoption of the policy and continues to provide support for CPS implementation efforts.

“It’s great to see so many people from so many different parts of our community recognizing the importance of this work and contributing their efforts to the plan,” Davis said. “Connecting so many strong stakeholders makes a real difference in combating this epidemic.”

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The Healthy Schools Campaign, an independent not-for-profit organization, is the leading authority on healthy school environments and a voice for people who care about our environment, our children and education. Our mission is to advocate for policies and model programs that allow students and staff members to learn and work in a healthy school environment.