Parent voices can transform education and school environments. In Chicago, Healthy Schools Campaign is putting this common-sense notion into action: Parent leadership for health and wellness in schools.

Parents United for Healthy Schools/Padres Unidos para Escuelas Saludables is a coalition that brings together parents, educators and community leaders from across Chicago to advocate for healthy school environments. This means leading change at individual schools and speaking up for district-wide changes.

Healthy Schools Campaign formed Parents United in 2006 out of concern for the skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity and the growing health disparities in Chicago. 

The Parents United approach involves empowering parents to make wellness a central part of the home, school and community experience. How? Parents adapt their strategies for each school and engage others who care about student health and learning. For example:

Forming wellness teams. In 2006, parents at Chicago Public Schools advocated for a district wellness policy that included parent representation on school wellness teams. Since then, parents have used wellness teams as a powerful vehicle for change, forming more than 50 across Chicago.

Creating healthy versions of traditional recipes. Parents United Manager Jovita Flores began a healthy cooking class that she describes as “more like a leadership class.” Parents work together to create healthy versions of traditional recipes and learn practical ways to embrace healthy living at home. Parents explain that this experience has motivated them to advocate for healthy food in schools.

Parents who take part in Parents United/Padres Unidos join like-minded advocates and leaders committed to promoting children’s wellness and combating health disparities. Parents are also prepared with the skills and practical tools to make change. Parents United activities include:

Parent Leadership Institute: an intensive four-day training on health disparities, research connecting health and learning, relevant local and national policy, and the skills to develop strategy and create change at school

Parents United efforts have gained new momentum with recent victories built on years of organizing for school wellness. Recent on-the-ground achievements include:

Wellness Teams. Parent leaders have formed more than 50 active school wellness teams in schools across Chicago. Through these teams, parents are making health-promoting changes for food and fitness at the school level. Parents have been key in supporting schools' successful efforts to achieve the HealthierUS School Challenge through Go for the Gold. At McCormick Elementary School, for example, parent leaders have helped bring back daily recess, implement classroom-based physical activity programs, and champion breakfast in the classroom.

Breakfast in the Classroom. Chicago Public Schools recently brought the Breakfast in the Classroom program to all elementary

In 2006, HSC and a group of parents from Chicago’s Latino and African-American communities founded Parents United for Healthy Schools out of concern for health disparities and the skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity that children in Chicago’s communities face. Since then, hundreds of parents have made a difference for children’s health by becoming leaders in the effort to create healthy school environments. Thousands more have lent their support by signing petitions, attending meetings and speaking up for school wellness.

Now, Parents United is garnering national recognition for its role in transforming food and fitness in Chicago’s schools.

Jovita Flores, manager of Parents United, was recently honored by the White House as a Champion of Change. Jovita is one of 11 individuals to receive this honor, which recognizes sustainable innovation and leadership, in the area of strengthening food security. Read more about this honor here.