Local Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit

A local school wellness policy is a written document that guides a school district’s efforts to establish a school environment that promotes students’ health, well-being and ability to learn. The wellness policy requirement was established by the Child Nutrition and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Reauthorization Act of 2004 and further strengthened by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA) (1). It requires each school or school food authority participating in the National School Lunch Program and/or School Breakfast Program to develop a wellness policy. The final rule expands the requirements to strengthen policies and increase transparency. The responsibility for developing, implementing and evaluating a wellness policy is placed at the local level, so the unique needs of each school within the school’s jurisdiction can be addressed. Schools must encourage involvement of school staff, students, parents and school community in the development, implementation, review and modification of the wellness policy.

A healthy school environment offers numerous benefits (2,3,4). Students tend to have higher grades and better attendance when they eat school breakfast, avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, and eat fruits and vegetables every day (5,6,7,8,9). Physical activity is positively associated with academic achievement, behaviors, concentration, memory, self-esteem and verbal skills (10,11,12,13).

The Local Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit aims to: 

• Support implementation of the local wellness policy
• Inform school communities about the benefits associated with a healthy school environment and a robust wellness policy
• Recruit and motivate participation in the wellness committee by parents and school staff
• Encourage schools to have active wellness committees and host wellness activities

The contents of the Local Wellness Policy Outreach Toolkit were designed to support busy school staff in their wellness efforts with customizable outreach materials as schools know best how to engage their unique stakeholders. The materials are plug-and-play, meaning many of the contents can simply be copied and pasted with minimal changes to help support wellness committee awareness efforts. If the wellness committee feels the contents would be better suited to their audience with some adaptation and/or desire to include more specific language, that would be appropriate. Schools are encouraged to add their own branding/logo and contact information to the items before sharing.

When promoting and recruiting for the wellness committee, it is useful to understand the context for the motivation behind parent/guardian/familial engagement in schools. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), familial engagement in schools can promote positive education and health behaviors among children and adolescents (14,15). Engagement or involvement is defined as families and school staff working together to support and improve the learning, development, and health of children and adolescents. The primary motivation for families to become involved is the belief that their actions will improve their children’s learning and well-being. Research shows families tend to be more involved if they perceive school staff and students want and expect their involvement. To increase familial engagement in school health, schools must make positive connections and build relationships with families. Schools should also provide a variety of activities and frequent opportunities to fully engage families.

This short video is intended as an outreach tool for use by the local school wellness committee. Schools may share this informational video with the intention of generating excitement and recruiting parents to join the wellness committee in support of local wellness policy implementation.

Ideas for sharing the parent video include social media, parent groups and school communications directed to parents such as including the video in parent newsletters.

This short video is intended as an outreach tool for use by the local school wellness committee. Schools may share this informational video with the intention of generating excitement and recruiting staff to join the wellness committee in support of local wellness policy implementation.

Ideas for sharing the staff video include sharing the video in staff communications or showing the video at a staff meeting.

This nifty bookmark has a school wellness logo on one side and contact information for the school wellness committee on the other. After downloading and customizing the bookmark within PowerPoint, it can be printed on regular sized 8.5” x 11” paper. Each double side printed page will include four bookmarks that will be 2.75” x 8.5”.

This simple recipe is one that could be made by both parents or students. After downloading and customizing the recipe card within PowerPoint, it can be printed on regular sized 8.5” x 11” paper. Each double side printed page will include four recipe cards that will be 4.25” x 5.5”.

Healthy students are better prepared to learn and succeed in school. Students tend to have higher grades and better attendance when they eat school breakfast, avoid sugar-sweetened beverages, and eat fruits and vegetables every day. Physical activity is positively associated with academic achievement, behaviors, concentration, memory, self-esteem and verbal skills.

We are recruiting parents and community members to join our school wellness committee. The school wellness committee determines goals and action plans to set for nutrition education and promotion, physical activity and more. Let’s show students wellness is fun! It is easy to make a difference. Help us build a culture where students are supported to make healthy choices and be better learners.

To get involved and learn more:

1. Reach out to our school wellness leader [name] at [contact information].
2. Join our next committee meeting [details].
3. Read our updated school wellness policy [link].
4. Read our school wellness triennial assessment [link].

All school staff are invited to the next school wellness committee meeting on [date] at [time] at [location]. The school wellness committee promotes a healthy school environment by making wellness fun! Healthy school environments support student learning and behavior, and may improve: 

• Academic performance
• Physical and mental health
• Attendance
• Positive behavior
• Community support
• Lifetime healthy habits

It takes an entire school community to build a culture of wellness and support students’ health and learning. YOU can help build a culture where students are supported to make healthy choices and be better learners. Join the wellness committee and make a difference! Contact [name], our school wellness leader, or check out our school wellness website [link].

The social media frames are intended to highlight activities related to wellness for staff and students by using personalized photos within the frame. The first school wellness social media frame includes images to represent all areas of school wellness. There are four social media frames with images to represent each pillar of school wellness: water, physical activity, nutrition and student/other wellness. There is an additional social media frame with the MyPlate graphic.

Photo Credit: Cedar Rapids Community School District

Social Media Frame Directions

1. Take a photo related to wellness.
2. Download the Social Media Frames PowerPoint file and save to the computer.
3. Select the desired frame (PowerPoint slide) to use.
4. Add the photo to the slide either by copy/paste or selecting the “insert” tab, click “photos” to choose one from the computer.
5. Center the photo within the social media frame. If needed, right click on the photo and click “Send to Back.”
6. Click “file,” “save as,” select desired location, select “PNG” for “save as type,” click “save.”
7. PowerPoint will ask “Which slides do you want to export?” select “just this one.”
8. Choose the desired social media platform and upload the newly created PNG image.
9. Add a relevant caption explaining the photo (this could be an example post below or one written to describe the wellness activity in the image). Include the following text as well:
   1. #SchoolWellnessIA
   2. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
   3. This project was funded using U.S. Department of Agriculture grant funds.

• Our next school wellness committee meeting is [include relevant details such as date, time, location and virtual meeting option, if available]. Please join us to talk about improving student wellness at our school.

• Let's make the healthy choice the easy choice at [school name]. Join our wellness committee meeting [include relevant details such as date, time, location and virtual meeting option, if available].
• Want to learn more about wellness at our school? Contact [name] our school wellness leader or check out our school wellness website [link].
• Are you interested in student wellness? Families have the power to help make school healthier. Help review our school wellness policy. Contact our school wellness leader today at [contact information].
• [Insert topic] was the hot topic of conversation at our last wellness committee meeting. Does this interest you? Help move this conversation forward at our school. [Add relevant photo.]
  • Example: Vending machines were the hot topic at our last wellness committee meeting. Do you care if your child has access to school vending machines? Join our wellness committee meeting to discuss how we can support wellness at our school. Add a vending machine photo.
• Did you know physical activity improves brain and cognitive functions? Join our next school wellness committee meeting to get involved with physical activity and wellness promotion at our school.

• Did you know students with higher grades are more likely to have eaten breakfast? Join our next school wellness committee meeting to help promote nutrition and wellness at our school.

• Did you know there is a strong connection between healthy behaviors and academic achievement? Join our next school wellness committee meeting to help promote wellness at our school.

• Did you know school meal guidelines are an extension of MyPlate and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans? Make every bite count with school meals!

• School lunch is delicious and nutritious with MyPlate. Today we served [highlight and share menu]. [Add your own school meal photo within the MyPlate frame. Get additional MyPlate social media content.]

• Food is Fuel. Check out this article about the drawbacks of offering food as a reward or punishment. Suggestions for non-food rewards.
• Celebrate with fun (instead of food)! Active rewards can be used at home as well as in the classroom. [Alternative: Healthy Celebrations Tip Sheet.]

The following calendar-based posts are recurring yearly events that may be useful to promote wellness. As the dates change from year to year, links have been included to determine the appropriate dates for the current year. 

February

• February is Active Classrooms Month! Let's see how our students and classrooms are staying active and are developing lifelong healthy habits. [Add photos of students being active in the classroom.]

March

• School Breakfast Week is March [dates]! School breakfast helps fuel our students' bodies and minds for a full day of learning and development.

April

• Every Kid Healthy Week is April [dates]! Every Kid Healthy™ Week is an annual celebration of school health and wellness achievements. Each day shines a spotlight on the actions schools and families are taking to improve the health and wellness of their kids. It is important to highlight the connection between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and learning – because healthy kids are better prepared to learn and thrive!

May

• Celebrate National Physical Fitness and Sports Month with your family by finding new ways to #GetActive and #MoveYourWay! Kids and teens need at least 60 minutes of #PhysicalActivity each day. Learn about the benefits of physical activity today. #MoveInMay
  • See more National Physical Fitness and Physical Activity social media posts.

• School Lunch Hero Day is May [date]! We are proud to celebrate our school lunch heroes! [Add photos of your school lunch team.]

• Drinking Water Week is May [dates]. Celebrate by tracking your water this week!

• Bike and Roll to School Day is coming up! Join in the fun by making plans to bike or roll to school with your child on May [date]!

• Join us for Screen-Free Week, a global invitation the first week in May to take a break from entertainment screens and experience more peace, connection and fun!

September

• Let’s celebrate Iowa Local Food Day September [date]! We will be serving the following local [food(s)] from [farm name(s)].

October

• October is National Farm to School Month! Join us as we celebrate food education, school gardens and lunch trays filled with healthy, local ingredients.

• Join us for the annual Healthiest State Walk on October [date]. Walking is an easy, accessible and affordable way to improve your physical, social and mental health.

• It is time for the Great Apple Crunch! Join the Great Apple Crunch to celebrate Iowa farmers, healthy kids and strong communities on October [date]. Participation is simple: Crunch into locally grown apples!

• Join us for Family Physical Education Week October [dates]! [Plan an event to invite families to participate in physical education class during the day or hold an afterschool family physical education event. Share the invitation and event photos on social media.]

• National School Lunch Week is October [dates]! Join the celebration by eating school lunch with your child (please call ahead). Bonus points for embracing the [type of theme] theme! [Add your own NSLW celebration photos.]
  • [For 2025 National School Lunch Week:] Celebrate National School Lunch Week October 13 to 17 with Taste the World: Your School Lunch Passport! Our school will celebrate by [share details such as menu, decorations and activities].

November

• Today we are celebrating Outdoor Classroom Day! [Add photos and share details of students learning and enjoying the outdoors. Include a cute quote from a student about how fun it is to learn outside.] 

  • [Example: Today we are celebrating Outdoor Classroom Day! Our school had 10 outdoor classes today with over 200 students engaged in outdoor learning. It seemed the kindergarteners’ favorite part of the outdoor classroom was the bugs and so the teachers incorporated counting bugs into the lesson.]

Download the School Wellness Branding Graphic

Download the School Wellness Branding Graphic with Descriptions of Wellness Pillars

Download the Only Wellness Pillars with Descriptions

Download the Nutrition Pillar

Download the Water Pillar

Download the Physical Activity Pillar

Download the Student Wellness Pillar

This webinar provides a brief overview of the local wellness policy requirements, shares the benefits of a healthy school environment, discusses steps for getting a wellness committee started including suggestions for committee recruitment and what to do during a committee meeting, and provides resources for local wellness policy implementation.

The triennial assessment is required by the Federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHKA) which established the requirement for schools to have a local wellness policy and assess their effectiveness at least every three years.

This webinar provides an overview of the four parts of the triennial assessment: 1) general information, 2) compliance with the wellness policy, 3) comparison to a model school wellness policy and 4) progress towards goals.

Local Wellness Policy: Triennial Assessment

Local School Wellness Policy Progress Report

Smart Snacks standards set nutrition guidelines for all foods and beverages sold to students on the school campus during the school day and policies that allow only marketing of those foods and beverages that meet the Smart Snacks nutrition guidelines.  

This webinar provides an overview of Smart Snacks, explains the background and requirements, shares example Smart Snacks product comparisons and discusses other considerations related to Smart Snacks requirements.

This webinar explains Physical Education (PE) and Physical Activity (PA) and discusses the related requirements, recommendations and resources.

This webinar provides a variety of ideas to tailor the local wellness policy to promote school wellness and discusses using the triennial assessment and public notification as a tool to support wellness.

1. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2016). Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2016-17230
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). Health and Academics. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-schools/health-academics/
3. St. Peter’s Health Partners Community Health Programs. (2024) Evidence Based Resources and School Wellness Policies https://healthprograms.org/creating-healthy-schools-and-communities/evidence-based-resources-and-school-wellness-policies/
4. World Health Organization. (2025). Health Promoting Schools. https://www.who.int/health-topics/health-promoting-schools
5. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service. (2022). Make Breakfast First Class. https://fns-prod.azureedge.us/sites/default/files/resource-files/MakeBreakfastFirstClass_references.pdf
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, December 16). Making the Connection: Dietary Behaviors and Academic Grades. https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-schools/media/images/320889-B_FS_Dietary_Behaviors_508tag.pdf
7. Food Research and Action Center. (2025, March 11). Benefits of School Breakfast. https://frac.org/programs/school-breakfast-program/benefits-school-breakfast
8. Food Research and Action Center. (2016) Research Brief: Breakfast for Learning. https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/breakfastforlearning-1.pdf
9. World Health Organization. (2020). Nutrition Action in Schools: A Review of Evidence Related to The Nutrition-Friendly Schools Initiative. https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/338781/9789241516969-eng.pdf?sequence=1
10. Barbosa, A., Whiting, S., Simmonds, P., Scotini Moreno, R., Mendes, R., & Breda, J. (2020). Physical Activity and Academic Achievement: An Umbrella Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(16), 5972. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165972
11. University of Nevada, Reno Extension. (2020). Physical Activity Improves Brain and Cognitive Functions.  https://extension.unr.edu/publication.aspx?PubID=2921
12. De Greeff JW, Bosker RJ, Oosterlaan J, Visscher C, Hartman E. Effects of physical activity on executive functions, attention and academic performance in preadolescent children: a meta-analysis. J Sci Med Sport. 2018 May;21(5):501-507. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.09.595. Epub 2017 Oct 10. PMID: 29054748.
13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, December 16). Making the Connection: Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors and Academic Grades.  https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-schools/media/images/320889-A_FS_Physical_Activity_behaviors_508tag.pdf
14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Promoting Parent Engagement: Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/protective/pdf/parentengagement_administrators.pdf
15. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, July 19). Parents for Healthy Schools.https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-schools/parents/index.html
16. Pew Research Center. (2024, July 22). Americans’ social media use. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/01/31/americans-social-media-use/
17. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023, February 16). Social media use among parents and women of childbearing age in the US. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2023/22_0194.htm
18. Pew Research Center. (2024, July 22).  Teens, Social Media and Technology 2023. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/12/11/teens-social-media-and-technology-2023/