For too long, schools have faced funding shortages that leave them under resourced and understaffed. This has created a limited capacity for educators and support staff to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of children that often keep them from learning.
Community Schools are seeking to address this challenge through the “Healthy Schools Initiative,” a new partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Education and the Health Department’s Division of Chronic Disease Prevention (otherwise known as Get Healthy Philly), a nationally recognized leader in chronic disease prevention strategies. Grounded in the understanding that healthy, active, well-nourished children learn better, healthy schools coordinators are working in each community school to make sure our students have the food, water and exercise environments they need to thrive.
“Expanded medical and dental services are often a component of community schools, but the healthy schools initiative is a bit different,” said Susan Gobreski, Director for Community Schools. “We’re striving to increase preventative health practices so children and families have the tools they need to live healthy, disease-free lives. This program is also a unique way that city government is working collaboratively across departments to best serve our constituents’ needs.”
Some of the exciting, healthy initiatives already happening at our community schools include:
- Expansion of community gardens, community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, and trips to farmer’s markets
- Improvements to healthy school lunch programs
- Improved physical fitness activities during recess and renovations to outdoor play spaces
- Integration of meditation and mindfulness during the school day
- Expanded after school programs that include yoga and cooking
- Expansion of food pantries
- Organization of student participation in the Fun Run during the Philadelphia marathon