Our friends at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation just sent this letter to members of the Boston City Council. We are so grateful for their support and for their wonderful work combating childhood obesity:
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts put forward by Boston Public Schools to support the health and well-being of its students and staff. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation was founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation in 2005. The Alliance’s goal is to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015 by fostering an environment that helps all kids pursue healthy and active lifestyles. Boston Public Schools has participated in our Healthy Schools Program since 2007 and has worked diligently to establish healthy schools as the norm and not the exception.
Since joining the program, numerous schools in Boston have worked on assessing and improving in the areas of health education, competitive foods and beverages, school meals, staff wellness, before and afterschool programs, physical education and activity, and policy and systems. Innovative ideas and programs from Boston Public Schools (BPS) have inspired other schools across the country and served as a model for building school/community partnerships, increasing the quality of health education, finding time for more physical activity in a limited school day and getting high school students to participate in a school breakfast program. Success stories from Boston schools have been showcased in our national newsletter more than ten times.
Seven schools from BPS have received a National Recognition Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The National Recognition Award is an honor given nationally to showcase and acknowledge schools that have implemented changes in order to create healthier school environments. To earn an award, schools must meet best practice criteria established by the Healthy Schools Program Expert Panel and outlined in the Healthy Schools Program Framework.
Please feel free to reach out if you have questions about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the Healthy Schools Program or the progress of Boston Public Schools in the program.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Ginny Ehrlich, Executive Director
Alliance for a Healthier Generation
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