Michigan Middle Schools Invited to Apply for Wellness Program for the 2020-2021 School Year
Blues Perspectives
| 2 min read
Michigan middle schools looking for resources to increase physical activity, improve nutrition and promote wellness in the 2020-2021 school year are invited to apply for Building Healthy Communities until May 1, 2020. Building Healthy Communities: Engaging Middle Schools through Project Healthy Schools is an evidence-based, comprehensive, school-wide initiative that supports children’s health by teaching youth healthy habits and creating a healthier school environment. The program empowers and educates students to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. Evidence supports that students who eat well and are active perform better in school. In addition, healthy youth who continue to practice healthy lifestyles will grow into healthy adults with fewer risk factors for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic illness. The program has demonstrated significant improvements in both health behavior and cardiovascular risk factors, such as reductions in:
- Total cholesterol
- LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
- Triglycerides
- Blood pressure
Applications for Building Healthy Communities: Engaging Middle Schools through Project Healthy Schools can be found at: http://www.projecthealthyschools.org/involved/pdf/application-2020-2021.pdf Although we’re only accepting applications for the middle school program, this video featuring Patton Elementary provides an up-close look at how Building Healthy Communities programming can change your school’s culture when it comes to health.
Building Healthy Communities: Engaging Middle Schools through Project Healthy Schools is a partnership between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the University of Michigan to address childhood obesity and teach kids healthy habits that can be carried into adulthood. Related:
- Helping Teens Cope Through the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Easing Kids' Concerns About Coronavirus
- BCBSM Investments Focus on Community
Photo credit: yacobchuk
