School Grants for Healthy Kids 2017 2018 School Year Frequently Asked Questions I submitted a grant application last year but I can t login. In 2015, AFHK transitioned to a new system for our school portal that is more user-friendly. If you created a grant login during the 2015-2016 school year or later in the new portal, you can login as usual. If you have a login, but forgot your password, please click the forgot password button to have a password reset link emailed to you. Remember that your username will be the same as your email address. If you are a new user or have not yet logged in to the new portal, you will need to register and create a user profile: https://afhkschoolportal.force.com What type of grants are available for the 2017-2018 School Grants for Healthy Kids? Breakfast Grants Up to 500 schools will receive grant awards ranging from $500 to $3,000 to support increased breakfast participation. Eligible schools may apply to pilot or expand their School Breakfast Programs, including alternative or universal alternative breakfast programming. Schools must participate in National School Breakfast Program Game On Grants Up to 610 schools with funds ranging from $500 to $1,000 to support physical activity and nutrition initiatives that support schools in becoming recognized as a healthpromoting school. Interested schools should submit a proposal that includes a physical activity AND nutrition component. Game On for Parents Grants Up to 150 schools with funds ranging from $500 to $1,000. These grants provide funding for parent groups (priority will be given to local PTA units) to lead school-based physical activity and nutrition initiatives. Interested schools should submit a proposal that includes a physical activity AND nutrition component that are led by a parent(s). Can my school apply for both a Breakfast and Game On grant? Yes, individual schools can apply for both types of grant opportunities by starting each application in the grant portal. Can school districts complete one application for multiple schools within the district? Yes, school districts can answer all general questions for the district and apply them to each school interested in receiving grant funds. School districts will then need to update information for individual school applications with school-specific information and submit individually. If you choose to create a district application,
1. You must choose Start Application for Multiple Schools, 2. Choose the schools you wish to include on the district application, 3. Answer all questions before you choose Apply Answers, and 4. Complete individual schools application, submitting after each. Can more than one person access and submit an application for a school? No, only one user can submit an application for a school. When creating an online account on the School Portal, you will be able to affiliate yourself with individual schools. Multiple users can be affiliated with a single school, but only one person can begin an application. Please make certain you are the appropriate person to begin your school s application before starting the grant application. Which schools are eligible to apply for the School Grants for Healthy Kids? Schools that are eligible must serve grades K-12. For the Breakfast grant opportunities, schools participate in the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program. Depending on the grant you are applying for, your school must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility equal to or greater than: School Breakfast Grants: 60% recommended Game On Grants: All schools are eligible to apply. Schools with greater than 50% of students eligible for free/reduced priced meals may receive priority Why do schools need to have a 60% or greater free/reduced criteria to be eligible for the Breakfast grants? This is a requirement from AFHK national funders which focuses on increasing breakfast participation in higher need schools. Can organizations that partner with schools apply for the School Grants for Healthy Kids? Only schools, PTO/PTA, or school health & wellness teams can apply for and receive grant funds. If a partner organization is interested in working with schools to implement school wellness programs, the organization is encouraged to take the lead in submitting the grant application with the approval of school representatives as the Primary School Contact, and the name of the Principal/Administrator, and Food Service Director. How many grants are available for schools nationwide? Through partners AFHK will award over 1,260 schools nationwide to promote school wellness programs focusing on school breakfast and physical activity. What are the total grant funds available for each school? Grant funds range from $500 - $3,000. AFHK has found that schools are able to implement successful school wellness programs utilizing various funds and resources. Can grant funds be utilized as a stipend for staff members working with the grant?
Grant funds cannot be used for staffing or administrative costs. Grant funds of Incentives, gifts, and awards cannot be given to a person working with the grant. School Grants for Healthy Kids is an opportunity for schools to implement a program they would like to see in their schools. AFHK is assisting schools with funds and resources to help them achieve their goals, meet standards, and make their students and school environment healthier. What can grant funds be used towards? Funds can be used towards the purchase of equipment, evaluation costs (printing/copying), incentives (no more than 10% of total budget), and food for taste testing only. What type of assessments and impact are required for the various grant programs? AFHK encourages schools to be creative when developing their school wellness programs. Details and impact for individual programs include: School Breakfast Grants: ALL STATES - Provides funding to start or expand universal and alternative breakfast program. Grant size is up to $3,000 per school (with $2900 in funds and $100 in promotional items = $3000 award). Schools will have the opportunity to receive up to two more years of additional funding based on success. (Schools must participate in the National School Breakfast Program). Choose the project that best fits your needs: Start Up/Equipment Projects: Up to $3000/school for equipment to launch an alternative breakfast program. o Schools must have participation less than 50% to be eligible for start up funds. o Increase participation to 65% or greater or increase by 35% or more over baseline (previous year s ADP) o Schools offering breakfast at no charge for all students will be considered for $3000/school. o Districts applying for multiple schools may elect to not implement breakfast at no charge but will receive a lesser amount of funding. o Funds to be used for equipment and implementation needs. Marketing/Expansion Projects: $1,000 awarded to schools to sustain efforts and increase participation (new and previously funded AFHK schools eligible) o Funds can be used for marketing, taste tests, promotion, or additional equipment purchases. o Eligible schools must have participation baseline between 60%-70% and strive to maintain and increase participation to 80% or greater. Family Engagement/Sustainability Project: $500 awarded to school to sustain participation and increase participation (new and previously funded AFHK schools eligible) o Funds can be used for family events, taste tests, promotion, or additional equipment purchases. o Eligible schools must have participation baseline of 80% or more and increase participation to 85% or sustain greater participation levels.
All schools will: o Implement an innovative breakfast strategy. o Complete monthly participation reports. o Complete the AFHK-modified version of the School Health Index at the beginning of the grant, and update your responses at the end. o Join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2018. Game On Grants: Game On Grants should include a physical activity AND nutrition component to support becoming recognized as a health-promoting school. Provides funding for physical activity initiatives (such as facilities and equipment for recess, playgrounds/play-spaces, classroom energizers, physical education, intramural and/or before/after-school programs that introduce the value of an active lifestyle) and nutrition initiatives (such as nutrition education, school gardens, competitive foods/smart snacks, salad bars, smarter lunchrooms, healthy fundraising, classroom celebrations, classroom rewards that introduce healthy foods). Grant size ranges from $500 to $1,000 with most schools receiving $1,000. Schools funded in previous grant years are eligible for a sustainability grant of $500. IMPACT: Schools must increase physical activity minutes per day at school (to at least 30 minutes or a 10% increase if minutes are already more than 30), advance the school nutrition environment through access to healthy foods, provide information to students/parents on the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, and work toward healthy schools certification through the USDA s HealthierUS Schools Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms. Schools must complete the AFHK-modified version of the School Health Index and also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly healthpromoting event during April 2018. (Note: Schools with greater than 50% of students eligible for free/reduced priced meals may receive priority, but all schools are encouraged to apply.) Game On Parents Grants: Game On Parents grants provide funding for parent groups (priority will be given to local PTA units) to lead school-based physical activity initiatives (such as facilities and equipment for recess, playgrounds/play-spaces, classroom energizers, physical education, intramural and/or before/after-school programs that introduce the value of an active lifestyle) and nutrition initiatives (such as nutrition education, school gardens, healthy food taste tests, competitive foods/smart snacks, salad bars, smarter lunchrooms, healthy fundraising, classroom celebrations, classroom rewards that introduce healthy foods). Grant size ranges from $500 to $1,000, with most schools receiving $1,000. Schools funded in previous grant years are eligible for a sustainability grant of $500. IMPACT: Schools must increase physical activity minutes per day at school (to at least 30 minutes or a 10% increase if minutes are already more than 30), advance the school nutrition environment through access to healthy foods, provide information to students/parents on the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, and work toward healthy schools certification through the USDA s HealthierUS Schools Challenge: Smarter Lunchrooms. Schools must complete the AFHKmodified version of the School Health Index and also join the celebration during Every
Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2018. (Note: Schools with greater than 50% of students eligible for free/reduced priced meals may receive priority, but all schools are encouraged to apply.) How often are evaluation assessments required throughout the 2017 2018 grant cycle? AFHK requires the following yearly reports for evaluation measures. AFHK encourages schools to evaluate their school wellness programs throughout implementation to measure progress. Furthermore, AFHK owes to its funders mid-term and final year reports to show progress. Information provided in these reports not only ensures regular progress on grant implementation, but helps to strengthen the relationship with key funders whose funds are supporting these programs in schools. May 26, 2017 Terms & Conditions Agreement (including 5 person School Health Team) and School Health Index December 15, 2017 Mid-project report March 30, 2018 Every Kid Healthy survey May 25, 2018 Final project report Breakfast Grants will report breakfast participation data monthly. How often are grant funds allocated throughout the 2017 2018 grant cycle? AFHK awards grant funds in two payments, with the first installment (65% of total grant award) provided in the fall of 2017 and the second installment (remaining 35%) provided once midproject report has been approved in January 2018. This allows AFHK to serve as good stewards of our funders monies and help ensure quality impacts through these projects. What type of technical assistance does AFHK provide? AFHK provides ongoing technical assistance to schools to ensure success and sustainability of the various school wellness initiatives. AFHK technical assistance includes: Content-specific webinars on school breakfast, universal breakfast and physical activity Expert assistance from National Staff and State Volunteers School Health Team trainings and resources Connections to local resources for additional support Training of key school grant team volunteers Assistance with evaluation measurements Assistance with communication efforts Promotion of school success stories Project Ideas: School Breakfast grants: Start Up Grants: Expansion or pilot of universal breakfast (no cost breakfast for all students) to schools within a district. Must also include creating an alternative model (Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go, Breakfast after 1 st Period, or Second Chance Breakfast) in an effort to increase breakfast participation. Marketing Expansion Grants: continue to build on previous implementation of alternative and universal breakfast. Projects include conducting taste tests to improve menu options, create
school to school or grade level breakfast participation contests, design marketing and messaging campaigns or purchase additional equipment to serve more students (another kiosk for grab and go, insulated bags to offer hot breakfast for breakfast in the classroom ) Family Engagement: continue to build on or sustain previous successful implementation of alternative and universal breakfast. Project ideas include taste tests during family events (PTA meetings, events), inviting parents to participate in breakfast, additional marketing and promotion, taste tests to improve menu items and student engagement. Game On grants: Funding for facilities and equipment for recess, playgrounds/play-spaces, classroom energizers, physical education, intramural and/or before/after-school programs that introduce underserved youth populations to the value of an active lifestyle. Also provides funding for nutrition education, school gardens, competitive foods/smart snacks, salad bars, smarter lunchrooms, healthy fundraising, classroom celebrations and/or classroom rewards that introduce healthy foods. School Portal Technical Assistance: User Access: AFHK transitioned to a new portal system for our school grants that is more user-friendly. If you created a grant login in the 2015-2016 school year or later in the new portal, you can login as usual. Remember that your email address will be your username. If you are a new user or have not yet logged in to the new portal, you will need to register and create a user profile. https://afhkschoolportal.force.com Application Submission: Make sure you complete the word document application prior to online submission so you can copy and paste online but won t lose your information if you run into an error. Make sure your internet browser is up-to-date or try a different internet browser (ex. Mozilla Foxfire or Google Chrome please avoid using Internet Explorer if possible). Application Access: The error messages are automatically triggered by our system based on errors. Unfortunately, the asterisk/error you re receiving is correct meaning that something in your application is missing or outside of our range. A few tips: 1. Check the character count. Our system will block you from submitting your application if you are over the allotted characters. Please be sure you are verifying the character count and not the word count. Characters include letters, numbers and spaces. 2. Make sure that all of the lists that you selected items on have items selected, with some web browsers hitting save and reaching an error message automatically deletes these lists so you may need to select them again. 3. If you press save and you receive an error message, your application is not actually saved until you navigate these errors. Your application will only be saved if you are redirected to your home page and find that the application says in progress.
4. Please complete your application via the paper application first so you can easily log in and copy and paste directly into the submission portal to ensure the best use of your time. Don t forget to frequently save your work! If you walk away and haven t saved, the system will time out after 1.5 hours and all items will be lost. SAVE OFTEN! Contact: If you have any additional questions about our grant opportunities, please contact your AFHK State Coordinator or email: Schoolgrants@ActionforHealthyKids.org.