Kern Health Systems Offers A New School Wellness Grant Program! Background Kern Health Systems dba Kern Family Health Care is dedicated to improving the health status of our members through an integrated managed health care delivery system. In 2015, Kern Health Systems (KHS) members less than 21 years of age accounted for 56% of its membership. Review of KHS top paid encounters revealed the primary diagnosis associated with routine child health exams is obesity. To address this health disparity, KHS will be awarding 5 schools in Kern County funding to implement a school wellness program that will engage students and stakeholders in activities that promote physical activity and healthy eating among each school s student population. Award Amount Up to $35,000 Application Deadline April 3, 2017 Award Announcement Date May 12, 2017 Program Period June 1, 2017 July 15, 2018 Program Example KHS implemented two school walking and wellness programs during the 2015-2016 school year. Awardees of the 2017-2018 school year may follow KHS School Walking and Wellness Program (overview below), or they may create their own program to increase and encourage physical activity, water consumption, healthy eating, and other healthy habits. KHS School Walking and Wellness Program encouraged students to track their steps daily using a provided pedometer, and step logs were collected on a monthly basis. Students who met the step goal for the month were rewarded with a T-shirt designed for the program. Step goals were established based on geographic milestones. The student s steps were also added together in order to meet specific geographic milestones as a school each month (progress was tracked on a map). Other activities that promoted healthy behaviors included Fruit/Vegetable of the Month parties, a healthy cooking competition, encouraging water consumption during school hours, and weekly wellness messages sent to students and parents. If the school 1
met all milestones by the end of the year, they were given a reward that could be used by the entire student body, and continue to encourage healthy behaviors (i.e. track, playground equipment, water filling stations, etc.). To evaluate the success of the program, BMI data was collected for each student by the school nurses. Data was collected at the start and end of the program. To receive a copy of KHS School Walking and Wellness Program Description, please email healthedprograms@khs-net.com Eligibility and Criteria: Public schools that serve Medi-Cal beneficiaries and low income students are eligible to apply for funding. Public schools that serve students from Kindergarten up to 12 th Grade. Schools that have previously participated in the KHS School Walking and Wellness Program will not be eligible to reapply. Eligible applicants must prepare and submit a completed School Wellness Grant Program application. Preference will be given to applicants that demonstrate readiness and motivation to successfully implement the program, commitment to the program at all levels (from administrative staff to teachers), ability to engage in regular communication with the program liaison, and plans for sustaining the program after the conclusion of the program. Application Process: A public notice announcing the application period along with the grant application will be made available at www.kernfamilyhealthcare.com and mailed by request when made in writing. Completed applications must be submitted during the application period, and received no later than the application deadline, April 3, 2017. Applications should be emailed to: healthedprograms@khs-net.com Award Process and Evaluation: The KHS Wellness Committee will review eligible applications, conduct follow-up interviews and make recommendations to the CEO for grant awards. Upon successful completion of the program, awarded applicants will be required to submit an end of year grant money utilization report, as well as BMI data collected at the start and end of the school year. Monthly meetings and progress reports will also be required for the duration of the program. Questions? Contact: healthedprograms@khs-net.com 2
Kern Health Systems School Wellness Grant Program Application Thank you for your interest in the Kern Health Systems School Wellness Grant Program. Our grant funding supports school wellness programs with proven and measurable outcomes that are aligned with the Kern Health Systems mission statement. Please complete the application below and submit via email to: healthedprograms@khs-net.com School Name: Year founded: Address: Phone: Fax: Program Lead: Title: Phone: Email: Principal: Phone: Email: School Nurse: Phone: Email: Amount requesting from KHS: $ Signature: Date: For additional information or questions, please contact Carlos Bello at (661) 664-5079. The Kern Health Systems Wellness Committee will screen all grant requests. Requests failing to meet the requirements set forth in this application will not be considered. If approved, the grant will be awarded to the grantee within 30 days following approval. 3
I. BACKGROUND AND NEED 1. Number of students enrolled: Percentage of Students who are Medi-Cal beneficiaries: % -OR- Percentage of Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch: % Number of teachers: 2. Please describe the racial, ethnic and economic makeup of your community and any health indicators or statistics that help describe your community (100 words). 3. Please describe your community and the health and wellness environment students and families experience outside your school (100 words). 4. Please describe the current state of your school s meals, nutrition education, physical activity and physical education environments, and the level and types of school, community, student and family engagement you currently have in efforts to improve school wellness. If you currently have a school wellness policy, please also attach it to this application. (200 words). 4
5. Regular communication with the program liaison and encouragement to students, teachers, and parents is essential to the success of the program. To help achieve this success, monthly meetings and progress reports for the duration of the program will be required. Please describe how much time per week the program lead will have dedicated to the program. Please describe any barriers you feel you may encounter and how you will overcome them. (100 words). 6. Parent engagement will improve the success of the program. Please describe how you will get parents involved in the implementation of the program. (100 words). 7. Physical activity tracking logs will require in-class time for the students whether the school chooses to use paper logs or electronic logs. How much class time will your school be able to dedicate to tracking physical activity each week? 8. Please identify 2-3 environmental changes that would help improve the health and wellness of your school and community. (200 words). 9. The end of year reward should be a positive environmental change that will sustain healthy habits for students after the program ends. Please describe how your end of year reward supports school health and wellness. (100 words). 5
II. PROGRAM OUTLINE Please outline the program that you wish to implement if awarded funding. Programs must include measures to increase physical activity, and other healthy behaviors. Include methods for evaluating the success of your program. You may use the KHS School Walking and Wellness Program. SCOPE OF WORK (Please complete and include with application) Objective Activity Person Responsible Timeline Projected Outcome Evaluation Method 6
III. BUDGET JUSTIFICATION. Please complete and include with application. An example is provided on the next page. Item Description Expense Amount Outreach Materials (Items to inform and engage students and parents): $ Supplies/Materials (Items to implement, monitor and track student progress and program activities): $ Incentives (Items to motivate and encourage participation of students, parents and staff): $ End of Year Reward (Upon successful completion of the program, item desired by the school that sustains healthy habits among students): $ Other ( Please list additional items needed to implement program activities): $ Total Grant Request = $ 7
SAMPLE BUDGET JUSTIFICATION Item Description Outreach Materials (Items to inform and engage students and parents): 1. Parent flyers (print & design) 2. Program reminder letters for parents (printing costs) Supplies/Materials (Items to implement, monitor and track student progress and program activities): 1. World Maps (shows geographic milestones and school progress) 2. Potter the Otter Posters (promotes drinking water at school) 3. Pedometers (tracks steps/miles walked for students and staff) 4. Reusable water bottles (encourages students to drink water) Incentives (Items to motivate and encourage participation of students, parents and staff): 1. Monthly t-shirts for students who meet their walking goals ($9,000) 2. T-shirts for parent club members ($200) 3. T-shirts for staff program leads ($200) 3. Teacher raffle and gift cards to promote ($400) 4. End of year top student walker prizes ($200) End of Year Reward (Upon successful completion of the program, item desired by the school that sustains healthy habits among students): 1. Water drinking stations ($8,000) 2. New playground equipment ($12,000) Other ( Please list additional items needed to implement program activities): 1. Fruit of the Month student party (in-kind donation from The Wonderful Company) Expense Amount $1,300.00 $3,700.00 $10,000.00 $20,000 $0.00 Total Grant Request = $35,000 8