Deadlines:

Letter of Intent: June 6, 2011

Application: July 15, 2011

Summary:

• Support evidence and practice-based community and clinical prevention and wellness strategies that will lead to specific, measurable health outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates.
• To create healthier communities by

1. Building capacity to implement broad evidence and practice-based policy, environmental, programmatic and infrastructure changes in large counties, and in states, tribes and territories, including in rural and frontier areas
2. Supporting implementation of such interventions in five strategic areas (“Strategic Directions”) aligning with “Healthy People 2020” focus areas and achieving demonstrated progress in the following five performance measures outlined in the Affordable Care Act: 1) changes in weight 2) changes in proper nutrition 3) changes in physical activity 4) changes in tobacco use prevalence 5) changes in emotional well being and overall mental health

Eligibility:

• Local governmental agencies, state governmental agencies, Health Departments, ministries of health, and other governmental agencies

• Federally recognized American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages; Tribal organizations; Urban Indian Health Programs; Tribal and intertribal consortia
• State nonprofit organizations
• Local nonprofit organizations

Links:

CDC Community Transformation Grants Homepage

Grants.gov Notice and Application

Before You Apply:

SPARK can help you meet the requirements outlined in the CTGs application!

SPARK offers evidence-based Physical Education, Physical Activity and Coordinated School Health programs targeting pre-K through 12th grade students in and out of school, and our programs have been proven to WORK and LAST.

Click Here to download a detailed document that will explain how you can use SPARK to align with the goals of the CTG. This document includes information that shows:

1. Alignment to the Strategic Directions and Strategies within the CTGs application
2. Alignment to CDC’s long-term measures for addressing physical activity and nutrition
3. Why you should partner with SPARK for your CTGS submission
4. How SPARK deliverables align with CDC prevention outcomes
5. Which SPARK Evaluation & Assessment options might be used to support your submission

Next Steps:

Contact Kymm Ballard, Ed.D at SPARK. She’ll ask you a few questions, learn about your current programs, and listen to your vision for creating a healthier community. Together, we’ll create a program that will WORK and LAST.

Kymm Ballard, Ed.D

Partnership Development Specialist

kballard@sparkpe.org

1. Chargers Champions Grant Program – The San Diego Chargers are highly involved in their community, especially when it comes to promoting physical health and education. The grant is only available to San Diego County schools, so if your program is in the area and needs extra funding to get jump started, this is the perfect opportunity. The grant is open to both private and public schools, and a Chargers player will make an appearance at the official opening of the project. 82 schools in San Diego have received grants in the past for programs ranging from SPARKS equipment to outdoor fitness trails and weight rooms.
   1. Award Amounts: Elementary School – $30,000, Middle School – $40,000, High School – $75,000
   2. Deadline: 2011 application deadline TBD
2. The Kaiser Permanente Southern California Grants Program – Kaiser Permanente is a leader in the development of our youth’s health and physical education and has an established grant program to help give low-income communities the extra financial help they need. Reducing obesity is one of their main concerns and supports both community health initiatives and low-income families through the grant.
   1. Award Amounts: Vary
   2. Deadline: Rolling
3. One by One Campaign for Children – Amway Corporation created this grant to help disadvantaged children to LIVE (basic needs), ACHIEVE (building potential), LEARN (education), and PLAY (having fun). The One by One Campaign has helped over 8 million children worldwide and continues to offer grants to help local communities and their kids.
   1. Award Amounts: Vary
   2. Deadline: Rolling
4. Helping Hand Fund – The All Stars Helping Kids organization offers grants for pre-k through 12th grade students in San Francisco and Los Angeles that promote academics, health and fitness, and life skills. The grants are for less costly programs that still need a helping hand financially. If you are looking for a little help to get the SPARKS gear and program onto your school, the Helping Hand Fund is a great way to get started.
   1. Award Amounts: $250-$3,500
   2. Deadline: Rolling
5. Carol M. White Physical Education Program Grant – Although not specific to California, the U.S. Department of Education has one of the most robust grant programs to help schools jump start their physical education initiatives. The K-12 grant program aims to help initiate, expand, or enhance physical education programs, including after-school programs. They award anything from an individual Boys and Girls Club to an entire school district.
   1. Award Amounts: $100,000-$600,000
   2. Deadline: 2011 application deadline TBD
6. Small Grant Program in Southern California – The Weingart Foundation created a small grant program to address a wide range of needs in Southern California. The focus of these grants is on small community-based organizations and large institutions serving the local area. Grants are awarded to groups focused on health, human services, and education. The requirements are fairly broad, making the grant a perfect opportunity for k-12 schools to gain financial support for their Physical Education projects. Highest priority is given to organizations addressing issues in economically disadvantaged and underserved communities.
   1. Award Amount: $1,000-$25,000
   2. Deadline: April 20, 2011
7. Responsive Grants Program – The Sierra Health Foundation created the Responsive Grants Program to support projects improving health and quality of people living in North-Inland California. At least 30% of the grants will be awarded to rural areas and the rest will be mixed between urban and rural organizations in their 26 county funding region. With $1 million in grants available this year, the Responsive Grants Program could be a great jump start for schools in low-income communities looking to improve their Physical Education programs.
   1. Award Amounts: Up to $25,000
   2. Deadline: June 27, 2011
8. The Phyllis Blatz Promising Professional Scholarship – The CAHPRED Foundation created a small grant and scholarship program to help improve the opportunities for female physical education teachers and female coaches in public education. The foundation also offers several awards recognizing top physical education programs, students, and teachers. If you or someone you know are looking for the extra help to become a female physical education teacher or coach in California, send in an application to the CAHPRED Foundation.
   1. Award Amounts: $500
   2. Deadline: Rolling
9. Cheney Foundation Grants – The Bob B. Cheney Foundation is available to private, non-profit organizations in California, Oregon, and Washington. This grant is a good choice for private schools interested in creating an innovative health and physical education program. The foundation awards grants to a large variety of projects, but they mostly want to see how the project will impact the community in an innovative way.
   1. Award Amounts: $10,000
   2. Deadline: Rolling
10. Healthy Generation Grants: Signature Program – The WellPoint Foundation & Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association created the Healthy Generation Grants to help improve the lives and health of people in their communities. Their goal is to reduce health care costs by investing in programs that help in preventative health care, such as health and physical education initiatives that have a specific goal of reducing the body mass index (BMI) of a target population.
    1. Award Amounts: Vary
    2. Deadline: May 13, 2011 and September 2, 2011

Image Courtesy of Blueskyemama

New Year’s is just around the corner, and now its time to start preparing those New Year’s Resolutions. This year, many families across the United States are fighting childhood obesity by creating New Years Resolutions that successfully promote their children’s health. After all, healthy lifestyles are learned at a young age. Here are five realistic New Year’s Resolutions to help promote your child’s health next year:

1. Limit Sodas and Other Sugary Treats, to the Weekends

The key to a successful New Year’s Resolution is to start simple. First, educate your children about the downfalls of eating and drinking too much sugar, or sugary products. Then, move on to limiting their soda intake, or any other sugary product that they love, just to the weekends. If you do away with soda and sugar all together, chances are your children will be unhappy and quite upset (to say the least).

By allowing sugary treats on the weekends, your children won’t feel like you’re punishing them, and they’ll realize that they don’t need to consume their favorite sugary treats all the time. Start simple, and eventually you can phase some sugary products out of your child’s diet all together. Keep in mind, that moderation is the key to a healthy lifestyle, so don’t begin by cutting out sugars all together.

2. Prepare Healthy Meals Together as a Family

Children love hands on activities. What better way to get your children interested in eating healthy foods than by involving them in cooking healthy meals? Depending on the age of your children, they can help set the table, mix dry ingredients (that don’t involve using the stove or oven), or even plan the meals themselves. Teaching your children to prepare healthy meals also gets them involved in grocery shopping. Take your children to the store with you, or ask them to write the shopping list. There are many different ways of involving children of all ages in the process of planning and making a healthy meal.

Best of all, spending time together as a family is priceless. Studies have shown that families who eat meals together are much closer. Planning, preparing and enjoying a family meal together are wonderful ways to not only promote children’s health, but also family unity.

3. Get Involved in Sports

Eating healthy is just one aspect of a healthy lifestyle. Being active is another important part of being healthy. Getting children involved in sports, or other extracurricular activities is a fun way to get kids to enjoy exercise.

Traditional sports like soccer, football and basketball involve lots of cardiovascular activity and strength training. For children that aren’t as interested in traditional competitive sports, activities like skateboarding and dance are another fun alternative. Whatever activity your child chooses, it certainly beats staying in and playing video games on the couch!

4. Start a Garden!

Let’s face it; most children aren’t crazy about fruits and vegetables. And at times, it can be quite difficult to get them excited about eating broccoli, lettuce or anything else that’s green and leafy. One way of getting children excited about eating more fruits and vegetables is to plant a garden. Depending on your home, this can be a full-out garden in the backyard, or a few select plants in a windowsill. Keep in mind that many fruits, and especially vegetables, can even be grown inside your home.

Watching plants and vegetables develop from a little seed, to a real plant that provides food, is a fun experience for children and adults alike. Best of all, it is incredibly rewarding to eat the fruits of your labor (pun intended!). Planting a garden may be the extra push that some children need in order to try, and to enjoy, healthier foods.

5. Pack Lunches

Lots of schools are trying to be more conscientious about the lunch options they offer children throughout the day. However, in lots of schools, children are still able to pick and choose from different school lunch options. And let’s be honest, most children are going to choose fried foods or sugary options over a healthy meal. In order to make sure that your child is receiving a healthy lunch, pack lunch everyday instead of buying it. Feel free to involve your child in the process of packing lunch and have them help out with choosing more healthy options. Choose juices over soda, or fresh fruit over sugary snacks. By involving children in selecting healthy food options, your 2011 New Year’s Resolutions will have a lasting impact!

Healthy eating messages sprinkled throughout the school hallways, cafeteria, and classrooms…

Nutrition education woven into PE and core curriculum K-12…

Where is this happening? Check out West Orange, New Jersey school district!

“Teaching our students to maintain a healthy balance with eating and exercise is our top priority. The SPARK program is helping provide the tools and training to achieve this goal”, shared Corinn Giaquinto, Health and Physical Education instructor, Thomas Edison Middle School, West Orange, New Jersey.

Hats off to Thomas A. Edison Middle School and their entire school district in West Orange. The district has been using SPARK in their physical education department for some time and recently received a grant from Mountainside Health Foundation to fuel student success by adding nutrition education.

Vickie L. James, Registered Dietitian and Director of Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC), the exclusive nutrition education partner for SPARK, was the trainer for the West Orange training, the first ever SPARK and HKC nutrition education training.

“From classroom to PE to wellness council members K-12, the representation and enthusiasm shown at the workshop tells me the commitment this district has to student wellbeing. They truly understand the strategy of using good nutrition and physical activity to create a culture of health in the schools that can do nothing short of fueling student success. This was the first of many great moments down the road for West Orange Schools.”

If your school district is ready to accelerate student achievement by combining physical activity and nutrition education, contact SPARK today. Full day SPARK/HKC nutrition education trainings as well as a new nutrition curriculum in three grade ranges, K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 all are available through SPARK.  Healthy Kids Challenge trainings are tailored to meet school needs for successful implementation of realistic wellness policies, school improvement plans, and TEAM Nutrition guidelines. And SPARK/HKC help you achieve the required criteria for the HealthierUS School Challenge program.

The HKC curriculum, Balance My Day, was developed to align with all HECAT (Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool) standards for nutrition education. This is a new requirement for PEP grant awardees and you won’t find many nutrition education programs that address it.

Stay tuned for exciting happenings and updates from West Orange schools! SPARK and HKC wish them well in their commitment to student health!

So how can you maximize your PEP dollars to assure you are spending money on the PEP grant priorities?  In order to provide equipment, support and training, one needs to have a program of study or curriculum.  The curriculum will drive equipment, training and support.

The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) was specifically designed by CDC to help school districts conduct a clear, complete, and consistent analysis of physical education curricula. PECAT results can help school districts enhance, develop, or select appropriate and effective physical education curricula for delivering high-quality physical education in schools including equipment, training and support.

The PECAT is based on the NASPE national standards for physical education and includes an overview of high-quality physical education, information about physical education curricula, tools to assess a curriculum, and resources for developing a curriculum improvement plan. The PECAT can assist in assessing how closely the written curricula align with national standards for high-quality physical education programs.

Here are the top 10 reasons PECAT takes the mystery out of deciding on quality curriculum for physical education as it relates to the PEP grants. Utilizing the PECAT to determine your needs can strengthen the case for your PEP grant.

1. Fitness education and assessment: PECAT provides guidance to help make clear decisions about your program and what your needs may be in the area of curriculum and assessment.
2. Motor Skill and Physical Activity: PECAT helps to provide a methodical review of curricula instruction in a variety of motor skills and physical activities to determine an appropriate and research based curricula program to purchase for PEP funding.
3. Cognitive Concepts: The PECAT will help determine the development and instruction in, cognitive concepts that support a lifelong healthy lifestyle within a curricula program.
4. Social Concepts: Opportunities to develop positive social and cooperative skills through physical activity participation is a priority for PEP.  The PECAT can assist in evaluation of curricula for the PEP grant funding.
5. Nutrition: One priority for PEP funding is instruction in healthy eating habits and good nutrition.  PECAT and HECAT both can assist in documented evidence in this category.
6. Professional development: PEP encourages the opportunity for growth.  Professional development is a key role and the PECAT can assist in determining the feasibility of a curriculum by including training.
7. Affordable: Money is scares and should be maximized when received.  PECAT has a section in the beginning to help determine if curricula is affordable and appropriate for your school/district.
8. Grade Group Specific:  PECAT helps takes the guesswork out of age appropriateness.  Content and skills are specific for each grade group, pre-K-2; 3-5; 6-8; and 9-12.
9. Assurance: The concepts, sub-skills and skill examples were developed through a rigorous CDC process guided by research evidence and expert opinion.
10. Change Facilitator: PEP recipients are to identify research based programs that can effect change (improvement).  PECAT identifies strengths and weaknesses for change which improve physical education or after school programs, including the research behind the curricula.

Utilizing the PECAT as a methodical process to establish need for curriculum, training and equipment will strengthen you PEP grant and your PEP grant evaluation.  SPARK has been evaluated with PECAT and is not only a research and outcomes based program by its own merit but the PECAT scores show SPARK is also a quality physical education curriculum. Click Here to see the PECAT scores for each SPARK Physical Education program.

1.    Assurance: The concepts, sub-skills and skill examples were developed through a rigorous CDC process guided by research evidence and expert opinion.  Healthy Kids Challenge Director, Vickie James, RD, LD was one of the experts!

2.    Parent-Community-Teacher Justification: It provides clear justification to address why a nutrition education curriculum was adopted and what it contains.  A curriculum aligned with HECAT makes teaching easier, as well as effective.

3.    Healthy Behaviors Identified: Thirteen healthy eating behavior outcomes make content needs very tangible.

4.    Clear Learning Targets: Besides knowledge content, it gives standards to indicate what the student should be able to do (the skills needed).  For example, students will be able to describe foods and beverages that should be limited and analyze influences on their choices, set goals and make healthier choices.

5.    Grade Group Specific: It takes the guesswork out of age appropriateness.  Content and skills are specific for each grade group, pre-K-2; 3-5; 6-8; and 9-12.  For example, while pre-K-2 will be able to choose a variety of healthy snacks, the older grade groups will be able to plan and prepare a healthy snack.

6.    Academic Gains: Eating breakfast every day is one of the healthy behavior outcomes.  Studies indicate students who eat breakfast learn better.  One study even connects iron fortified cereals and math scores.  Besides, breakfast eaters have an easier time maintaining healthy weights.

7.    Resource Friendly: Eating more fruits and veggie is a national goal and another of the healthy eating behaviors.  Many recent grants and resources are directed at this behavior outcome.

8.    Self Esteem and Peer Support: There have been reports of bullying not only about overweight but also because of food allergies.  A curriculum meeting HECAT standards incorporates lessons about how to provide support to peers for making healthy choices; and how to refuse foods that cause allergic reactions or that are less nutritious.

9.    Change Facilitator: Change can be hard.  Healthy eating standards are aligned with changes happening in the school cafeteria, vending, classrooms and other places food is offered.  A curriculum meeting HECAT standards helps students have a good understanding of the concepts behind the changes and provides opportunities for positive discussion.

10.  Achieve Effective PEP and Wellness Policy Outcomes: Nutrition education is a critical PEP and Wellness Policy component.  A curriculum meeting HECAT standards, not only fulfills this requirement, but it provides a reliable way to measure the true goal of healthier schools, which is students with healthier eating behaviors!

The good news is that such a curriculum does exist!  Healthy Kids Challenge is excited to announce the release of new nutrition education curricula, Balance My Day!  Make it a New Year’s resolution to check out Balance My Day, available January 1, 2011.  There is curriculum specific for three grade groups, K-2; 3-5; and 6-8.  Balance My Day is aligned with HECAT: Module Healthy Eating standards and is very teacher friendly.  The Healthy Kids Challenge goal is to make teaching and learning simple and fun.

The best snacks for sustaining energy levels are ones that combine complex carbohydrates from whole grains, fruits or vegetables, with some lean protein such as nuts or cheese, and a little bit of fat to enhance taste and satiety.

Healthy Kids Challenge Top 10 Healthy Snack Choices

1. ½ cup fresh fruit – with low-fat yogurt dip
2. ½ cup vegetables – with low-fat dressing dip
3. 5 whole grain crackers – with salsa or bean dip
4. 1 cup whole grain cereal – with 8 oz. skim milk
5. 3 cups popcorn – with 1 oz. nuts (10 almonds or 15 peanuts)
6. 1 oz. low-fat cheese – with 1 thin slice lean meat and whole grain roll
7. 8 oz. fat-free flavored yogurt – with cut-up fresh fruit added
8. 1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese – with pineapple chunks
9. 1 oz. nuts (10 almonds or 15 peanuts) – with ¼ cup raisins
10. 1 Tbsp peanut butter – with celery sticks

2. Where do we go for quick, easy, and healthy recipes?

Here’s a list of Healthy Kids Challenge favorites online.  Each of these is a Partner in Health with HKC.  You can count on all of them to offer a variety of healthy recipes, affordable family meal ideas, and even “kid friendly” recipes sections, too!

Cooking Light – Includes categories such as “quick and easy” and “kid friendly” and access to the magazine’s recipe list.

Cabot – In addition to recipes, the Healthy Eating section includes recipe makeovers and cooking with kids tips.

Del Monte Recipes & Tools – Kid friendly recipes are simple to make and the “Meals Under $10” are healthy and tasty, too.

Mission – Look for “Family Meals Under $10” and “Fiesta Favorites” for a healthy spin on traditional tortilla fare.

3. Why is it important to eat whole grains and limit saturated fat?

A healthy diet including fiber from whole grains is important because whole grains help reduce blood cholesterol levels and may help with weight management.  The fiber in whole grains helps provide a feeling of fullness with fewer calories.  A food with 5 grams or more per serving is high in fiber.

It is important to limit saturated fat, which is solid fat, because it tends to raise LDL “bad” cholesterol levels, increasing your risk for heart disease. Limit solid fats like butter, stick margarine, or shortening. Instead, choose oils, which are more heart healthy, and in small amounts are a healthy choice.  Choose fat from fish, nuts, and vegetable oils more often. For more information, visit www.mypyramid.gov.

That’s because when you google “budget crisis,” you see a big picture of the Golden State with a black hole where Sacramento used to be. California was in terrible economic shape BEFORE the great recession hit. We even heard our Governor talk about closing state parks, selling the Del Mar Fairgrounds and racetrack, and other extreme measures to make up for the revenue shortfall. California is beyond broke, we’re in debt, big debt, all the way up to the top of our surfboards.

You know the cycle. Budget woes affect schools, school budgets effect teachers and students, and if your image is the one on the bottom of the educational totem pole (read, you’re a physical education teacher) you have to tolerate yet another battery of low blows to your professional mid-section. I’m embarassed to say, that a local, former Assembly-person, Mary Salas, was the ringleader for one of the worst physical education inspired ideas since picking teams for dodgeball. She drafted and tried to pass a bill (AB 351) that would allow high school students to take band, ROTC, cheerleading, et. al, in lieu of their PE requirement.

This concept was popular with some parents and students, who unfortunately, don’t know the difference between today’s physical education (a standards-based, progressive, sequential, and evaluated course of study) and physical activity. And it became painfully obvious Ms. Salas and her staff didn’t either. Either that or the idea of upsetting some influential parents was just too hard a stand to take. I personally spoke on the phone with one of her assistants, and while he listened to reason, I was quite certain his boss’s mind was made up.

My argument? Students are physically active (at times) in band, ROTC, and cheerleading, of course; but to draw a parallel to those programs and today’s physical education is simply wrong. It’s the equivalent of allowing students to take band instead of Math (after all, in band they march in formation, count the number of instruments?) or ROTC instead of Science (wait, guns are made of metals and consist of elements don’t they?) or cheerleading instead of English (but our students read and write routines, why would we make them read AGAIN for English class?). You get the idea.

Now look, we all love giving students choices, and ROTC, band, and cheerleading in and of themselves, should absolutely be a part of every high school’s program. There is no disrespect or devaluation here, I believe ALL learning and moving opportunities are important. It’s more an apples to oranges approach when you talk about equivalent substitutes. So while I agree 100% with Patrick Henry High students Dickerson and Szabo (Aug. 15, 2010 “Cheerleading isn’t physical? Get real.”) that cheerleaders are athletes and should receive the same support and opportunities as other athletes, I’m saying, athletics is to physical education as math is to science.

And, with the CA high school PE requirement already limited to freshman year — and one more before graduation — presenting more “opt out options” represents a move in the wrong direction. Students need MORE quality physical education daily; not less. Fortunately, Michelle Obama understands the link between childhood obesity and our rising high care costs.

So, what happened to the Salas bill? Logic and reason prevailed. The bill was killed. And what happened to Mary Salas? Let’s just say, good luck Juan Vargas.

Well, California is a great place to live. We still have our budget crisis, our crazy politicians, a Governor who has trouble pronouncing our state, but that’s OK. When cornered, our people pull together, fight the madness, and do what’s best for our kids. Let’s all hope we have a few parks and pennies to leave them when our latest financial mess is behind us.

-Paul Rosengard

What can parents and families do? Here are a few ideas:

Provide Opportunities for Activity

• Enroll their children in after school sports, classes or recreational activities
• Expose them to a variety of physical activities
• Identify ways to be active around your home or neighborhood

Encourage Healthy Eating Habits

• Provide healthy snacks
• Prepare meals with food from all of the food groups
• Cook with your children

Be a Role Model

• Be active regularly — and invite your child to join you
• Reduce your own television and computer time
• Cook more and eat out less

Monitor Screen Time

• Limit the time spent each day using computers, video games and television
• Avoid eating in front of the television
• Provide alternate activities for children to enjoy

Advocate for a Healthier School

• Daily physical education taught by qualified, credentialed physical educators — hopefully SPARK trained!
• Healthier school lunches in all school environments (cafeteria, a la carte line, student body sales, etc.)
• Using non-food related items for fundraisers and rewards

The SPARK research study was designed to pilot our programs and research their effectiveness with elementary schools. Intervention schools were provided curriculum, equipment, and materials in addition to staff development to implement the programs. The desired outcomes of the project were to increase student physical activity levels, health knowledge and improve health behaviors. For teachers and staff the focus was to increase the quality and quantity of nutrition, health and physical education levels as well as improving their own health.

Although the results of the research project won’t be released until this fall, one of the intervention schools has used this opportunity as a springboard to making some significant additions to their school. Locust Grove Elementary has recently partnered with two local hospitals to fund a full-time nutrition education teacher and provide a weekly class for all K-5 students. In addition to adding a nutrition component to their curriculum, they have created a Minds in Motion Lab for physical activity where students will spend 10 minutes a day going through different stations to improve their coordination, motor skill development, balance, and rhythm. The goal of this program is to increase the quantity of physical activity as well as to prepare the brain for learning. Locust Grove also has several policies now in place to support the healthy school environment. The two most significant policies state that all teachers must provide 20 minutes of physical activity every day, and food is not allowed in classrooms for classroom celebrations or to be used as a reward for students.

Making these types of changes requires a commitment not only from the administration to pass the policies and fund the programs, but from the school staff to implement the policies and from the parents to support the changes. Would you like to improve your school environment using the Coordinated School Health Model? Give us a call at SPARK to find out where to start!

-Jeff Mushkin
Project Specialist/Trainer