Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Fitness Foundation, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and the Center for Health & Community Impact at Wayne State University combine expertise and resources in an effort to establish the knowledge and behaviors needed in children for living a healthy lifestyle

More than 16,000 Michigan elementary school students will benefit from a school transformation that seeks to make the healthy choice the easy choice. The Building Healthy Communities Program is built on a comprehensive philosophy under which healthy eating and physical activity opportunities are embedded throughout the school environment. Thirty-eight elementary schools from across Michigan were selected from a pool more than 100 applicants to participate in the Building Healthy Communities program for the 2017-18 school year.

In its tenth year, this evidence-based grant program will provide the tools that students, teachers and administrators need to change their school environment through healthy-living activities and education. Schools participating in the program will receive resources and training focused on six different components to promote health and wellness throughout the school day, including: principal engagement, classroom education on healthy eating and physical activity, quality physical education, active recess, student leadership, and a healthy kids club. Specifically, schools receive a transformational package including: a classroom curriculum, physical education and versatile recess equipment; funding for a before- or after-school exercise club; in-school mentoring from a Healthy School Coordinator; and multiple professional development opportunities and trainings. The program is a capacity-building grant that seeks to empower and train school leaders to sustain long-term, healthy changes that will benefit the learning environment for years to come.

With an ongoing devotion to fighting childhood obesity and promoting lifelong healthy habits in Michigan, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Fitness Foundation, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and the Center for Health and Community Impact at Wayne State University continue to work together in partnership through the Building Healthy Communities Program.

Congratulations to all the schools selected for the 2017-18 Building Healthy Communities program:

• Alcott Elementary
• Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School
• Brownell STEM Academy
• CA Frost Environmental Science Academy Pk-5
• Carleton Elementary School
• Carver STEM Academy
• Challenger Elementary
• County Oaks Elementary
• Detroit Academy of Arts & Sciences
• Eagle's Nest Academy
• Edgewood Elementary School
• Estabrook Elementary School
• Ferndale Upper Elementary
• GEE White Academy
• Grand River Academy
• Hope of Detroit Academy
• Hunter Elementary
• Inkster Preparatory Academy
• Kennedy Elementary
• Keys Grace Academy
• Lake Ann Elementary
• Louis Pasteur Elementary/Middle
• MacArthur K-8 University Academy
• Mackenzie Elementary
• Margaret Black Elementary School
• Mary A White Elementary School
• New Beginnings Academy
• Newberry Elementary
• North Star Academy
• Oakview Elementary School
• Parma Elementary School
• Pearl Lean Elementary School
• River Rouge STEM Academy
• Rudyard Area Elementary Schools
• Tecumseh Compass Learning Center
• Timberland Charter Academy
• Wick Elementary School
• Wolverine Elementary

The Center for Health and Community Impact, part of Wayne State University's College of Education, conducts community-engaged research to transform physical activity and healthy eating in schools and community organizations to improve the health of young people and their families.