Nate McCaughtry, assistant dean of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies for the College of Education, quoted on TV 6 Upper Michigan Source, "158 Michigan K-12 schools to receive wellness program"
TV 6 Upper Michigan Source, 11/28
158 Michigan K-12 schools to receive wellness program
158 Michigan schools statewide were chosen to join the Building Healthy Communities program, a public-private initiative to improve health and wellness through better nutrition and physical activity for their students. Building Healthy Communities, originally created by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in 2009, is an evidence-based, comprehensive, school-wide initiative that supports children's health by providing students, teachers and administrators with the training, curriculum, equipment, funds, communication tools and support to improve student health, while creating a healthier school environment. Building Healthy Communities is supported by multiple statewide organizations including Wayne State University Center for Health and Community Impact and Action for Healthy Kids. "Wayne State University's Center for Health and Community Impact is proud to be working with so many Michigan schools in their healthy school transformations," said Nate McCaughtry, Ph.D., center director and assistant dean of the Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sports Studies. "Our research on Building Healthy Communities indicates students at participating schools have increased physical activity, improved eating habits, shown a decreased risk for obesity and other chronic conditions, and improved academic achievement in reading and math. The long-term benefits of which are promising."