Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Healthier Generation targets students and their families/caregivers in K-12 schools that serve mainly high-need student populations. To date, 53,000 schools, districts and out-of-school time sites and more than 31 million students have benefited from Healthier Generation's resources, tools, training, and technical assistance. The participatory method of implementing the 6-step process can be adapted to meet schools where they are in the change process.   Settings: Schools, Worksites Age/Population Group: Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School, High School, Parents/Caregivers, Adults Race:  All Ethnicity: All

Healthier Generation's approach includes a 6-step continuous improvement process, an assessment, and an action planning tool. These intervention components provide support to schools and districts implementing evidence-based policies and practices in each are of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model. Healthier Generation provides resources, professional development, and technical assistance to school and district leaders over multiple years. The core workshops are designed to guide school and district staff through the necessary steps to establish and achieve their wellness goals. Each community determines the level of support and the pace of that support. Healthier Generation also administers a national award program, which motivates schools and districts to make progress towards best practices in health and wellness. The 6-step process, described above, integrates the core components of Healthier Generation's approach and is repeated at least annually. In the first of the six steps, schools or districts form wellness committees. Wellness committees are representative of the school community, and usually include administrators, school health providers, health/physical educators, students, and parents. At each step, school stakeholders take part in decision-making. Healthier Generation's approach is rooted in evidence-based best practices for creating school environments that promote learning and support the physical, mental, and social and emotional health of students and staff.  The development of the TSIA was informed by review of existing tools (Healthier Generation's Healthy Schools Program Assessment and Resilience in Schools Index, CDC's School Health Index, and the Michigan Healthy Schools Action Tool), primary and secondary literature, feedback from researchers and practitioners, and field testing with school and district stakeholders.

After registering online in the Healthier Generation Action Center at no cost, individuals have access to:   Assessment and action planning tools   Virtual Training Center - on-demand and live trainings focused on evidence-based strategies for creating healthy school environments   Evidence-based school health resources from Healthier Generation and partners   Digital implementation tools such as the Wellness Policy Builder   Blog with success stories from schools across the nation   Member Engagement Support Center    Healthier Generation's resources can be found at Alliance for a Healthier Generation website .

Several evaluations using key informant interviews and surveys have been conducted to generate knowledge about implementation and user experience. Healthier Generation uses the results of these evaluations to inform continuous improvement of our  HSP  tools, delivery, and approach. A 2012 study published in CDC's Preventing Chronic Disease found that from 2007-2009, schools typically reported making "moderate to large" changes in health-related policies/practices. A companion study found that the amount of training and technical assistance schools received was independently, significantly associated with the number of policy/practice changes made. A 2015 study also published in Preventing Chronic Disease found that meaningful participation with Healthier Generation was linked to reductions in the prevalence of overweight/obesity among students in high-need schools.   Evidence Base: Research-tested

Based on the SNAP-Ed Evaluation Framework, the following outcome indicators can be used to evaluate intervention progress and success.   Readiness and Capacity - Short Term (ST) Changes - Medium Term (MT) Effectiveness and Maintenance - Long Term (LT) Population Results (R) Individual         Environmental Settings ST5 , ST7 MT5 , MT6 LT5 , LT6 , LT7 Sectors of Influence       ST5b: 76 (70%) case study schools accessed the assessment between 2014 and 2019. ST7a-b: Between 2014 and 2019, 49 (45%) case study schools reported having a representative school health committee or team that met at least 4 times a year and oversaw school health and safety policies and programs. MT5a,f: Between 2014 and 2019, 70 (64%) case study schools made at least one change to a nutrition item on the Healthy Schools Program ( HSP ) assessment (the precursor to the TSIA) . Total enrollment at these schools: 21,950 students. 70 case study schools documented at least one change in writing or practice to expand access or improve appeal for healthy eating. Based on enrollment, an estimated 21,950 students could have encountered these improved environments. MT6a: 52 (48%) case study schools have made at least one change to a PA/physical education (PE) item on the HSP assessment between 2014 and 2019. Through their engagement with HSP, 52 case study schools documented at least one change in writing or practice to expand access or improve appeal for PA. LT5a: 70 (64%) case study schools made at least one change to a nutrition item on the HSP assessment AND staff have received at least one training in nutrition between 2014 and 2019. 70 case study schools documented at least one change in writing or practice to expand access or improve appeal for healthy eating. In these 70 schools, this change was implemented together with staff training on continuous program improvement and policy implementation related to healthy eating and nutrition. LT6a: 52 (48%) case study schools made one change in PA/PE items AND received at least one training in PA between 2014 and 2019. 52 case study schools documented at least one change in writing or practice to expand access or improve appeal for PA. In these 52 schools, this change was implemented together with staff training on continuous program improvement and policy implementation related to PA. LT7a: Between 2014 and 2019, 15 (14%) case study schools received 20 Healthier Generation's National Healthy Schools Awards.

The process evaluation tool available is the TSIA assessment, an online tool that is a focal point of the 6-step continuous improvement process. Schools are encouraged to update their assessments at least annually to assess progress towards achieving best practices, to realign priorities, and to update their action plans. All schools keep a record of their work in the Action Center. Schools' assessment responses are stored and made available for them to view, print, and download.

Website: Healthier Generation 's website includes information on their programs, including the TSIA, additional tools, resources, and their blog. Contact Person(s): Madeline Moritsch 916-990-1892 madeline.moritsch@healthiergeneration.org Josephine Thomason 386-569-5448 josephine.thomason@healthiergeneration.org     *Updated as of September 11, 2023