The South Dakota Department of Health issued the following news release:
Gov. Mike Rounds announced today that the state is awarding $71,521 to 17 schools and out of school programs for nutrition and physical activity efforts. The funding comes to the state through federal maternal and child health dollars and a National Governors Association (NGA) Healthy Kids, Healthy America grant. In July, South Dakota was one of just 10 states to receive a $100,000 Healthy Kids grant from the NGA for childhood obesity prevention.
'One of the strategies identified by the Zaniya Task Force was expanding physical activity opportunities for our kids as a way to target obesity,' said Gov. Rounds. 'These grants will help schools and out of school time programs do just that by offering healthy environments for kids.'
The Governor said the funded programs were designed by local communities and schools to meet their specific needs. Projects range from gardening and cooking healthy snacks to dance programs and exercise equipment.
The grant program is a joint effort of the health department's Healthy South Dakota Program and the education department's Coordinated School Health Program. The two agencies will provide training to the grant recipients in January to help them implement their projects. At the end of grant program, projects will share lessons learned and success stories with other schools and out of school time programs.
The remaining dollars from the NGA grant will be used to provide training for the grantees, both in person and web-based, as well as technical support throughout the grant period.
Programs receiving funding include:
* Belle Fourche Area Community Center, Camp Oasis Out of School Time Program - add a dance and movement component to the existing FitKidz program, establish a family nutrition component to look at portion sizes and food groups, and participate in healthy snack making and looking at hidden fats in foods. ($3,342)
* Belle Fourche Public Schools - implement the SDSU Cooperative Extension's Kid Quest (Fitness, Food and Fun) program into the 5-6 grade classrooms to motivate students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. ($4,430)
* DeSmet School District- implement the SDSU Cooperative Extension's Kid Quest (Fitness, Food and Fun) program into the 5-6 grade classrooms to motivate students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. ($4,430)
* Eureka Public Schools - establish a mileage club and create a walking path on the playground along with incentives for participants; encourage increased milk intake and reduce soda intake through education and journaling; provide taste testing of fruits and vegetables. ($3,593)
* Fredrick Area School District- incorporate the Nintendo Wii system into physical activity programming to reduce the amount of sedentary time during the school day. ($5,000)
* Gayville, Gayville-Volin School District- expand the existing health curriculum to include components for parents and caregivers, using the school website and the state's www.healthysd.gov website to encourage healthy eating and physical activity at home; work to expand the summer recreation program and increase participation. ($5,000)
* Hoven School District- fund the equipment for a salad bar at the school to increase access to fruits and vegetables. ($4,778)
* Howard School District- implement the SDSU Cooperative Extension's Kid Quest (Fitness, Food and Fun) program into the 5-6 grade classrooms to motivate students to practice healthy eating and physical activity behaviors. ($4,430)
* Huron, The Jungle Out of School Time Program - partner with SDSU Cooperative Extension to implement Health and Nutrition from the Garden, a project focusing on gardening and preparing healthy foods with youth and families; include physical activity and a Walking Buddies Club. ($5,000)
* Rapid City School District- increase physical activity by improving the equipment for children to play with at recess and increase the time spent playing; provide nutrition education resources such as DVD's, posters and books for use in the health education classes.($2,335)
* Rapid City, Youth and Family Services Inc. OST - implement GAMES, (Girls and Mothers Excelling thru Sports), to provide knowledge and play time in a variety of sports for girls and their mothers or significant female role models as well as education on healthy eating. ($4,250)
* Sioux Falls Children's Home, Loving School - provide the Great Chefs/Healthy Snacks activity and competition to teach children how to prepare healthy snacks and give them a chance to try different fruits and vegetables. ($4,729)
* Sioux Falls, Hawthorne Elementary - supplement physical activity opportunities and facilitate weight management counseling for children with a BMI over 95%; provide one-on-one nutrition and physical activity counseling. ($5,000)
* Sioux Falls, Lutheran Social Services, Southern Hills and Hilltop Out of School Time Program: - organize small group activity clubs of kids to participate in physical activity, learn to prepare healthy snacks, and care for a vegetable garden. ($3,478)
* Sioux Falls, Volunteers of America, Dakotas: Out of School Time Program - provide education on food additives, healthy eating, understanding fats, the importance of fruits and vegetables etc.; assess student height and weight data as well as fitness indicators. ($1,792)
* Spearfish, Lutheran Social Services, Canyon Hills Center - provide exercise equipment for the students to use and repair bikes that they can use to be more active outside; assess progress towards fitness goals with a recreation programmer. ($4,934)
* Vermillion Out of School Time Program, Beyond School Adventures - offer a Healthy Cooking Club and Stop the Pop activity, including discussion about healthy options and nutrition label reading; offer a Fitness Abroad Club that gives kids the chance try different activities such as ice skating, roller skating, swimming etc. ($5,000)Contact: Doneen Hollingsworth, 605/773-3361.
Doneen Hollingsworth, 605/773-3361.
