Highlighting our Model in the Stanford Social Innovation Review

September 10, 2019 | Written By: Healthy Schools Campaign

We are very excited to share an article we wrote earlier this year for the Stanford Social Innovation Review about our model for advancing systems and policy change. This article recounts our longstanding efforts to promote healthy eating and physical activity in schools and how we have been responsive to new ideas and priorities over time.

After more than 16 years, we have learned the importance of combining three key strands of work: providing leadership training to prepare parents to identify and advocate for important issues; building effective advocacy campaigns; and creating innovative programs that support sustainable systemic changes. In the article, we share our work to engage and empower parents in Chicago’s low-income communities of color; advocate for policies that create meaningful and sustainable changes; and transform schoolyards through a unique multi-sector partnership.

In the article, we also had a chance to offer our thoughts about some important opportunities to support schools in creating the conditions of student health and school wellness, particularly through implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.

Connecting Health and Education So Children Can Learn and Thrive
Building effective policy advocacy campaigns, creating programs that support sustainable systemic changes, and engaging parents to identify and advocate for critical issues are all key to supporting healthy schools and communities.
Read the article