Creating Healthy Schools & Communities

Creating Healthy Schools and Communities is a five-year (2021-2026) public health initiative to reduce major risk factors of Department of Health_Blackobesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases in high-need communities and school districts and statewide.

This program is funded by the (NYSDOH) to implement evidence-based policies, place-based strategies, and promising practices to increase demand for and access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for daily physical activity for all New Yorkers.

Western Suffolk BOCES Student Support Services Center (SSSC) was awarded three of the 25 grants to serve the Towns of Babylon, Hempstead and Islip while collaborating with Vision Long Island, Choice for All, and the Child Care Councils of Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Together we work with community settings (pantries, shelters, etc.), worksites, municipalities, schools and early childhood education centers to create environments that shape and sustain positive attitudes and behaviors about foods and physical activity.

°Õ³ó±ðÌý, led by JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc., strengthens the initiative’s collective impact by providing technical assistance, training, resources, and a network to collaborate.

Strategies

  1. Revise, implement, and assess food service guidelines and behavioral design strategies in worksites and community settings.
  2. Improve policies, practices, and environments for physical activity and nutrition in early childhood education settings and K-12 schools.
  3. Adopt and implement  policies, plans, and practices to increase opportunities to walk, bike, and roll.
  4. Support communication and sustainability of implemented strategies.

News & Success Stories

Healthier LI Challenge Conference

 

Toolkit

(more coming soon)

Food Service Guidelines & Behavioral Design
ECE Strategies
Complete Streets Policies
School Strategies

Contact Us

Susan Kessler, Program Administrator
(631) 595-6814, SKessler@WSBoces.org

Dr. Karyn Kirschbaum, School and Community Wellness Coordinator, Babylon
(631) 595-6843, KKirschb@WSBoces.org

Alicia Gibbons, School and Community Wellness Coordinator, Islip
(631) 595-6847, AGibbons@wsboces.org

Jacob Dixon, School and Community Wellness Coordinator, Hempstead
(516) 544-2955, JDixon@ChoiceForAll.org

Dana Youkilis, Early Childhood Education Health and Nutrition Manager, Child Care Council of Nassau
(516) 358-9250 x140, DYoukilis@ChildCareNassau.org

Gerry Lake, Early Childhood Education Health and Nutrition Specialist, Child Care Council of Suffolk
(631) 462-0303, GLake@ChildCareSuffolk.org

Tawaun Weber, Assistant Director, Vision Long Island
(631) 261-0242, TW@VisionLongIsland.org

Resources

Nutrition



Physical Activity
Physical Activity