Empire BlueCross BlueShield today congratulated the public schools of
Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood for their nationally-recognized
efforts to improve youth health. Together, the schools (PS 4, PS 102, PS
128, PS 123, PS 152, PS/IS 180, PS/IS 206, PS/IS 210) have been named a
Regional “School Program” winner in ChildObesity180’s nationwide
innovation contest for their “Just Move” program. The competition was
designed to identify and reward the most creative, impactful, and
scalable school-based programs and technologies to promote children’s
physical activity.
Empire BlueCross BlueShield is a proud member of ChildObesity180. The
Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP), a ChildObesity180
initiative, launched the competition in February 2012 in a commitment
with the Partnership for a Healthier America. First Lady Michelle Obama
encouraged participation in the competition with a call for applications
via a video message.
“Empire is committed to improving the lives of the people we serve and
the health of our communities,” said Mark Wagar, president and CEO of
Empire BlueCross BlueShield. “We’re proud to support this program
because we know if kids get off to a healthy start in life they stand a
better chance at avoiding lifelong challenges such as obesity, diabetes
and heart disease. We are fortunate to have a nationally-recognized
school program in our state and hope the success of this program will
inspire others across the country to continue their health-improving
efforts.”
The highly successful programs recognized by the awards are working to
correct course on troubling public health trends. According to the
United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than
one-third of adults are obese, and obesity prevalence among children and
teens has almost tripled since 1980.
The New York schools were recognized for their work to incorporate
physical activity into their students’ days. Looking for creative ways
to meet the state standard of 120 minutes of physical activity per week,
and facing space and scheduling constraints, the winning schools
employed a highly developed classroom-based activity program called Just
Move. First launched in 1999 in Washington Height's PS 128M, Just Move
now reaches eight schools in Washington Heights, Inwood and Harlem, with
plans for seven more schools in the fall of 2012.
Developed in collaboration with New York Presbyterian Hospital and other
partners in the "Healthy Schools, Healthy Families" (HSHF) initiative,
Just Move features an academically-integrated curriculum of a wide range
of 5-minute in-class activity breaks. Color-coded flashcards explain the
movements and corresponding academic lesson, with yellow for stretching
and held-poses, and blue for intense cardiovascular sequences and
plyometrics. A true homegrown approach, the cards and lesson plans are
developed at the central level, then customized by the staff and
students of each school at the start of the year. Together with other
forward-thinking developments such as yoga, community gardens, and
full-time P.E. instruction, Just Move is contributing to an active and
happy student body.
Christina Economos, PhD, Vice-Chair and Director of ChildObesity180,
Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and
Policy at Tufts University, and a leading researcher in childhood
obesity prevention said, “These innovators show how teachers, parents,
and technology developers are creatively increasing physical activity in
schools. They are leading the way toward a real shift in the nation’s
approach to physical activity.”
Teachers, schools, and school districts submitted their school-based
physical activity programs to the “School Programs” category, while the
“Technology Innovation” category invited developers, inventors, and
entrepreneurs to demonstrate how existing or emerging technologies could
be used to inspire kids to be physically active. A panel of experts
representing various fields judged the entries.
Working closely with leading researchers and expert staff at Tufts
University and ChildObesity180, National “School Programs” and
“Technology Innovation” winners will participate in pilot studies to
expand their programs and technologies to schools of different types,
sizes, and geographies across the country.
Peter Dolan, Chair of ChildObesity180 said, “The competition’s winning
programs and technologies are models that can help us reverse the
childhood obesity epidemic. We are grateful for the support of thirteen
of America’s leading health plans for this competition. With them as our
partners, we are recognizing innovation champions and identifying
opportunities to bring solutions to scale."
More information about the Active Schools Acceleration Project,
including a list of judges, is available at www.ActiveSchoolsASAP.org.
A complete list of winners is attached.
About Empire BlueCross BlueShield
Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield (Empire) is the trade name of Empire
HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO is
the trade name of Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., independent licensees
of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, serving residents and
businesses in the 28 eastern and southeastern counties of New York
State. Additional information about Empire is available at www.anthem.com.
Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin,
on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinInEmpire
or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
About ChildObesity180
Active Schools Acceleration Project (ASAP) is an initiative of
ChildObesity180, an organization committed to fostering cross-sector
collaboration to reverse the trend of childhood obesity within one
generation’s time. The ChildObesity180 membership is comprised of
national leaders from the public, nonprofit, academic, and private
sectors who are using their reach and expertise to drive an integrated
national strategy to prevent childhood obesity. The organization is
chaired by Peter Dolan, former CEO of Bristol-Myers Squibb. Leading
Tufts University obesity researcher Dr. Christina Economos serves as
vice-chair and director and Dr. Miriam Nelson, a Professor at the
Friedman School, is the co-director. Founded in 2009, ChildObesity180 is
conducted in collaboration with Tufts University. The Robert Wood
Johnson Foundation and the JPB Foundation are strategic funders. The
Innovation Competition is funded by a consortium of the nation’s leading
health plans.
www.childobesity180.org
CHILDOBESITY180 ACTIVE SCHOOLS ACCELERATION PROJECT WINNERS
“SCHOOL PROGRAMS” CATEGORY NATIONAL WINNERS OF $100,000 EACH:
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Corona-Norco Unified School District’s 100
Mile Club, Norco, Calif. – Among the many schools nationwide
employing running and walking programs, the 100 Mile Club in
Corona-Norco, CA is a true pioneer. Inspired by the 1992 Summer
Olympics, special education teacher Kara Lubin had a dream that kids
would be motivated to stay fit by the simple goal of “winning the gold
medal.” These medals, based on dedication and effort, not speed and
fitness, could reward students of all abilities, including Lubin’s
special education students. Lubin took action and founded the 100 Mile
Club in 1993. Elementary school students are presented with a
straightforward challenge, run 100 miles over the course of the school
year. Students log miles before school, after school, during recess,
and at sanctioned community events. Milestones are rewarded with
simple tokens – wristbands, pencils, and medals. A year-end assembly
celebrates and recognizes students who have achieved 100 miles, and
those still with miles to go. Nearly 20 years later, the 100 Mile Club
has stood the test of time, and been adopted by schools in California
and across the nation. The program is highly scalable and with Lubin’s
help, is now in place in more than 115 schools across eight U.S.
states, reaching more than 30,000 students.
-
Red Hawk Elementary’s Red Hawk Movement, Erie, Colo. – Movement and
exercise are more than activities at Red Hawk Elementary, they are
foundational elements of the school culture. As a new public school in
the St. Vrain Valley School District located outside of Denver, Red
Hawk built physical activity into the plan from day one. Using a
rotating daily “movement calendar,” students gain 40 minutes of
moderate to vigorous physical activity on a daily basis, in addition
to scheduled PE class and recess. These structured routines are taught
by the professional PE staff outdoors or in the gym, and can be
repeated in the classroom with student leaders taking charge.
Strategically placed 20-minute blocks occur once in the morning to
increase energy and attentiveness at the start of the day, and once in
the afternoon immediately before math and science, the most
challenging academic subjects. Favorite activities include the ‘Red
Hawk Walk,’ in which students power-walk along designated routes
throughout the building, as well as in-class cardio and dance breaks.
Each Friday the week ends with “All-School Movement,” when all 460
students, faculty and staff head outside to participate in a
coordinated fitness routine set to popular music.
“SCHOOL PROGRAMS” CATEGORY REGIONAL WINNERS OF $25,000 EACH:
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El Paso Independent School District - El Paso, Texas – Southwest Region
-
Hilton Head Island Elementary School for the Creative Arts - Hilton
Head, S.C. – Atlantic Region
-
Meadowview Elementary School - Farmington, Minn. – Midwest Region
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Miami-Dade County Public Schools - Miami, Fla. – Southeast Region
-
Harlem and Washington Heights / Inwood (PS 4, PS 102, PS 128, PS 123,
PS 152, PS/IS 180, PS/IS 206, PS/IS 210) - New York, N.Y. – New
York/New Jersey Region
-
Natick Public Schools - Natick, Mass. – Northeast Region
-
Overland Elementary School - Los Angeles, Calif. – West Region
“TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION” CATEGORY GRAND PRIZE WINNERS OF $50,000 EACH:
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The Walking Classroom – www.thewalkingclassroom.org
-
Sqord – www.sqord.com
