Article
Two initiatives fight obesity
Springfield Public Schools is to be commended for its concern about the health conditions of its students and staff and its efforts to comply with federal law by adopting a new wellness policy by the start of the next school year. However, it may be that the wellness plan before the board does not reach far enough. Allow me to explain.
I have come to appreciate and value the proven effectiveness of coalitions and collaboratives for impacting widespread objectives (no pun intended). Sometimes what an issue lacks is an initiative to raise community awareness, organize partnerships, and encourage doable efforts.
In regard to the objective of reducing childhood and adult obesity via community collaboration, two such initiatives readily come to mind. Each holds great potential for addressing obesity and wellness concerns in that they offer opportunities for effective collaboration. One is also sensitive to the need for more targeted outreach to those disproportionately affected, ensuring optimal overall community success.
I'm referring to "Appetite for Life" and "3 V's for Life." The Ozarks Regional YMCA spearheads the former, while the latter is a project of Hand in Hand Ministries. Both are sensible, community-based approaches that foster community strategies rather than single-institution methods. They also promote small changes in nutrition and activity, as opposed to massive, sweeping changes, which usually result in resistance (if not all out rebellion).
School is an obvious component of most solutions that involve our children, and the school district certainly has the responsibility of oversight during the academic day. But it need not go it alone. Kids are at home, church, parks, clubs and other places for many more hours each week than in school. So including these partners in a multiple strategies approach should yield much better results than could ever be achieved by a single entity, no matter how well intended, informed, or mandated. The board would do well to look at the greater opportunity before it. Although its direct authority is limited to the food and activities associated with school, it is not precluded from actively aligning its policies with complimentary initiatives in the community.
By going the extra mile to convene an ongoing inclusive, collaborative conversation, this board could pave the way for a payoff that far exceeds the rewards of compliance.
For more information, please contact Brad Toft at the Ozarks Regional YMCA, 862-8962 and Julie Humphrey at Hand in Hand Ministries, 879-8500.