Indiana Action for Healthy Kids

NEW! - 2008-2009 Healthy Hoosier School Award Application - Due March 1, 2009

Indiana Action for Healthy Kids was formed in October 2002 immediately following the Healthy Schools Summit in Washington DC.  The Team's primary focus is dedicated to improving the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in Hoosier schools.  This effort represents a response to our state's epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished children and adolescents.  Healthy schools produce healthy students--and healthy students are better able to learn and achieve their true potential.  

The Indiana State Team’s infrastructure consists of three levels to foster sharing and collaboration among diverse groups to encourage and facilitate meaningful change in schools.  The first level is the national organization which provides overall guidance and resources to implement our mission and goals.  The second level is the State Team Steering Committee which provides leadership to the Indiana State Team by creating a state-wide action plan, recognizing schools for their efforts in improving the school health environment, and communicating initiatives.  The third level is regional teams that create change at the local level through the development and implementation of regional action plans.  Examples of regional actions include—develop wellness teams and policies, develop and implement after-school physical activity and walking programs, and provide healthy vending tools. 

The main focus areas of the Indiana State Team are: 

• Award schools for making positive changes in their school health environment through the Healthy Hoosier School Award. 

• Improve school children’s eating habits by increasing access to nutritious foods and beverages on school grounds while reducing access to those high-calorie, low-nutrient options, as well as by integrating nutrition education into the curriculum for all school children. 

• Increase schoolchildren’s physical activity through physical education courses, recess, the integration of physical activity into academic classes, after school, and co-curricular fitness programs. 

• Educate administrators, educators, students, and parents about the role of sound nutrition and physical activity in academic achievement. 

• Seeks to locate and secure national, state, and local financial support to provide local assistance to support the sustainability of school initiatives. 

• Provide resources for schools to empower change.   

Through this website, you can stay abreast of the latest resources to assist Hoosier schools in becoming not just a learningful environment, but a healthful one as well.  In addition, you can find Best Practices and successes from other schools in Indiana and model your school's environment after the Healthy Hoosier Schools. 

Tips for Approaching and Finding Funders

The National Action for Healthy Kids office has prepared a fact sheet for teams who might be looking for funds to implement certain aspects of their action plans. 

Click here to download.

Become a Member...at no cost!

Action for Healthy Kids is a group of volunteers (educators, health professionals, parents, kids, administrators, corporate partners and more) working together to improve the health of our children by making the school environment a healthy place for children to learn. 

Learn more about how you can become a member and what benefits you will receive! 

Indiana Action for Healthy Kids Membership

Regional Leaders Wanted          

It is the goal of the Indiana Action for Healthy Kids team to have a Regional Leader in each of the 9 Indiana Regions.  These leaders will help further advance efforts in their communities. 

For more information about becoming a regional leader or getting more involved in your area, contact the state chairs. 

Share Your Success Stories         

Did your implement an awesome program geared towards improving the school health environment in your area?  Well…share your success with the rest of the Indiana team!  Complete the document below and send it back to agraves1@clarian.org to have your program listed under the Success Stories tab above.  We are looking forward to hearing from you!!

Share Your Success Stories