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Michigan Action for Healthy Kids

Action for Healthy Kids is the nation’s leading non-profit and largest volunteer network fighting childhood obesity and undernourishment by partnering with schools to improve nutrition and physical activity to help our kids learn to eat right, be active every day, and be ready to learn.

The Michigan Action for Healthy Kids Team is committed to increasing its work directly with schools and districts by building its membership and utilizing proven programs that generate excitement about healthy schools. If you are interested in a leadership role in your region of Michigan, please email Deborah Grischke, MS CFCS, Michigan's AFHK State Coordinator, at dgrischke@actionforhealthykids.org.

NEW School Grants for Healthy Kids!!!

APPLY TODAY

Through partners CSX Transportation, Kellogg Company, and the Walmart Foundation, Action for Healthy Kids is pleased to release its School Grants for Healthy Kids opportunities for the 2013-2014 school year.  Around 400 schools will be awarded funds that will range from $1,000 to $5,000 with significant in-kind contributions from Action for Healthy Kids in the form of people, programs, and school breakfast and physical activity expertise.  We'll also provide schools with management expertise and support to develop strong alternative and universal breakfast or physical activity programs. 

Award amounts will be based on building enrollment, project type, potential impact, and a school's ability to mobilize parents and students around school wellness initiatives.  Grants are available in select states as listed below. 

What schools need to know to apply

• Interested schools are invited to attend a webinar to learn more about the available grant opportunities for 2013-2014 and receive tips for applying.  Please register for the time best fitting your schedule.  NOTE: Archived sessions will be provided here after the live session if you are unable to attend. 
• Thurs, March 21, 2013 - 3:00-4:00pm ET / 12:00-1:00pm PT - REGISTER NOW!
• Wed, April 10, 2013 - 4:00-5:00pm ET / 1:00-2:00pm PT - REGISTER NOW!
• The following grants are available:
• ALL STATES - School breakfast program creation and/or expansion - to include alternative breakfast programs (i.e., breakfast in the classroom, grab and go breakfast, breakfast after 1st period, breakfast on the school bus) and universal breakfast programs.  Average grant size is $1,500.  IMPACT: Schools must realize an increase in daily ADP of school breakfast program by 25% and must provide information to students/parents on nutrition and caloric content of foods available.  Schools must also join the celebration duringEvery Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2014.  (Note: Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program; and must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility greater than 50% to be eligible.  Priority selection will be given to schools with student enrollment greater than 500 students).
• SELECT States (CA, CO, CT, DC/MD/VA, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, WA) - Universal School Breakfast Pilot - Provides funding to pilot a universal alternative breakfast program in 2-3 schools in a district such that successes can be expanded to multiple schools within the district over three school years.  Grant size is $5,000 with potential for future funding to other district schools.  IMPACT: Schools must realize an increase in daily ADP of the new universal breakfast program to 85% or greater, and must provide information to students/parents on nutrition and caloric content of foods available.  Schools must also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2014.  (NOTE: Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program; and must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility greater than 60% to be eligible).
• SELECT States (AL, DC/MD, GA, IL, IN, KY, OH (priority on Toledo and Columbus), PA, WV (priority on Huntington)) - Physical Activity - Provides funding for facilities and equipment for recess, playgrounds/play-spaces, classroom energizers, physical education, intramural and/or before/after-school programs that introduce underserved youth populations to the value of an active lifestyle.  Grant size ranges from $1,000 to $5,000 with most schools receiving $1,000.  IMPACT: Schools must increase physical activity opportunities to 30 minutes per day at school, and must provide information to students/parents on the importance of physical activity.  Schools must also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2014.  (NOTE: Schools with greater than 50% of students eligible for free/reduced priced meals may receive priority.)

Steps to Apply

1. Applications must be submitted online.  Online grant portal will be available early March 2013. 
2. You may download the paper application here (pdf) so you can work with your team to develop your concept before submitting it online.  (NOTE: paper applications will not be accepted.  Please make sure you submit your final application online.)
3. Once the paper application is complete, it will take ~30 minutes to submit online.
4. Deadlines
1. April 19, 2013 - Applications Due
2. May 17, 2013 - Awarded schools notified
3. June 7, 2013 - Submission of MOA (including Wellness Survey and 5-person Team).  MOAs not received within 3 weeks of award will lose grant
4. Sept 10, 2013 - Webinar for grant funded schools
5. Dec 13, 2013 - Mid Project report due
6. May 23, 2014 - Final Project report due

YOU CAN GET IN THE ACTION!

Get in the Action events help to promote the great work schools are doing through various school wellness programs.  From hosting family health fair nights, renovating school play grounds, painting healthy murals on schools, working in the school garden, or providing taste tests; schools nationwide have taken advantage of hosting Get in the Action events to bring together school members, parents, families, and community members to roll-up their sleeves and get involved to promote & showcase their school wellness programs. 

Action for Healthy Kids is excited to work with schools nationwide to celebrate our annual, national observance, Every Kid Healthy, which focuses on the nation’s problem of childhood obesity, as well as its solutions: sound nutrition, regular physical activity and health-promoting school programs.  This year, Action for Healthy Kids and school communities across the country will be recognizing Every Kid Healthy Week on April 22-26.  During the observance and throughout the month of April, we will work with schools across the country to host School Wellness/Get in the Action events to make sustainable changes that encourage students to eat better and be active every day. 

Action for Healthy Kids will be promoting School Wellness / Get in the Action events during the month of April.  If your school will be hosting a School wellness / Get in the Action event in April, please provide additional information so that we can highlight your school. 

Please complete this survey to tell us about your School Wellness / Get in the Action event in April.  Please submit by Friday, March 29, 2013.

Click here: School Wellness / Get in the Action event Survey 

TEAM SHINE PARTNERS WITH AFHK!

A message from Team Shine: Team Shine is excited to partner with Action for Healthy Kids to help increase awareness of how active lifestyles, nutrition, and fitness can contribute to kids’ health and wellbeing. 

In short – we love mountain biking. It is a fantastic sport! Not only is it great exercise, but it is a ton of fun! We are passionate about health and nutrition. When you eat better, you feel better. It is that simple! We believe that through mountain biking, we can help kids become more active, more excited about nutrition, and ultimately lead healthier, happier lives.

This year we are looking forward to participating in the National Ultra Endurance (NUE) Series.  This is a series of 100 mile mountain bike races though challenging, but beautiful terrain: forests, mountains, streams and rolling hills.  In addition to the NUE races, we plan to participate in a number of local races throughout the year and hold local events to help get kids involved in cycling.

Action for Healthy Kids is a great organization.  Every day, they work to bring health and fitness to kids across the country.  Action for Healthy Kids stands for what we stand for, and we are excited to have the opportunity to use the sport we love to support an organization that is doing such great things for kids!

RACE FOR HEALTHY KIDS

On behalf of Michigan Action for Healthy Kids, thank you to everyone who participated in or volunteered for the 2012 Race for Healthy Kids on October 7, 2012 in Rockford, Michigan.

RESULTS FOR 2012 Race for Healthy Kids

 http://www.raceforhealthykids.org