Action for Healthy Kids

Virginia Action for Healthy Kids

Welcome to the Virginia Team

Virginia Action for Healthy Kids is a state team of Action for Healthy Kids, the nation’s leading nonprofit and largest volunteer network fighting childhood obesity and undernourishment by helping schools become healthier places so that kids learn to eat right and be active every day.

In July 2012, our Virginia team joined teams from the District of Columbia and Maryland to create the DC Regional School Health Network. The mission of the DC Regional School Health Network is to build a communication pathway for professionals, community members, school personnel, and businesses interested in improving and advocating for adolescent obesity, nutrition, physical activity and general wellness and to leverage the group to improve adolescent learning. This collaborative effort allows each member to reach a greater number of students, school staff, and community members, to build upon the success and strengths of each organization and to increase overall awareness of Action for Healthy Kids' efforts, initiatives, and successes.

Get Involved

There are many opportunities to get involved with Action for Healthy Kids in Virginia--from becoming a DC Regional School Health Network member, to attending Action for Healthy Kids’ events, to making a financial contribution--you can help create a safer environment for our kids!

If you are interested in joining our team, please contact Kristina Shelton: kshelton@actionforhealthykids.org
If you feel compelled to lend your voice to one of most important issues of our time, and would like to take that first step towards creating a healthier environment for our kids, join the Action for Healthy Kids community by taking the Every Kid Healthy Pledge on the left-hand side of the page.

Our Favorite Resources

Engaging Parents in School Wellness: Lessons Learned by the Virginia Action for Healthy Kids Team The Virginia Team was one of the first to engage parents as partners to create healthy schools. This report shares the results of our parent engagement project that involved parents, teachers and children to improve nutrition and physical activity in rural schools. This work also inspired the following fact sheets for Virginia families and schools
Healthy Families Tips on being active with your kids.
Healthy Rewards for Kids Tips on offering alternatives to food as rewards
Healthy School Fundraising How to raise money and promote good health
School Parties: Putting the Health into Fun Fact sheet on making school parties and celebrations healthy and fun

Healthy School Hero Award

The Healthy School Hero Award is our grassroots volunteer recognition program that recognizes individuals throughout the year for their outstanding volunteerism, dedication and passion in helping schools become healthier places for America’s kids. Healthy School Hero awards are given based on the individual’s exceptional dedication and service towards the vision, mission, and goals of Action for Healthy Kids through volunteer work in their school community.

Selected Nominees:

Will be showcased in newsletters and on the Action for Healthy Kids website throughout the school year.
Will receive a certificate and letter from the Action for Healthy Kids Board of Directors.

Nominators and Nominees will receive periodic tips, program ideas, and other news from Action for Healthy Kids to support their continued work with schools and healthy kids.

To complete a nomination, please email: kshelton@actionforhealthykids.org

Nominations will be accepted throughout the year!

DC Regional School Health Members:

Kristina Shelton - Action for Healthy Kids