CREATING HEALTHY SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
Overview
A program of the Department of Health and Wellness, Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) is a 5-year (2021-2026) NYSDOH-funded project that supports policy, system, and environmental changes to help make healthier choices, easier choices in the City of Kingston. The City of Kingston does this in collaboration with its community partners Cornell Cooperative Extension-Ulster County and Family of Woodstock by supporting school and community-based nutrition and physical activity programs.
To achieve these goals, the project focuses on 5 strategic areas:
- Food Service Guidelines: Supporting community and worksites to create, implement, and promote food and nutrition guidelines in their food service venues.
- Connecting Routes to Destinations: Community planning and active transportation interventions to increase safe and accessible physical activity.
- School Nutrition & Physical Activity: Working with school officials, staff, and parents to implement improved policies and practices that create a supportive and healthy physical activity and nutrition environment.
- Early Care & Education: Improved policies, practices, and environments for physical activity and nutrition in early child care settings.
- Communications & Sustainability: Intentional and thoughtful communication with the community, media, and legislature to support behavior change, policy change, and convey critical information.
Watch this video to learn more about CHSC accomplishments across New York State.
Current Projects (As of May 2023)
Food Service Guidelines
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CHSC is working with the food pantry at Salvation Army to develop a Food & Nutrition Policy, and support more fresh foods in their food pantry. To support this, CHSC recently purchased a commercial refrigerator and freezer to help them distribute more fresh foods to the community.
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CHSC is working with the Mental Health Association (MHA) to develop a Food & Nutrition Policy for their subsidized community meals. To support this, CHSC recently purchased additional kitchen equipment to help prepare healthful recipes, as well as coordinating the MHA chef to attend a culinary nutrition training hosted by The Teaching Kitchen (in collaboration with the Department of Health and Wellness).
Connecting Routes to Destinations
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Following extensive community outreach and engagement, the City of Kingston recently received the final plans for the landscape design of Post Office Square at Broadway and Prince, and will be facilitating the construction of Phase 1 in either fall 2023 or spring 2024. These newly designed spaces will help to support use of the Kingston Greenline. More information can be found at https://engagekingston.com/broadway-prince-landscape-plan.
School Nutrition & Physical Activity
- CHSC has helped establish health & wellness committees at George Washington, John F. Kennedy, and Harry L. Edson Elementary Schools that help carry out wellness initiatives at these schools.
- CHSC is working with these schools to increase opportunities for physical activity before, during, and after school. To support this, CHSC purchased physical activity supplies such as sports equipment, lawn games, teacher chosen equipment that can be used in the classroom, bike racks, yoga mats, and much more!
- CHSC is working with these schools to increase access to better nutrition outside the school meal program. To support this, CHSC helped coordinate with the school foodservice to start the USDA funded Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Program that provides free fruit and vegetables to students. To further support this, CHSC is coordinating with Rondout Valley Growers Association to procure locally grown produce and has purchased small kitchen equipment like blenders and food processors. CHSC is also helping schools set guidelines on healthier celebrations that focus on fun over food. To support this, games and other non food celebration activities were purchased.
Early Care & Education
- CHSC is currently working with eight programs, focusing on nutrition and cooking activities.
Completed Projects
Food Service Guidelines
- In 2022, CHSC supported the food pantry at People’s Place in developing a Food & Nutrition Policy that prioritized fresh produce, culturally relevant foods, and foods safe for special diets. Through this work, CHSC purchased brand new shelving, produce bins, shopping carts, and colorful nutrition posters to organize and beautify the space.
- In 2022, CHSC supported the YMCA of Kingston and Ulster County in developing a Food & Nutrition Policy that prioritized foods high in protein and fiber, and low in saturated fat, added sugar, and sodium, along with safe drinking water. Through this partnership CHSC purchased four new water fill stations installed at the YMCA.
Connecting Routes to Destinations
- In 2022, CHSC supported safe and desirable cycling in Kingston through the purchase and installation of a bike shelter, bike fix-it station, and bike racks at Kingston Point Beach; along with supporting the YMCA’s Bike Programs.
School Nutrition & Physical Activity
- In 2022, CHSC facilitated an update to the Kingston City School District’s Health and Wellness Policy.
Early Care & Education
- In 2022, CHSC supported 5 daycares and 3 childcare centers. All locations revised their health policies to include physical activity on a daily basis, are breast and chest feeding friendly, and now offer at least two new healthy foods a month.
Contact:
For more information on CHSC, or if you'd like to inquire about how to become a community partner, please contact the Project Manager, Kristin Kessler, at [email protected] or 845-334-3917.