Healthy Arkansas Classrooms Toolkit

Addressing the hunger and obesity problem in Arkansas classrooms
In conjunction with the Healthy Arkansas Classrooms Toolkit, the links below provide helpful resources to best utilize programs already in place to address the issue of hunger and obesity among the youth of Arkansas. As teachers, administration, advocates and parents you can have a significant impact on the health, development and well being of our students.

Click here to download the complete Healthy Arkansas Classrooms Toolkit »

Quick Navigation:
Section 1: Lunch, Breakfast and Alternative Breakfast Models
Section 2: Eating Afterschool
Section 3: Healthy Activities at School
Section 4: Beyond the School Year
Section 5: Engaging Families
Section 6: Why it Matters
Section 7: Additional Resources

Share your story about school nutrition successes and challenges.

Section 1: Lunch, Breakfast and Alternative Breakfast Models

School Meal Applications
http://cnn.k12.ar.us/guidance/administrative-guidance/administrative-guidance-2.aspx
PDF of school meal applications - Single Child Application | Multi Child Application
Arkansas applications for determining the eligibility for free/reduced priced meals

School Meal Application Enrollment Campaign Guidance
http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5118/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=9264
PDF of Back to School Strategies pg4
Outline of several approaches to ensure that schools capture newly eligible families and draw down additional federal funds

Alternative Breakfast Models
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/expansion/default.htm
Information to help promote and expand School Breakfast Programs

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/FFVP/toolkit.htm
PDF of FFVP Fact Sheet
PDF of FFVP Application
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program provides all students in selected elementary schools with high free and reduced price enrollment with a wide variety of healthy fresh fruits and vegetables

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Section 2: Eating Afterschool

Arkansas Out of School Network
http://aosn.org/
The goal of AOSN is to strengthen, expand and sustain Arkansas' school-based and school-linked services to children and youth, ages 5-19, during out of school time

Backpack Programs
http://www.ricedepot.org/pantries.asp?program=Food%20For%20Kids
Information on preexisting local backpack programs designed to provide take home meals to students who display educational, physical, or emotional problems at school due to food insecurity at home

Local Food Bank information
http://www.arhungeralliance.org/members.htm
Contact information for local area food banks that can be partnered with to being new in-school food programs

At-School Food Pantry
http://feedingamerica.org/how-we-fight-hunger/programs-and-services/child-hunger/school-pantry-program.aspx
School based pantries are located on the grounds of a school intended to provide a more readily accessible source of food assistance to low-income students and their families

CACFP Afterschool Meal Programs
https://dhs.arkansas.gov/dccece/snp/HomeInfoM.aspx
Information on beginning and properly managing CACFP afterschool meal programs

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Section 3: Healthy Activities at School

Fuel Up to Play 60
http://school.fueluptoplay60.com/join/
Join Fuel Up to Play 60 and make wellness part of the game plan in your school. By participating in the program, youth have the opportunity to earn rewards and prizes.

Coordinated School Health
http://www.arkansascsh.org/
Coordinated School Health Schools seek to improve health outcomes for school age children. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has defined 8 components impacting students' health within the Coordinated School Health model ,which are Physical Education, Health Education, Health Services, Counseling, Psychological & Social Services, Healthy School Environment, Health Promotion for Faculty and Staff, Parent and Community Involvement and Nutrition/Food Service.

Cooking Matters
PDF of Cooking Matters Toolkit - For Teachers | Guidelines for Choosing Foods | Nutrition Basics | Safely Working with Kids in the Kitchen
For Cooking Matters Course information contact:
info@arhungeralliance.org
501-399-9999
Share Our Strength's Cooking Matters™ empowers families at risk of hunger with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make healthy and affordable meals

School Garden Program
http://www.fns.usda.gov/outreach/grants/garden.htm
PDF of USDA Garden Toolkit
Information on USDA school gardens grant and toolkit for best practices when creating your own school garden

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Section 4: Beyond the School Year

Summer Meal Programs Comparison Chart
PDF of Chart
Clarification on how the Seamless Summer Option differs from other summer feeding options

Summer Meals Site Locations
http://cnn.k12.ar.us/whats-new/11-05-22/Discover_Arkansas_Summer_Meals.aspx
Local Arkansas Summer Meals Sites listed with locations, dates and times of serving

Summer Informational Material
https://dhs.arkansas.gov/dccece/snp/SummerInfoM.aspx
Contact information for receiving promotional materials for summer meal programs

Section 5: Engaging Families

WIC information
Contact wic.program@arkansas.gov
Contact information for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children in Arkansas

SNAP Brochures
PDF of SNAP Brochures
SNAP Hotline- 1-800-482-8988
Outreach and application assistance to families that may qualify for SNAP

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Section 6: Why it Matters

Physical Activity
http://www.arkansasobesity.org/
http://www.achi.net/index.asp
Research and resources for creating healthier communities through obesity prevention initiatives

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