Evaluating School Wellness Policies Following Implementation of the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010: Updating the Wellness School Assessment Tool (WellSAT)

Start Date: December 2013

ID #: CAS017

Organization: Yale University

Project Lead: Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD

See more related research

Share

The primary aim of this project is to revise and update the content and format of the WellSAT (Wellness School Assessment Tool, www.wellsat.org), an online quantitative measure for evaluating the quality of school wellness policies. Originally launched in 2009, the website has had thousands of visitors across all 50 states, and is used by policy-makers, local-level advocates, researchers, and other key stakeholders working in both research and applied capacities. New school food standards arising out of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, as well as the evolution of best practices in schools, necessitates a revision to keep the measure and website relevant. Investigators will review current school nutrition and physical education best practices, physical activity best practices, and United States Department of Agriculture regulations governing school districts participating in the federal school meal programs. A group of content area experts will be convened to serve in an advisory role as this revision is undertaken.

Age Groups: Adolescents (grades 9 to 12), Elementary-age children (grades K to 5), Young adolescents (grades 6 to 8)

Resource Type: Commissioned Research Project Summary

Keywords: Competitive foods, Nutrition standards, Physical activity, School meal programs, School wellness policies, Snacks

State: National

Focus Areas: Nutrition Policy & Programs, School & After School

Related Research

September 2022

Implementing SNAP During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from the National Network of State SNAP Administrators

SNAP was a critical component of the COVID-19 pandemic response. The beginning of the pandemic saw the largest increase in applications in the program’s history, and the pandemic fundamentally altered how SNAP agencies deliver benefits, interact with participants, and provide supportive services. The goal of this research was to examine SNAP implementation during the first More

September 2022

State Implementation of SNAP Waivers and Flexibilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives From State Agency Leaders

This study aimed to describe state agencies’ implementation of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, barriers and facilitators to SNAP implementation, and recommendations to improve SNAP implementation. This study was qualitative, using 7 semistructured, virtual focus groups in April 2021 with state-level SNAP administrators and supportive services More

September 2022

Simplification of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Recertification Processes and Association With Uninterrupted Access to Benefits Among Participants With Young Children

In the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), families may temporarily lose benefits for which they are still eligible because of administrative issues. This lapse in benefits, referred to as churning, increases the risk of food insecurity for families, which is linked with poorer health. This study examined the rate of churning among SNAP participants with More