Nate McCaughtry, WSU Center for School Health director, speaks during a press conference Sept. 5, 2014

Gov. Rick Snyder today joined partners of the Building Healthy Communities program to announce 58 schools across the state who will receive the innovative program, a private-public initiative designed to fight obesity and improve childhood wellness through school-based programming. The announcement was made at an event at Madison Elementary School in Madison Heights, Mich., a new recipient of the program.

Building Healthy Communities, a partnership between the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), the Michigan Fitness Foundation, University of Michigan, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Wayne State University, is an initiative that encourages children to adopt healthy habits and, with the addition of the recipients for the 2014-2015 school year, will reach more than 100,000 students in more than 275 schools since its inception in 2009.

The program is an evidence-based, comprehensive, school-wide initiative that aligns with the Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan and works with schools and their communities to teach kids healthy habits and address childhood obesity. An additional component of the Building Healthy Communities program is a breakfast in the classroom grant which 32 schools will receive.

"The State of Michigan and Department of Community Health are pleased to partner with so many communities and schools across the state to help our children make healthier choices," said Governor Rick Snyder. "We congratulate these 58 schools for securing this program. They are showing initiative and leadership in the effort to reduce childhood obesity and we applaud them."

The state and all Building Healthy Communities partners are committed to improving children's physical health, increasing academic success and helping stem the growing economic and healthcare burden of childhood obesity in Michigan. Today, one in three Michigan children is overweight or obese.

"Lifelong healthy habits start at a young age," said Lynda Rossi, Executive Vice President of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the largest funder and founder of the program. "A healthier Michigan is a driving mission of our company, and we are excited about the expanded opportunities that our new partnership brings in impacting positive change for students across the state."

Since 2005, BCBSM has invested more than $6 million in childhood obesity prevention initiatives, like Building Healthy Communities, to provide school-based programs to improve the health habits of Michigan kids. The Building Healthy Communities program also supports BCBSM's ongoing commitment to children's health and its new #MIKidsCan campaign - an initiative focused on encouraging kids to adopt healthy habits early in life that are more likely to be carried into adulthood.

Child health experts have repeatedly called for schools to provide healthier school environments that support nutrition education, access to nutrient rich food and beverages, physical activity and physical education - all pillars used in developing, and emphasized in, the Building Healthy Communities program. By joining together to provide funding for this program, the program will achieve a greater impact, reaching more students in more schools, across the state.

"Building Healthy Communities is the kind of partnership that can encourage children to embrace healthy habits, empower schools to take charge of their students' health and ultimately help all of us be healthier today and into the future," said MDCH Chief Deputy Director Nick Lyon. "We are grateful for this opportunity to build upon our efforts with the Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan by leveraging this great partnership to join together in the fight against childhood obesity. The 58 schools that will receive support are leaders in this statewide effort and we look forward to continuing our collaboration to help our youth make healthier decisions."

"Extensive studies continue to be conducted on the process and outcomes of Building Healthy Communities," said Dr. Nate McCaughtry, director for the Wayne State University College of Education's Center for School Health. "These studies ensure that Building Healthy Communities remains evidence-based, school-friendly, and above all leads to impactful change in children's physical activity and healthy eating, as well as the health and learning quality of schools."

For more information about the Building Healthy Communities program, visit www.bcbsm.com/buildhealth. For more information about the Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Plan, visit www.michigan.gov/healthymichigan. Additional information on BCBSM's #MIKidsCan initiative can be found at AHealthierMichigan.org/MIKidsCan.