The WSU College of Education’s Center for School Health was awarded a $295,000 grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health to expand the Building Healthy Communities program to an additional 14 elementary schools across Michigan, affecting the health and education of nearly 10,000 children and 300 educators. 

The Center for School Health facilitates the elementary program, which is the largest Building Healthy Communities component. The center currently leads healthy school transformations in 31 elementary schools statewide; the Department of Community Health funding will increase that number to 45.

Children’s health experts have repeatedly called for schools to provide healthier environments that support nutrition education, access to nutrient-rich food and beverages, physical activity, and physical education. The Building Healthy Communities program answered the call. 

On Friday, Sept. 5, Gov. Rick Snyder and partners announced the program expansion during a press conference at Madison Elementary School in Madison Heights, Mich., a new recipient of the program. 

Nate McCaughtry, director of the Center for School Health and assistant dean in the Division of Kinesiology, Health and Sport Studies, addressed the crowd of students, teachers, parents, staff and reporters on behalf of WSU. 

Building Healthy Communities is a statewide program that includes partners from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Fitness Foundation, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, University of Michigan, and Wayne State University.

Learn more about WSU’s Center for School Health at coe.wayne.edu/centerforschoolhealth.