Improving Student Health

Eat Smart, Move More NC (ESMM NC)

Eat Smart, Move More NC (ESMM NC) is a statewide movement promoting opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity wherever people live, learn, earn, play, and pray.

Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina is guided by the work of the Eat Smart, Move More Members, a multi-disciplinary team composed of statewide partners working together to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. Their efforts are guided by North Carolina’s Plan to Address Overweight and Obesity in an effort to balance how we eat, drink, and move.

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers

The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program is authorized under Title IV, Part B of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The program provides before and after-school, weekend, and summer school academic enrichment opportunities for children attending low-performing schools to help them meet local and state academic standards in subjects such as reading, mathematics, and science. In addition, programs may provide activities for youth development, drug and violence prevention, art, music, technology, character education, counseling, and recreation to enhance the program's academic components. The program also supports a component for family literacy and community outreach.

NO KID HUNGRY

No Kid Hungry North Carolina was formed in 2011 in partnership with state leaders and the national No Kid Hungry campaign, which is a program of the nonprofit organization Share Our Strength. They collectively connect kids in need with nutritious food and teach their families how to cook healthy, affordable meals. The campaign also engages the public to make ending child hunger a national priority.

They’re working to end child hunger by connecting kids to effective but under-utilized federal nutrition programs like school breakfast, summer meals, and afterschool meals. This work is accomplished through the No Kid Hungry network, made up of private citizens, government officials, business leaders, and others providing innovative hunger solutions in their communities. These partners work together, implementing solutions that break down the barriers that keep kids from healthy food.

North Carolina Institute for Public Health (NCIPH)

The North Carolina Institute for Public Health (NCIPH), based out of the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, has served as a bridge between academia and public health practice partners including state and local public health agencies, healthcare and community organizations since 1999.

With a mission to “bridge knowledge and expertise at UNC Gillings, by facilitating collaborative solutions to population health challenges in North Carolina and beyond,” NCIPH serves as a resource for public health professionals across the state, region and country.

NCDPI School Nutrition Services

NCDPI School Nutrition Services provides school meal services, including the National School Lunch Program; School Breakfast Programs; After School Snack Programs; After School Meal Programs; the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program; and the Summer Food Service Program.

They also provide education, Professional Development, Technical Assistance and more for students and School Nutrition Administrators and Food Service Authorities across the state, including the Annual Conference for School Nutrition Administrators, the School Nutrition Leadership Academy; the NC K-12 Culinary Institute; and the NC Jr. Chef Competition.

North Carolina PTA

NCPTA is North Carolina’s oldest and largest volunteer organization advocating for the education, health, safety, and success of all children and youth while building strong families and communities.

The overall purpose of PTA is to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for all children.

NC School Health Nurses

NC School Health Nurses (NC Division of Public Health) - School nurses facilitate the well-being and educational success of North Carolina's children and youth through services directed toward keeping students healthy, in class and ready to learn. In fulfilling this role, they are an integral part of the Student Instructional Support Personnel (SISP) team. The National Association of School Nurses defines school nursing as a specialized practice of nursing that protects and promotes student health, facilitates optimal development, and advances academic success (NASN, 2017).

The North Carolina Division of Public Health School Health Nurse Consultant team provides consultation and technical assistance to North Carolina school nurses and other school staff to ensure that student wellness and health needs are addressed for optimal educational access. The team is comprised of one State, six Regional, one Charter, and one Chronic Condition School Health Nurse Consultant(s). In collaboration with a variety of multidisciplinary specialists across Division of Public Health and community partners, the consultant team supports all stakeholders in the health and education of children and youth.

North Carolina School Health Training Center

The North Carolina School Health Training Center is committed to strengthening the quality of Health Education within a coordinated school health program. The Center provides programs throughout the state for teachers, nurses, counselors, administrators, and public health educators to reduce health-risk behaviors in children and adolescents.

The NCSHTC’s history of conducting needs assessments and providing professional development to school personnel and youth-serving agencies reflects East Carolina University’s mission to maximize student success, serve the public, and lead regional transformation. Additionally, the NCSHTC activities aims to inspire positive change, promote wellness, and reduce health disparities.

NC SHAPE

NC SHAPE / NCAAHPERD-SM is a 501(C)(3) not for profit organization of athletics, health, physical education, recreation, dance and sport management professionals. An independent state affiliate of SHAPE America, NCAAHPERD-SM is an alliance of seven state associations designed to provide members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support, and programs to help practitioners and professionals improve their skills and so further the health and well-being of North Carolinians.

Special Olympics North Carolina

Special Olympics North Carolina is one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world with nearly 40,000 registered athletes who train and compete in year-round programs in 20 different sports. Learn more about the difference between Special Olympics, the Paralympics and the Olympics.

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools bring youth with and without intellectual disabilities together through sports and education to create school communities of acceptance and respect. Unified Champion Schools are seen through every level of education (Pre-K/Head Start through college) and are driven by youth and staff leaders. View the Unified Champion Schools Reach Report..

Unified Champion Schools programming is designed to facilitate Special Olympics Unified Sports, provide classroom and community experiences that reduce bullying and exclusion, promote healthy activities, combat stereotypes and negative attitudes, eliminate hurtful language in schools, and engage young people in activities that lead to improved behavior and school climate. 

North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs

The North Carolina Alliance of YMCAs is a coalition of the 25 independent YMCA associations. Alliance membership is open to all NC YMCAs.

The purpose of the Alliance is to:

• Build the capacity of all of the state’s YMCAs,
• Foster collaboration on statewide initiatives through effective partnerships,
• Advocate on behalf of the YMCA's mission and cause with elected officials and stakeholders at the local, state and national levels, and
• Coordinate communication to build consensus that ensures YMCAs are recognized as leaders in youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.

CDC Healthy Schools

CDC Healthy Schools works with states, school systems, communities, and national partners to prevent chronic disease and promote the health and well-being of children and adolescents in schools. Partnering with key leaders from the health and education fields, CDC Healthy Schools promotes:

• Healthier nutrition options and education.           
• Comprehensive physical activity programs and physical education.           
• Improved processes and better training to help students manage chronic conditions.       
• Health education that instills life-long healthy habits and health literacy.               
• Practices that improve school health services and links to clinical and community resources.     

Healthier Generation

For more than a decade, Healthier Generation has worked with schools, youth-serving organizations, businesses, and communities to empower kids to develop lifelong healthy habits by ensuring the environments that surround them provide and promote good health. Driven by their passion that all young people deserve a chance to live healthier lives, their work has impacted up to 28 million kids across the country.

National Association of School Nurses

The National Association of School Nurses (NASN) is a non-profit specialty nursing organization, first organized in 1968 and incorporated in 1977, representing school nurses exclusively. NASN has more than 17,000 members and 50 affiliates, including one in the District of Columbia and one serving school nurses overseas. The mission of NASN is to optimize student health and learning by advancing the practice of school nursing.

Society for Public Health Education SOPHE

The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit, independent professional association that represents a diverse membership of nearly 4,000 health education professionals and students in the United States and 25 international countries.

SOPHE members work in schools, universities, voluntary organizations, health care settings, worksites, and in local, state and federal government agencies.

SHAPE America

Society of Health and Physical Educators serves as the voice for 200,000+ health and physical education professionals across the United States. The organization’s extensive community includes a diverse membership of health and physical educators, as well as advocates, supporters, and 50+ state affiliate organizations.

Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education. For decades, SHAPE America’s National Standards for K-12 Physical Education have served as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across the country. The organization was also a proud member of the coalition that developed the National Health Education Standards.

Springboard to Active Schools

Since 2016, Springboard to Active Schools supports CDC-funded state departments of health and/or education to promote active school environments in school districts and schools across the country. Grounded in the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, an active school environment (also known as a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program) is a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all opportunities for students to be physically active.