The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service recently awarded a 2017 Team Nutrition Grant to the Health and Nutrition Division of the Arizona Department of Education. The $494,000 grant will support the implementation of multilevel interventions to improve elementary student nutrition knowledge and attitudes in alignment with the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. ADE will administer the grant from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2020.
ADE will use the Team Nutrition Grant to award up to five subgrants to Arizona local education agencies (LEAs, aka school districts or charter holders). Each LEA awarded a subgrant will be required to hire a Wellness Coordinator. This person will use the LEA’s own wellness policy and ADE’s Activity and Assessment Tool to work toward the following goals:
- Offer appealing and nutritious school meals
- Provide nutrition education
- Build a school environment that promotes healthy eating
Each of the selected LEAs will be expected to document their experiences under the grant, as well as mentor other LEAs undertaking similar initiatives. ADE support the subgrant recipients with training and ongoing technical assistance.