Summit Prevention Alliance has embarked on an endeavor to improve the wellness of Summit County Schools.  Any district school that is interested in setting up a wellness team and can create a team, an action plan, a plan for sustainability and a budget for the team’s operation for the school year has a chance to receive funding!  You may be wondering, “what is a wellness team?”  Wellness teams are comprised of students, parents and staff members at each school who meet quarterly to discuss what to do at their school to maintain a healthy environment.  There are three main issues that a wellness team manages: nutrition, physical activity and environment.  Nutrition initiatives include school lunch programs, treats brought into the school for parties and education surrounding nutrition.  Physical activity include ensuring that students are physically active during the day along with education on how to stay physically active outside of school for an hour or more each day.  Environmental initiatives involve environmental stewardship in the areas of recycling and composting in addition to the student’s sense of safety and comfort in the school.   Many schools already have wellness initiatives yet lack coordination to sustain and improve quality programs.  A wellness team can benefit a school by serving as a group to carry out healthy action plans.  For more information on wellness teams or to set up a wellness team at your school contact Jannine Walldan at Summit Prevention Alliance – (970)453-9333 or jannine@summitpreventionalliance.org.