USDA Community Voices for Health Expansion Project

USDA Team Nutrition Program-Community Voices for Health Expansion Project

OSSE was funded a USDA Team Nutrition Training Grant to implement the "Community Voices for Health Expansion Project" (CVHE).  The program is implemented in partnership with American University, Howard University and the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Agriculture to fifteen (15) middle schools in Washington, DC.  The schools were targeted to provide a train-the-trainer nutrition education program, NUDGE and USDA Meal Pattern food service training, and expose students to locally grown produce. 

USDA Team Nutrition:
Provides training and technical assistance to Child Nutrition foodservice professionals to

• Enable teams to prepare and serve nutritious meals that appeal to students.
• Promote nutrition curriculum and education in schools through multiple communication channels
• To reinforce positive nutrition messages and encourage students to make healthy food and physical activity choices as a part of a healthy lifestyle
• Build school and community support for creating healthy school environments that are conducive to healthy eating and physical activity.

Community Voices for Health (CVH):

• Started in 2009 by the American University School of Education, Teaching and Health
• Addresses educational and health disparities in the District’s public school system. 
• Four components: Kids Take Action, Families Take Action, Teachers Take Action and Communities in Action
• Teachers Take Action includes a free 3-credit educational incentive to teachers called “Urban Health for Teachers” class, professional development and in class consultations.

Campus champions can be a teacher or staff member, must be available for a  one week summer course, be returning to the middle school in fall, be a leader and committed to health

• Course covers knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to lead wellness campaign in school and integrate nutrition education lessons into current curriculum through fun, interactive, and garden-based nutrition education

The Farm-to-School network at Arcadia Center for Urban & Sustainble Agriculture:

• Provides access for students to local food through a Mobile Farmer’s Market
• Engages students to taste new recipes using locally grown produce
• Hands-on nutrition education lessons during the school day and taste tests

The Foodservice training and technical assistance:

• Applies the NUDGE marketing technique to school food service operations
• Provides training in culturally themed meals that meet the requirements of the Dietary Guidelines and provisions of the DC Healthy Schools Act.
• Encourages foodservice workers to help students to eat healthier options at school