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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

B.A. Laris, MPH¹, Jan Mermim, MSW², Lisa Russell, PhD¹, Karin Coyle, PhD¹, Alyssa Steiner, MPH¹, Karen Debrot, DrPH³, and Leah Robin, PhD³. (1) Research Department, ETR Associates, 4 Carbonero Way, Scotts Valley, CA 95066, 562-433-6391, bal@etr.org, (2) Health Education, Rhode Island Department of Education, 255 Westminster Street, Suite 600, Providence, RI 02903, (3) Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS K-33, Atlanta, GA 30341

The Rhode Island Department of Education provides all 36 Rhode Island school districts with technical assistance in the development and promotion of nutrition policies. This study examines efforts to develop and implement nutrition policies and identifies factors affecting implementation. The evaluation was conducted in two phases. Phase I consisted of interviews with three district administrators from 31 Rhode Island districts. Phase I data were analyzed to categorize districts' progression in the implementation of nutrition policies. Phase II consisted of in-depth case studies with six districts to identify factors that facilitate and hinder nutrition policy implementation. Phase I interview results indicated that 30% of districts had nutrition policies and 70% had nutrition directives. Policies are formal written documents approved by districts; directives are informal procedures that guide operations. The most common issues covered in policies or directives were the nutritional value of vending and a la carte foods. More nutrition issues were governed by directives than policies. Directives guided vending and a la carte issues while policies specified foods used in classrooms or for fundraisers. Respondents indicated that a la carte and vending sales increased USDA School Lunch Program revenue in 48% and 30% of districts respectively. Across interview questions and respondents, there was disagreement within districts. Administrators do not appear to have consistent information about the nutrition environment in their district. Given the current climate of mandated wellness policies, these results may help other districts identify strategies to communicate nutrition policy information to all district administrators and school level staff.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify key components of policies to improve a school nutrition environment.
• Define the difference between nutrition policies and procedures in districts.
• Recognize how nutrition policies and procedures have affected school environments in Rhode Island schools.
• Describe strategies to increase district level administrator’s support of changes to the school nutrition environment

Keywords: Nutrition, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation