Why should I care about District Health & Wellness Subcommittees?
District Wellness Subcommittees develop policies, strategies,
and plans to enhance the health and wellness of the school community. These policies and practices become a part of a school district’s strategic plan endeavors. These plans address how schools can help address health and wellness of students and staff as part of their overall school improvement efforts.
The following data illustrates Rhode Island’s most pressing public health crisis.
United States
- Between 1971-1975 and 1999-2002, the prevalence of obesity nationally has more than doubled for children ages 2 to 5 and 12 to 19, and has more than tripled for children aged 6 to 11, according to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).*
- Currently, approximately nine million children ages six to 19 (about 16%) in the United States are obese.
- Federal policy makers now rank the childhood obesity epidemic as a critical health threat because of its association with a variety of chronic diseases, as well as social and emotional problems.
Rhode Island
- National Survey of Children’s Health data show that 21.4% of children aged less than 18 in RI were obese and another 15.7% were overweight in 2003.
- In 2001, according to the Health Interview Survey (HIS), 19.6% of children between the ages of six and 19 in RI were obese and an additional 14.8% were overweight.
- One in five children (20.3%) entering kindergarten were overweight or obese in a random sample of children’s health records, according to a review by the RI Department of Health’s Immunization Program in 2004-2005. This rate has increased by 17% since 2001-2002.
*For the statistics above obese is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile, by age and sex based on reference data from NHANES. Overweight is defined as having a BMI at or above the 85th but below the 95th percentile. BMI = weight in kilograms / (height in meters) * (height in meters).
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What are Rhode Island's state requirements for District Health & Wellness Subcommittees?
School Health Programs
RI General Laws §16-21-7 requires that all schools in Rhode Island have a school health program which "provide(s) for the organized direction and supervision of a healthful school environment, health education, and services." The program is subject to approval by the Commissioner of Education. The Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs govern all aspects of school health programs in Rhode Island.
District Health & Wellness Subcommittees
RI '05 Public Law Chapter 05-074/05-076 is a measure relating to student and employee health that went into effect in 2005 (See also Sec. 2.10-2.14 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs). This law amends RI General Laws §16-21-28, §16-2-9(a)(24) & (a)(25), and §16-7.1-2(h). The law:
- Broadens the powers and duties of school committees to include the health and wellness of students and employees;
- Requires that the school committee establish a District Health and Wellness Subcommittee (DHWS) which:
- Is a subcommittee of the full school committee;
- Is responsible for – but not limited to – the development of policies, strategies and implementation plans that meet the requirements of the federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004;
- Will make recommendations regarding the district's health education curriculum and instruction, physical education curriculum and instruction, and nutrition and physical activity policies;
- Must be chaired by a member of the school committee; and
- Must consist of members of the general public, a majority of whom shall not be employed by the school district, and include at least one parent; and
- Requires that district strategic plans include strategies to decrease obesity and improve the health and wellness of students and employees through nutrition, physical activity, health education and physical education.
Healthier Snacks & Beverages
RIGL §16-21-7 also requires that elementary, middle, junior high and senior high schools sell only healthier beverages and healthier snacks, as defined in RIGL §16-21-29, except when items are sold:
- by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place of and away from the premises of the school;
- by pupils of the school and the sale of those items takes place one hour or more after the end of the school day; or
- during a school sponsored pupil activity after the end of the school day.
(See also Sec. 29.7-29.8 of the Rules and Regulations for School Health Programs).
Please see the Rhode Island Approved Product List for various vending and snack products that meet these requirements.
Local Wellness Policies
Section 204 of the federal Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-265) requires the establishment of a local school wellness policy by the first day of the 2006-07 school year by all local education agencies participating in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. This law requires districts to:
- include goals for nutrition education, physical activity,
and other school-based activities that are designed to promote
student wellness;
- include nutrition guidelines for all foods available on each school campus
during the school day with the objectives of promoting student health and reducing childhood
obesity;
- provide an assurance that guidelines for reimbursable
school meals will not be less restrictive than existing USDA regulations;
- establish a plan for measuring implementation of
the local wellness policy, including designating someone in the district or at each school to ensure implementation of the policy; and
- involve parents, students, representatives of the school
food authority, the school board, school administrators, and
the public in the development of the policy.
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I'm a District Health & Wellness Subcommittee member or school administrator... Where do I go for more information, resources or tools?
Rhode Island District Health & Wellness Subcommittee Toolkit
This toolkit was developed to help RI school districts meet various state and federal requirements for District Health & Wellness Subcommittees, local wellness policies, and nutrition requriements for snacks and beverages.
Download the Toolkit by section (each section contains several documents):
- Front Matter
 (0.2 MB)
- Introduction (0.1 MB)
- Process-Part 1 (1.1 MB)
Process-Part 2 (4.6 MB)
- Tools (1.5 MB)
- Data-Part 1 (2.8 MB)
Data-Part 2 ( 8.5 MB)
- Resources-Part 1 (3.3 MB)
Resources-Part 2 (2.5 MB)
Download individual documents in the Toolkit:
0. Front Matter
- Cover
- Binder Tabs
- Toolkit Components
I. Introduction
- Introduction
- P.L. 108-265 – Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, Sec. 204 "Local Wellness Policy"
- RIPL Chapter 05-074/05-076 – An Act Relating to Education (on District Wellness Subcommittees, Policies & Plans)
- RIPL Chapter 06-231/06-234 – An Act Relating to School Committees and Superintendents (requiring healthier beverages and snacks in elementary & middle schools)
- RIPL Chapter 07-080/07-092 – An Act Relating to Education - Health and Safety of Pupils (requiring healthier beverages and snacks in high schools)
II. Process
- Suggested Steps and Timeline for DHWS
- Sample Agenda for 1st DHWS Meeting
- RIDE, District Strategic Plan Guidance (Mar. 2008)
- RIDE, District Strategic Plans & Wellness Guidance (Apr. 2006)
- American Cancer Society, Improving School Health: A Guide to School Health Councils
III. Tools
- Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition (RIHSC), School Nutrition Survey
- RIHSC, School Physical Activity/Physical Education Survey
- Elementary School Survey
- Middle School Survey
- High School Survey
- CDC’s School Health Index
- RI School District Nutrition & Physical Activity Model Policy Language
- RI Nutrition Guidelines for School Vending & A La Carte Foods (Updated Dec. 2007)
- RI Approved Product List: School Vending & A La Carte Foods in RI Schools (Updated July 2008)
- RI School Health & Wellness Checklist
- RI School Nutrition Requirements 2009
IV. Data
- Rhode Island Childhood Obesity Data
- Information Works! / SALT Survey - Statewide Health Data (Health Risks, Students’ Point of View, Engaging Families & Communities, Incidents of Suspension)
- Youth Health Risk Behaviors: How Rhode Island Schools Can Use Survey Data to Create a Healthy Environment for Students
- YRBS Briefs, 2005 Update
- RIDE, Rhode Island School Nutrition Environment Evaluation: Vending & a La Carte Food Policies, Phase I Executive Summary
- RIDE, Rhode Island School Nutrition Environment Evaluation: Vending & a La Carte Food Policies, Phase II Executive Summary
- 2006 School Health Profiles Data
- Information Works! / SALT Survey - Local Health Data (Health Risks, Connectedness, and Engaging Families & Communities)
V. Resources
- Helpful Resources (websites)
- CDC, Make a Difference at Your School
- Rhode Island Farm-to-Cafeteria
- Farm Fresh Fruits & Vegetables for School Food Service Programs (Fall 2005)
- Rhode Island YMCAs
- YMCA Healthy Lifestyles Program
- RI Food-Safe School Program
- New England Food & Dairy Council (NEDFC) resources (website, Dairy and school wellness, Nutrition Expeditions)
- NFL and Action for Healthy Kids, ReCharge Energizing After School
- Safe Routes to School
- FRAC, Parent Outreach brochure
- CT Dept. of Ed, Healthy Celebrations
- CSPI, Sweet Deals: School Fundraising Can Be Healthy and Profitable
- thrive, Rhode Island School District Health and Wellness Subcommittees: A Progress Report
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Tobacco Addendum to Toolkit
An additional set of tools has been developed to help districts and schools address the issue of tobacco in a comprehensive and effective manner. It is intended for use by District Health and Wellness Subcommittees and other district or school leaders in developing and implementing policies, programs, and curricula to help prevent and reduce the use of tobacco throughout the school community. Resources and tools in the toolkit are based on best available research and models, with an emphasis on Rhode Island resources. The tobacco Toolkit is available on the Issues: Tobacco page.
Other Wellness Policy Toolkits / Clearinghouses
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Whom do I contact for more information?
Rosemary Reilly-Chammat, Ed.D.
Program Manager, Initiative for Healthy Youth
Rhode Island Department of Health
401-222-5922
Rosemary.Reilly-Chammat@health.ri.gov
Jan Mermin
Health Education Specialist
Rhode Island Department of Education
401-222-8954
Jan.Mermin@ride.ri.gov
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