Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SHAPE America Awarded Funding for National Initiative
to Advance Health Equity in K-12 Education
RESTON, VA, May 16, 2022 — SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators is pleased to announce that it has received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Healthy Schools Branch for the National Initiative to Advance Health Equity in K-12 Education. SHAPE America’s funding begins on June 1, 2022, and is renewable for up to five years to support school administrator capacity-building to advance health equity and promote healthy schools.
This project will engage school administrators as champions to advance healthy schools through equitable and inclusive programs, policies, and practices that support the implementation of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model, to build the skills and capacity of district wellness committees through shared learning experiences and resources, and to share successes for innovative and equitable policies, programs, and practices. SHAPE America will also work with administrators in building support for standards-based health education and physical education.
SHAPE America will build on the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Roundtable Series that was hosted last year by providing focused support for administrators through training and facilitated communities of practice that will be grounded in health equity. The project will also support the development of resources that advance health equity and promote healthy schools, including the re-launching of SHAPE America’s Exchange, an online community that will offer peer networking, resource sharing, mentor matches, and communities of practice. A key partner on this project, Health Resources in Action, will provide valuable expertise in the areas of healthy equity, facilitation, and training.
“Through this funding, SHAPE America will work to reinforce the connection between health and education and provide resources to school administrators to improve physical, mental, and emotional health among children, adolescents, and school staff,” says Stephanie Morris, SHAPE America CEO. “We will also have a clear focus on combating existing health and educational inequities as we work to launch and maintain this exciting new national initiative.”
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Acknowledgement of Federal Support
This is a five-year project totaling $2 million (100% federal) with 0% financed with non-governmental funds made possible by cooperative agreement (CDC-RFA-DP22-2203) with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this press release are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
About SHAPE America
SHAPE America – Society of Health and Physical Educators serves as the voice for 200,000+ health and physical education professionals across the United States. The organization’s community includes a diverse membership of health and physical educators, as well as advocates, supporters, and 50+ state affiliate organizations.
Since its founding in 1885, the organization has defined excellence in physical education. For decades, SHAPE America’s National Standards for K-12 Physical Education have served as the foundation for well-designed physical education programs across the country. Additionally, the organization helped develop and owns the National Health Education Standards.
For more information, visit www.shapeamerica.org.
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