The Florida Department of Education, Food and Nutrition Management (FLDOE) announces the ‘Go For the Challenge’ grant opportunity.

The Dairy Council of Florida participated in the recent “Go For the Challenge” Team Nutrition Grant training on November 16th in Tallahassee that was broadcasted throughout the state via the Florida Education Network. The goal of the training was to provide technical assistance to school health and wellness professionals so they can achieve positive, sustainable changes in their school’s nutrition and physical activity environments. This training was the first phase of the Team Nutrition Grant that Florida received for $350,000. The Dairy Council of Florida and Florida Action For Healthy Kids are partners in this project and Jennifer W. Sills of the Dairy Council of Florida gave three presentations regarding partner and program opportunities that schools can leverage to help with their wellness goals.  Participating individuals and schools will now have the opportunity to apply for mini-grants as phase two of the project.

Twenty-five elementary schools across the state will be awarded up to $8,000 each to promote a healthy school environment while an additional 20 middle schools will be awarded $1,000 each.

Elementary School Awards:

Elementary schools will be provided comprehensive, site-specific technical assistance to achieve positive change in their school’s nutrition (food served on campus, nutrition education) and physical activity environments. 

Schools will be evaluated on the following:

- Innovative approaches
- Positive impact on students, staff, schools
- Replicable best practices
- Sustainable models
 
Middle School Awards:

Middle Schools will demonstrate the capacity to build an infrastructure for a sustainable school-based Student Wellness Advisory Council.        A Student Wellness Advisory Council, or SWAC, is a student organization, whose advisor is a school foodservice professional.  The goal of the program is to bring or expand a nutrition and wellness program in middle schools, where the students learn nutrition and wellness information and then teach that information to their fellow peers and community.
 
 The Florida Department of Education, Office of Food and Nutrition Management was awarded $349.920 in Team Nutrition funding on September 1, 2009 by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.  Florida was among 18 states awarded Team Nutrition funding to help children develop good nutrition and physical activity habits for healthier lifestyles. 

For more information contact Rachael Terrin at Rachael.terrin@fldoe.org .