Healthy, Whole Children
OregonASK understands providing a safe and healthy environment for youth is key for quality programs. We have also seen firsthand the importance of support the whole child to ensure they are not only engaged academically but becoming thriving members of our greater community.
Since our first Health and Wellness VISTA joined the team in 2015, we have been actively providing evidence-based resources and developing useful tools that build afterschool and summer programs capacity for quality, sustainable practices. In 2018, OregonASK was invited to join the Oregon Department of Education CDC grant focused on the Whole School, Whole Child, Whole Community (WSCC) framework. Our work with Oregon Healthy Schools continue to elevate connections to out of school time opportunities as a critical strategy in addressing health equity for Oregon youth.
Through collaboration with OregonASK partners, we’ve focused on improving the overall well being of Oregon’s youth that has led to the development of Wellness Activity Guides, Summer Activity Guides, a Summer Meals Activity Guide, a Get Fit and Healthy Toolkit, and a Summer Report from 2017 that highlights the importance of whole child support. For more information on our current health projects, contact bethany.thramer@oregonask.org
Wellness Activity Guides
In 2020, OregonASK partnered with OHSU dietetic interns who aided in the research and resources around the development of these guides. Units include nutrition, physical activity & education, SEL, and environmental health. The guides include 112 activities divided into wellness categories and differentiated for 4 different age groups; 5-9 year olds, 10-12 year olds, 13-15 year olds, 16-18 year olds.
Oregon ArcGIS Map of Health & Wellness Services
Curious about what health and wellness services are available in your immediate area? OregonASK has developed a map of services across Oregon with details of each point.
Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards
Take a look at this free resource that outlines best practices in a variety of wellness standards, including content, curriculum, staff training and social support. In 2017, National Afterschool Association adopted HEPA Standards 2.0. You can also see other health equity resources from NAA HERE.
Oregon Wellness Resources
Oregon Afterschool Wellness Award
The Oregon Afterschool Wellness Award highlights the connection between school and afterschool programs, and the promotion and implementation of wellness activities. Two Afterschool Programs will be awarded the Oregon Afterschool Wellness award and receive $1,000 to further wellness efforts, statewide recognition and a banner and plaque for their program.
The Oregon Wellness Awards are a partnership between the Oregon Department of Education, the Nutrition Council of Oregon, OregonASK, and the Oregon Dairy and Nutrition Council who provide financial sponsorship. To complete an Applications and learn more about the awards, go to the Oregon Wellness Awards webpage.
Summer Meal Sites
This Summer has been a tough one, but organizations like Partners for Hunger Free Oregon are doing their best to make sure having access to food is easily available. Take a look at Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon’s interactive map that shows where all the meals sites are this summer! If you’re a food site wondering how to increase more kids at your site check out Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon’s Site for fun and engaging ideas!
Curriculum & Content Resources
SPARK
SPARK After School targets all out-of-school physical activity programs with the philosophy: Include ALL youth, actively engage ALL youth, and instill the love of lifelong movement in ALL youth. Years of research and extensive field-testing throughout the country has shown SPARK After School to be effective for ages 5-14.
Playworks
Playworks believe recess and play can unlock our kids’ superpowers. Our approach connects recess to a positive school experience. Find out more about Playworks Pacific Northwest and how they can help support youth in your program.
Health & Wellness Toolkit
OregonASK and its partners have collaborated to create a Health and Wellness Toolkit. These tools support afterschool programs in providing health and wellness education, activities and opportunities to their students. Click here to check out the Health and Wellness Toolkit for yourself!
Taking Care of Afterschool
Many organizations are raising awareness on the importance of heart health and providing tips and tools on their websites. We encourage our hardworking partners to help us raise awareness on heart health and check out resources like:
- American Heart Association – Provides facts and tips on heart health.
- Food Hero – Healthy, easy, culturally diverse, and kid approved recipes
- NIH: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute – Facts, tips and social media materials
- Action for Healthy Kids – Tips and activities to do in your program
- Kids Heart Challenge – Fundraising and awareness building opportunity
Local and State Partners
Get connected with the Oregon Dairy Council, a nutrition education organization with funding proudly provided by Oregon dairy farm families.
Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon envisions “an Oregon where everyone is healthy and thriving, with access to affordable, nutritious and culturally appropriate food. To bring that vision into reality, (they) raise awareness about hunger, connect people to nutrition programs, and advocate for systemic changes that end hunger before it begins.”
Healthy Kids Learn Better Coalition (HKLB) is a statewide partnership of organizations and individuals working collectively to promote policies and programs that will reduce physical, social and emotional barriers to learning. Their goal is to build supportive funding, leadership and policies on the connections between health and education in order to keep kids safe, healthy, and ready to learn.
Common Threads is a nonprofit organization that provides children and families cooking and nutrition education encourage healthy habits that contribute to wellness. Check out the Small Bites training to learn more on how to virtually facilitate the Small Bites Program, which teaches students nutrition knowledge, vegetable consumption, and much more!
National Resources
Take a look through the Food Research and Action Center’s Afterschool Nutrition Programs or Summer Nutrition Program pages to get inspired and utilize toolkits already assembled.
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care includes information on state regulations for child care centers, plus extensive links on specific health and safety issues.
Check out A Nurse’s Guide to First Aid Tips from Regis to learn some of the typical applications of first aid, including CPR, care for common injuries, and how to build a first aid kit.
Have your kids been getting enough play time? This fantastic infographic highlights the importance of getting Your Play On, everyday, especially in the summer months.
Tip sheets from OregonASK
The following tip sheets are for Afterschool professionals and families trying to lead healthier lives. These fun printouts don’t require you to buy any expensive fitness club or go on a crazy diet, just simple and small steps towards healthier lifestyles.
Undeniably Dairy Virtual Field Trip
Take a virtual field trip at a dairy farm. Students went behind-the-scenes of a modern dairy farm to meet the team members and people responsible for keeping cows comfortable. If you missed it, don’t worry the farmers, veterinarians, nutritionists and cows are waiting for you to view the virtual field trip NOW on-demand! Students will explore dairy’s journey from the farm to the fridge, all the while learning about the technology and problem-solving techniques that make dairy farming possible. You won’t want to miss this “udderly” fantastic virtual field trip!
Self-care for Afterschool Providers
Working in the OST field can be stressful and leave us feeling drained at the end of the day. Even with the stress, we still love what we do and in order to continue serving as passionate professionals we need to take care of ourselves first. If you have been or are anticipating added stressors in your life, take a few minutes to watch one of these TED Talks on health or well being. We hope you are able to take a break from the busy and make time for yourself or take a look at some of these other self-care resources.
Resources from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Healthy Out-of-School-Time (Afterschool) Bingo – Use this Bingo sheet as a checklist to work your way to a healthier afterschool site!
Smart Foods Planner – Go here to see the multiple resources that can help provide ideas for healthy menu planning, recipes, and reimbursable snack products for your program.
Healthier Generation/Amazon Business – Shop for your out of school time programs snacks with Healthier Generation store on Amazon Business. This saves time, closes the healthy snack gap and makes it easy to meet the National Afterschool Association Health Eating Standards in your program.
Healthy Out-of-School-Time (Afterschool) Road Maps – This tool provides a set of best practices, tips, and recommended resources for nutrition and physical activity, with additional Social Emotional Learning (SEL) supports in the afterschool setting.