Adolescent Obesity: Making the Orange County Schools Part of the Solution" (includes*

and Recommendation 1 Each Orange County school district establish a Child Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee to help coordinate functions and activities that address students' obesity problems. The District has included a Nutritional Advisory Committee in its scope of work for the Nutrition Network Grant to be implemented at the start of this school year. The YMCA was successful in receiving the Physical Education Program grant with the Santa Ana Unified School District. Implementation of an advisory committee to review the physical education programs is included in the scope of work developed by the YMCA.

and Recommendation 3 Orange County school districts appoint nutrition and physical education specialists who can train classroom teachers in the essentials of their specialties. (Finding 3) In both the Nutrition Network Grant and the Physical Education Grant, teacher training is a major part of the scope of work designed for implementation of these programs. The Nutrition Network is hiring a credentialed teacher to work in developing ways to implement nutrition education curriculum within our current curriculum and meeting current state standards. This position will also involve teacher training to better implement nutrition education programs. The Physical Education Program grant also makes provisions for physical education specialist to assist teachers in learning better practices with the physical education program. • Santa Ana Unified School District Grand Jury Response ٠. "Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Making the Orange County Schools Part of the Solution"

and Recommendation 5 Orange County school districts apply for state and federal grants available for improving physical education and nutrition programs. The District has applied and has received approval for funds from the California Nutrition Network funds and has applied for funds with the YMCA and received the Physical Education Program Grant. SAUSD continues to seek for additional funds to support current programs.

and Recommendation 6 Orange County school districts make available their playgrounds and outdoor facilities before and after school hours for their students under the supervision of interested faculty members and parents. (Finding 6) Most of the SAUSD elementary schools and all of the intermediate schools have after school programs on campus. District has established joint use agreements with the City of Santa Ana at several of its sites including Valley High School. Groups are also using district facilities on weekends.

and Recommendation 7 Orange County school districts ensure that either food items sold on their campuses be labeled with the caloric values and nutritional composition or that such information be posted in the food-serving areas. (Finding 7) There is a need for SAUSD to hire a registered dietician to analyze the food being served. The district administration will seek board approval for a registered dietician once funding for position is secured. SAUSD has recently purchased a software program which does menu analysis but additional staff time is needed to enter the data. SAUSD will then be able to post the nutritional information at the school site and on the District web page along with the monthly food menus.

and Recommendation 8 Orange County school districts incorporate instruction on the Body Mass Index into the nutrition and physical education programs and encourage students to share this information with their families (Finding 8) Some of physical education instructors already include this instruction within their programs. Efforts with the Nutrition Network Grant and the Physical Education Program Revised: 11/3/04 , . Santa Ana Unified School District Grand Jury Response ٠, "Childhood and Adolescent Obesity: Making the Orange County Schools Part of the Solution" Grant, it will be ensured that this type of information is included with both physical education instruction and within the health education programs.

and Recommendation 9 Santa Ana Unified School District expand its nutrition counseling and education program to all grades, and offer guidance on replicating this program to other school districts that request assistance. The District's early efforts with Latino Health Access working with some of the elementary schools have given much information on how to work collaboratively with community agencies to promote good health and better nutrition. SAUSD has taken the information acquired when developing the scope of work with the Nutrition Network Grant. One of the goals of the Nutrition Network is to promote sharing among the participants about successful efforts different districts have implemented. SAUSD plans to improve its efforts and share successes with others. Revised: 11/3/04