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School Food FOCUS

A Good Idea

Description

School Food FOCUS is a national collaborative that works with many of the nation's largest school districts to bring healthful, regionally sourced, and sustainably produced food to schools. The initiative runs the School Food Learning Lab, which engages school food service professionals and their district partners to study and work on procurement of foods that provide a direct benefit to children, farmers, regional economies, and the environment. The FOCUS Policy program works directly with the USDA to monitor and implement policies that benefit the organizations' goals. Education of stakeholders and the public is implemented through the FOCUS Knowledge program, which conducts webinars, hosts virtual and in-person gatherings, issues a regular newsletter, and produces a series of education materials.

Goal / Mission

School Food FOCUS is a national collaborative that leverages the knowledge and procurement power of large school districts to make school meals nationwide more healthful, regionally sourced, and sustainably produced.

Impact

School Food FOCUS helps partners procure healthy and sustainable school foods, works towards policies that advance healthy school foods, and facilitates knowledge sharing around school food issues.

Results / Accomplishments

School Food FOCUS works with over 30 school districts nationwide, serving a total of over 4 million students. Policy publications include policy recommendations for USDA and Department of Defense funding. Educational resources are available on the organizations website, as well as tools for schools and other stakeholders to make efforts towards providing healthier foods for their community's children.

About this Promising Practice

Primary Contact
Paula Lee Poy
School Food FOCUS
Public Health Solutions
40 Worth Street, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10013
(646) 619-6449
pleepoy@schoolfoodfocus.org
http://www.schoolfoodfocus.org/who-we-are/contact/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Children's Health
Education / School Environment
Date of implementation
2008
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Children
Michigan Health Improvement Alliance