49 school districts have been recognized with this award over the last two years
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, in collaboration with the Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and as members of the Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools, have awarded six gold, nine silver and two bronze level awards to 17 2019-2021 Florida Healthy School District recipients.
Individual school districts are recognized for this two-year award when they meet self-assessment tool requirements based on sustainable infrastructure, policy, programs and practices, such as high quality healthy school teams, suicide prevention and trauma-informed care faculty trainings, school gardens and breakfast enhancement strategies, and exemplary Florida KidCare enrollment mechanisms identified from national and state guidelines, best practices and Florida statutes.
Forty-nine school districts, representing 73% of all school districts in the state, currently have the distinction of being recognized as an awardee of this initiative. These school districts have committed to meeting the health needs of students and staff by maximizing district resources, supporting academic achievement and removing barriers to learning.
Congratulations are extended to the 17 health-promoting 2019–2021 Florida Healthy School Districts listed below:
- Gold: Alachua, Collier, Hillsborough, Okeechobee, Orange and Pinellas
- Silver: Dixie, Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Lab District, Gadsden, Hamilton, Lee, Marion, Osceola, Putnam and St. Johns
- Bronze: Columbia, Okaloosa
“Aligning district policies, practices and procedures with the highest standards of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model promises a positive impact on the social, emotional and physical well-being of students and staff,” said Bill Montford, Florida Senator and CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. “The self-assessment tool is a road map guiding districts toward best practices. It provides the opportunity for district teams to identify areas they can improve, eliminate duplication of efforts and maximize resources to best serve their students and staff.”
“We extend our congratulations to these school districts for their dedicated efforts toward improving the health and well-being of their students and staff,” stated Jeff Dykes, Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation. “By promoting a positive environment that supports all aspects of a child’s overall health, Florida’s children are better prepared to learn and achieve academic success in the classroom.”
“These districts embody the coordination, determination and cognizance it takes to prioritize physical, emotional and social health as a part of overall education,” said Melodie Griffin, Communications Chair, Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools. “This recognition program reminds districts that their efforts are valued and used as exemplary models for how health-conscious enhancements can be implemented in schools.”
School districts are encouraged to engage in the self-assessment process every other year but are welcome to re-apply after one year if policy, practice and/or procedural improvements have been instituted which could result in achieving a higher level of recognition. The application period extends from mid-January through April 15.
The 32 Florida Healthy School District award winners from 2018-2020, which have a year remaining of eligibility, include:
- Gold: Broward, Duval, Leon, Manatee, Nassau, Pasco, Sarasota
- Silver: Baker, Bay, Brevard, Citrus, Clay, Escambia, Flagler, Indian River, Madison, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Polk, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sumter, Volusia
- Bronze: Bradford, Franklin, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Seminole, Wakulla, Washington
For more information about the Florida Healthy School Districts self-assessment process, visit safehealthyschoolsfl.org.
About the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation
The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation is a nonprofit, public-private partnership created by the Florida Legislature to expand access to affordable, child-centered health insurance. The Corporation administers Florida Healthy Kids (healthykids.org), a comprehensive health and dental insurance program for Florida children from age 5 through the end of age 18. The Corporation also provides marketing, customer services and administrative services for Florida KidCare.
