Rather than starting with a policy that mandated traditional foods in school meals, school gardens and culturally-appropriate nutrition education, the partners in the Tohono O’odham Food and Fitness Initiative initially began by creating these practices.
This approach has succeeded in: 1) demonstrating the viability and effectiveness of such programming; 2) building broad-based support for such approaches to creating healthy school food and fitness environments; and 3) provided essential information about precisely how current policies (public, corporate and school) currently serve as barriers to these approached and/or can support them. Without the experience of setting goals, developing strategies, implementation, success and failure, evaluation and assessment, etc., it is impossible to devise effective policies.
This approach has succeeded in: 1) demonstrating the viability and effectiveness of such programming; 2) building broad-based support for such approaches to creating healthy school food and fitness environments; and 3) provided essential information about precisely how current policies (public, corporate and school) currently serve as barriers to these approached and/or can support them. Without the experience of setting goals, developing strategies, implementation, success and failure, evaluation and assessment, etc., it is impossible to devise effective policies.
Thus, we see policy development as a tool for solidifying and systematizing change, rather than as a driver of change. A similar perspective was shared at the Partnership for a Healthier America Summit, where – in discussing school health and wellness – a staff member from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation concluded that “wellness policies alone have not been an effective lever for change.” Indeed, such policies must reflect, support, solidify and systematize effective strategies. Now, at the start of the third year of Food & Fitness implementation, there will be a much increased focus on policy, reflecting lessons learned over the previous two years.