Lansing Schools Secure $25,000 Grant Targeting Childhood Health

Lansing School District and two other area school districts are using $25,000 in state grants to create programs targeting children's health in their schools.

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) gave the Lansing, Jackson and Taylor school districts each $25,000 to establish nutrition and physical activity policies aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

“We want to give these school districts the necessary resources needed to develop a policy for healthy eating and exercise,” says state Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom. 

“Obesity increases the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and cancer. We want to reduce these risks and teach our children to eat healthy and engage in regular physical activity.”

The districts will also have staff representatives on the Childhood Obesity Prevention Workgroup, which will work on developing a statewide policy agenda to fight childhood obesity.

Source: Deb Whipple, Office of Governor Jennifer Granholm

Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.