K12
Stronger Together Placing students’ well-being at the heart of education
BY ANN MARIE KRAUTHEIM, MA, RD, LD, CEO OF GENYOUTH & ROB BISCEGLIE, CEO OF ACTION FOR HEALTHY KIDS
I t’s been said that “Hope is the bridge between today and tomorrow,” and this fall we embraced the hope of what Action for Healthy Kids and GENYOUth can do together – ignite a future where every school puts student wellness at the heart of education. By joining forces, we are combining our strengths and expertise to ensure that every child, in every school, is well- nourished, active, and supported. At a moment when student well-be- ing is under mounting pressure, we are bridging our efforts – combining our na- tional reach, school-based relationships, and programmatic strengths — to help schools be vibrant hubs of nutrition, movement, mental health, and readi- ness-to-learn. Our strategic alliance is about a shared vision for the future of school wellness. THE CASE FOR UNIFIED ACTION FOR YOUTH HEALTH AND WELL-BEING Today’s schoolchildren are navigating a
WHY NOW? AND WHY TOGETHER? Schools are one of the most powerful platforms for improving youth well- being at scale — reaching nearly every child, every day of the school year. But schools alone cannot manage the full scope of what students need. The strategic alliance of Action for Healthy Kids and GENYOUth is purposeful, and in direct service to those schools. Together, we are creating the nation’s largest in-school health and wellness alliance, poised to reach over 100,000 schools and impact tens of millions of students every year with scalable, evidence-based solutions to help every child thrive through decades of experience, deep partnerships, and complementary strengths: • GENYOUth’s expertise in providing turnkey solutions proven to increase participation in school meals and physical activity, and elevating youth as champions for health and wellness
complex set of challenges — from food insecurity and sedentary behavior, to growing emotional strain and disruptions in school attendance. Roughly one in five children lives with food insecurity. Fewer than 1 in 4 children meet the recommendation for 60 minutes of physical activity daily. Mental health concerns among children and teens are surging. And chronic absenteeism has nearly doubled since the pandemic. These intersecting issues impact stu- dents’ academic performance, physical health, emotional resilience — and ul- timately, their future. No single organ- ization, system, sector, or intervention can tackle these challenges alone. Col- laboration must replace competition, and aligned systems must transcend iso- lated programs. When we build bridg- es across nonprofits, schools, districts, community organizations, and business- es, we unlock scale and durability for the well-being of children.
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QUARTERLY | Q1
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