Healthier K-12 Schools: Kaiser Permanente Southern California Awards $100,000 Grant to Increase Healthy Eating and Physical Activity

Kaiser Permanente Southern California continues its long-standing commitment to total health — creating healthier schools for students, teachers and staff by improving healthy eating and physical activity at schools throughout southern California.

Kaiser Permanente has announced 13 Thriving School Partnership Grants totaling $1.364 million over two years. These grants will provide opportunities for school districts and educational organizations to work with target schools to institute policy, environmental and program changes creating a culture of health in school communities.

Jurupa Unified School District was awarded a two-year grant for $100,000 from Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. Jurupa Unified School District teamed up with Kaiser Educational Theatre for a special performance of “The Amazing Food Detective: Game On” at Patriot High School on September 30. Five elementary schools were transported to the state-of-the-art Staci A. Della-Rocco Performing Arts Theatre at Patriot High School in Jurupa Valley for this special performance. This healthy eating program marks the announcement of the “Thriving Schools” grant funding for Jurupa and was presented at the three focus schools along with the parent and student education components.

“Kaiser Permanente is committed to improving the health of communities,” said Vita Willett, Executive Director, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan/Hospitals, Riverside area. “Schools are at the heart of our communities, we are excited that Jurupa Unified School District school wellness program is a priority, and this grant will bring additional resources to the staff, students and parents for healthy eating and active living.”

The Thriving School Partnership Grants will enable schools to implement worksite wellness policies and programs for school staff, strengthen the USDA required school wellness policies, develop strategies that encourage all students to be active during recess, increase activity breaks in the classroom and improve physical education classes and find creative ways to offer more fruits and vegetables.

Jurupa Unified has embraced the concept of wellness throughout the school district. The school district recently received the “Models of Excellence” Award for its elementary school wellness program. This partnership with Kaiser Permanente will provide additional opportunities to develop model programs at West Riverside, Mission Bell, and Pedley elementary schools. Efforts will focus an increased access to 100 Mile Club through built structures, such as running tracks, access to water and promoting water over sugary beverages through hydration stations and “Rethink Your Drink” campaigns, nutrition education, and increased physical fitness opportunities. Additionally, Jurupa Unified will be leveraging funds and partnerships to expand programs such as Safe Routes to School and Fire Up Your Feet that encourage walking to school. Jurupa Unified School District hopes to replicate these structures on additional campuses as we continue to develop the focus on cultivating assets within our schools’ communities to promote “Healthy Bodies and Healthy Minds.”

The Thriving School Partnership Grants are a part of Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools initiative to expand commitment to the total health of its members and the communities it serves through work with local schools and school districts.

Thriving Schools is designed to build healthy, sustainable communities by creating a culture of health in schools. It provides prevention-focused, evidence-based wellness tools — at no cost — to any school.

The multi-year campaign includes a website with free, ready-to-use tools and resources for schools. The website also provides a place to share ideas and success stories, as well as spark change that can strengthen the health and well-being of schools. Learn more about Thriving Schools at KP.org/ThrivingSchools.

About Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 3.7 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share.

About Kaiser Permanente Riverside
Kaiser Permanente opened its medical center in Riverside in 1989 and its hospital in Moreno Valley in 2008. Currently, we provide care for over 393,000 members throughout Riverside County. Over 400 physicians care for our members at 11 medical facilities and at Kaiser Permanente’s Riverside Medical Center and Moreno Valley Community Hospital. Riverside Medical Center is licensed for 226 beds. Moreno Valley Community Hospital has 101 licensed beds.

About Jurupa Unified School District
Jurupa Unified School District is a grade K-12 school district in Riverside County, California approximately 47 square miles in size. It has an enrollment of approximately 20,000 students. The district is comprised of sixteen elementary schools, three middle schools, three comprehensive high schools, an online academy, and continuation school. Approximately 80% of our students receive free / reduced lunch and 85% are Hispanic, 11% White, 2% African American, and 2% other.