What Happened?
Watertown, Massachusetts, recently received a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education to help fund its Wellness the Watertown Way health and fitness education program. The federal grant will provide more than $400,000 for the new wellness program, with the possibility for more money in the future.
The Goal
Watertown applied for funding through the Carol White Physical Education Program which is expected to last for a 3-year project. Watertown received a similar award through the Department of Education in 2009, along with the $391,269 it has collected so far this year for all schools in the district to adopt health and fitness programs. Over the course of three years, Watertown could bring in $600,000 for the programs.
How To Spend It All
With the federal grant, Watertown officials plan to expand its current Fit, Fun, for Life initiative by creating an overarching Wellness the Watertown Way platform. The goal of the program is to promote physical activity, nutrition education and in-school programs to promote healthy activity and decision making. The federal funds will also contribute to professional development opportunities for staff, and the launch of after school nutrition and fitness programs for students.
Watertown is not looking to contain the funding to just Wellness the Watertown way. Rather, officials want to launch collaborative programs with other like-minded organizations in the community that focus on physical fitness and wellness such as the local Boys and Girls Club. Supplies and facilities will be shared between programs, allowing for optimal use of resources in the community.
Nutritional experts will also be called upon to train educators and mentors, while schools will provide wellness information to families. With more after school programs available for students of all ages, Watertown officials hope to combat unhealthy behaviors and obesity in youth.
Grant Breakdown
The Carol M White Physical Education Program through the U.S. Department of Education was created to support community-based organizations looking to adopt or expand physical education, nutrition and wellness programs for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The goal of these programs must be to increase student wellness and achievement of state standards in physical activity. Programs funded through the program include:
- Fitness education and assessment initiatives that help students understand and improve well-being
- Instruction on specific activities to boost physical, mental and social development
- Develop programs to build physical capabilities to support a healthy lifestyle
- Social interactions through physical activity participation
- Professional development opportunities for teachers and instructors of physical fitness and wellness programs
The efficacy of programs that have received funding are determined through different measures to gauge progress made toward achievement specific results. Each state has physical fitness standards students are expected to meet, while the U.S. Department of Education has also created certain measures to ensure the funding is utilized to serve as many people in the community, and effectively as possible.
Collecting Grants
Gov1 has monitored the use of federal funding at the local level to support efforts such as recreational trail developments and museum upgrades.