For the first time, the Health Education Council hosted the Sacramento School Wellness Summit in person! The previous four years, the summit was held virtually and focused on topics related to and complicated by the COVID-19 pandemic and mental wellness. Nearly 100 professionals who work with students and families, including teachers, counselors, nutrition services staff, and non-profits shared space for activities designed to support and empower students and families. “Hosting the summit in person was a wonderful way to engage with our school partners in a more intimate way and have more time for networking and connection- building”.
Fatima Malik, Executive Director of the Del Paso Heights Growers Alliance, kicked off the morning with an engaging and energizing presentation on her journey and relationship with wellness and building, as well as her plans and goals to continue building inclusive spaces. She even snuck in some exercise for the participants, which brought lots of good energy and encouragement to the space! Khuram Arif, M.D., MBA, President of Western Health Advantage, discussed how they are proactively working to serve communities (including people who are not WHA members) to address health disparities. “The connection between a medical insurance provider and communities, particularly in the wellness space, is complex and Western Health Advantage made sure to prioritize serving our members and the community at large, especially the youth” added Arif.
The Nutrition Champions Panel welcomed three of our trusted partners, Lisa Vorce (Twin Rivers Unified), Diana Flores (Sacramento City Unified), and Erica Lee (Robla School District) for a candid discussion about the roles that nutrition services play in school wellness. Having worked with them extensively, we invited them to help participants better understand the nuanced landscape of school wellness, including nutrition, physical activity, and community/ family outreach. Kristy Weber, Program Manager with Alliance for Healthier Generation closed out the morning by sharing her perspective as both a parent/ advocate and non-profit leader. She discussed the Whole School, Whole Community (WSWC) concept with the participants, which calls for authentic, open community engagement to address student needs. She drew the connection between the community dialogue leading to more opportunities for families, students, and staff to advocate for what students need to feel supported and empowered at school.
Participants walked away from the summit with a better understanding of all that wellness encompasses and how they can work towards more flexibility and funding. One attendee stated, “School wellness consists of so many things that I didn’t realize, but I see every day how they all go hand in hand to create healthier communities for our students and their families”, while another said “I feel empowered to help influence policy and advocate for more funding to address the health challenges that our students are facing.”
Thank you to Cal Fresh Healthy Living, Western Health Advantage, and Sacramento County Department of Public Health for sponsoring the 5th Annual Sacramento School Wellness Summit!
