Project Healthy Schools

Project Healthy Schools, in collaboration with community partners, improves the present and future health of youth through school-based education, environmental initiatives and engagement of the school community to support healthy choices. Health behaviors are influenced and improved in five key areas: -Eat more fruits and vegetables -Choose less sugary food and beverages -Eat less fast and fatty food -Be active every day -Spend less time in front of a screen Focusing on sixth grade, and incorporating activities that engage the entire school, Project Healthy Schools aims to: -Teach youth healthy habits -Develop healthy school environments -Create an infrastructure that supports program sustainability and replication Project Healthy Schools is funded by the University of Michigan Health System and philanthropic contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. Started in Ann Arbor in 2004, PHS has greatly expanded across the state of Michigan into 61 public, private, and charter schools.

PHS is a school-based volunteer program which focuses on physical activity and nutrition education. Volunteers (aka Health Ambassadors) do not need teaching experience—just a passion to encourage 6th grade students to make healthier choices! Health Ambassadors must attend a two hour training where they become familiar with the 10 lessons and have the opportunity to network with other volunteers. Each Health Ambassador is assigned to a sixth grade classroom that they visit weekly over one semester.