Healthy Okaloosa Schools

Our goal is to empower our partners to protect and promote health by providing them with personalized services that supplement and build upon their school’s established knowledge and strengths. We work with our partners to implement sustainable policy and environmental strategies that support healthy behaviors. We help our partners assess their school environment, identify areas for improvement, and implement an action plan to meet their unique goals.

Your school must submit a partnership agreement form(PDF 99KB) each school year to participate in Healthy Okaloosa Schools. The completed partnership agreement form can be emailed to Okaloosa-schoolhealth@flhealth.gov or faxed to (850) 833-9258. Alternatively, the partnership agreement form may be completed online. 

Healthy Okaloosa Schools partners have the opportunity to become certified each school year. To become a certified Healthy Okaloosa School, HOS partners must:

1. Implement one actionable school-based goal every two years to promote health and wellness behaviors.
2. Implement one parent engagement activity annually to provide education on health and wellness.
3. Implement one whole school activity annually to support health and wellness behaviors.
4. Complete the Healthy School Team Monitoring Tool annually.
5. Provide documentation of health promotion activities.

2020-2021
Antioch Elementary School, Baker School, Bob Sikes Elementary School, Crestview High School, Davidson Middle School, Destin Elementary School, Destin Middle School, Edwins Elementary School, Elliott Point Elementary School, Kenwood Elementary School, Longwood Elementary School, Mary Esther Elementary School, Plew Elementary School, Shoal River Middle School, Silver Sands School
 
2019-20
No certifications issued for this cycle due to COVID-19
 
2018-2019
Antioch Elementary School, Bob Sikes Elementary School, Bruner Middle School, Choctawhatchee High School, Crestview High School, Davidson Middle School, Destin Elementary School, Destin Middle School, Edwins Elementary School, Elliott Point Elementary School, Florosa Elementary School, Fort Walton Beach High School, Kenwood Elementary School, Lewis School, Longwood Elementary School, Mary Esther Elementary School, Meigs Middle School, Niceville High School, Plew Elementary School, Pryor Middle School, Riverside Elementary School, Ruckel Middle School, Shalimar Elementary School, Shoal River Middle School, Walker Elementary School, Wright Elementary School
 
2017-2018
Bruner Middle School, Choctawhatchee High School, Crestview High School, Davidson Middle School, Destin Elementary School, Edwins Elementary School, Elliott Point Elementary School, Florosa Elementary School, Fort Walton Beach High School, Kenwood Elementary School, Lewis School, Longwood Elementary School, Niceville High School, Plew Elementary School, Pryor Middle School, Riverside Elementary School, Ruckel Middle School, Shalimar Elementary School, Shoal River Middle School, Walker Elementary School
 
2016-2017
Bruner Middle School, Crestview High School, Destin Elementary School, Edwins Elementary School, Elliott Point Elementary School, Florosa Elementary School, Kenwood Elementary School, Lewis School, Longwood Elementary School, Mary Esther Elementary School, Meigs Middle School, Niceville High School, Plew Elementary School, Riverside Elementary School, Ruckel Middle School, Shalimar Elementary School, Shoal River Middle School, Walker Elementary School

2015-2016
Destin Elementary School, Eglin Elementary School, Kenwood Elementary School, Lewis School, Longwood Elementary School, Mary Esther Elementary School, Niceville High School, Riverside Elementary School, Walker Elementary School

1. 5210 Healthy Military & 5210 Healthy Children
   5210 is a community-wide plan to improve the health of families and children. The 5210 message represents four healthy behaviors children should achieve each day.
2. Healthy Okaloosa 5210 Initiative The Healthy Okaloosa 5210 Initiative focuses on spreading a common message to improve the health of families and children throughout communities, where families live, learn, work, and play.
3. Let’s Go!  Let’s Go! is an initiative working with communities to create environments that support healthy choices. Bringing evidence-based strategies for healthy living into schools, early care and education programs, out-of-school programs, health care practices, and workplaces, Let’s Go! reaches children and adults where they live, learn, work, and play.

1. Action for Healthy Kids Action for Healthy Kids brings parents and educators together and equips them with the tools and resources they need to support happier, healthier kids.
2. Choose MyPlate MyPlate offers ideas and tips to help you create a healthier eating style that meets your individual needs and improves your health.
3. Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) provides WIC participants with coupons that can be used to purchase locally grown Florida fruits and vegetables. This produce can be purchased at authorized farmers’ markets from April 1 to October 8
4. Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) Fresh Access Bucks (FAB) increases the purchasing power of SNAP recipients to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.
5. Fresh from Florida Fresh from Florida promotes farming in Florida. Fresh from Florida provides information on in season food, recipes, gardening, and more.
6. GoNoodle GoNoodle fuels student engagement, behavior, and achievement with core-aligned physical activity breaks.
7. Healthy Campfire Cooking Program The Healthy Campfire Cooking Program provides healthier campfire cooking recipes.
8. Healthy Children HealthyChildren.org provides information to parents on physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
9. Healthy Emergency Food The Healthy Emergency Food project provides resources and information to help you prepare healthy emergency food supply kits this hurricane season.
10. KidsHealth KidsHealth provides dependable information on children's health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
11. Living Healthy in Florida Living Healthy in Florida is a collaborative effort to communicate consistent information to Florida’s children, families, and seniors about healthy eating, good nutrition, and active living.
12. MouthHealthy MouthHealthy helps others understand oral health by providing reliable resources, activity sheets, and lesson plans.
13. National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education  A collection of national standards promoting healthy weight describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs.
14. Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is committed to transforming how people think about and enjoy fruits and vegetables. PBH offers expert advice, nutrition and storage information, shopping tips, healthy menus and recipes, kid-friendly recipes and healthy tips, as well as ways to save money using fruits and veggies.
15. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) SNAP offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, lower income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities.
16. Team Nutrition Team Nutrition supports the child nutrition programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity.
17. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) USDA provides children and lower income people access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education.
18. Women, Infants and Children (WIC) WIC provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for lower income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

1. Action for Healthy Kids Action for Healthy Kids brings parents and educators together and equips them with the tools and resources they need to support happier, healthier kids.
2. CDC Water and Healthier Drinks A resource about the benefits of drinking water and limiting sugary drinks.
3. ChangeLab Solution ChangeLab Solutions works with neighborhoods, cities, and states to create thriving communities. This resource contains model goals and actions to help overcome barriers around sugary drinks.
4. FACTS A comprehensive review of the marketing techniques and nutritional quality of food and beverages targeted to children, teens, and parents.
5. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health A resource about the benefits of drinking water and limiting sugary drinks.
6. Healthy Children HealthyChildren.org provides information to parents on physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
7. Healthy Food America Healthy Food America drives change so all people can obtain nutritious food easily and limit their exposure to unhealthy products. The Sugar Advocacy Toolkit is a resource designed to keep your sugar consumption at a healthy level.
8. KidsHealth KidsHealth provides dependable information on children's health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
9. MouthHealthy MouthHealthy helps others understand oral health by providing reliable resources, activity sheets, and lesson plans.
10. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) EPA protects human health and the environment. This resource provides activities for youth on understanding of drinking water terms and where water comes from.

1. Action for Healthy Kids Action for Healthy Kids brings parents and educators together and equips them with the tools and resources they need to support happier, healthier kids.
2. Active Schools Active Schools integrates evidence-based physical activity programs into PK-12 education.
3. CDC Physical Activities This website contains information on physical activity needs and benefits, data and statistics, community strategies, walking, and worksite physical activity.
4. GoNoodle GoNoodle fuels student engagement, behavior, and achievement with core-aligned physical activity breaks.
5. Green Strides Green Strides drives the transformation of all schools into sustainable and healthy learning environments. This website provides resources, webinars, case studies, promising practices and collaboration.
6. Healthy Children HealthyChildren.org provides information to parents on physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
7. Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Healthy Kids, Healthy Future offers childhood obesity prevention resources and tools to assist childcare and preschool providers.
8. KidsHealth KidsHealth provides dependable information on children's health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
9. Move Your Way The Move Your Way tools, videos, and fact sheets on this page have tips that make it easier to get a little more active.
10. National Center for Safe Routes to School National Center for Safe Routes to School facilitates communities in becoming places for safe walking, biking and rolling for everyone, starting with children and the trip to school. This website provides information on how to host Walk to School and Bike to School Day at your school.
11. National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education A collection of national standards promoting healthy weight describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs.
12. PE Central Website for health and physical education teachers, parents, and children to provide the latest information about physical education programs for children and youth. This site offers free posters on a variety of topics (smoking, nutrition, sports, etc.), booklets, and activities.
13. SHAPE America SHAPE America sets national priorities and develops policies related to active play, physical activity, high quality outdoor play spaces and learning environments, and proper nutrition.
14. Small Steps to Living Healthy Small Steps to Living Healthy is an email-based program that allows Floridians to sign up for weekly tips and tricks delivered directly to their inbox.

1. Action for Healthy Kids Action for Healthy Kids brings parents and educators together and equips them with the tools and resources they need to support happier, healthier kids.
2. Be Internet Awesome Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.
3. Boston Children’s Hospital Digital Wellness Lab The Boston Children’s Hospital Digital Wellness Lab promotes wellness in the digital age.
4. Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC)CCFC supports parents’ efforts to raise healthy families by limiting commercial access to children and ending the exploitive practice of child targeted marketing.
5. Common Sense Media Common Sense Media evaluates popular applications and edtech products so parents and educators can make informed choices about the media and tech they use with kids and prepares students to make smart choices online and in life, supports teachers with training and recognition, and engages the whole community through family outreach.
6. Healthy Children HealthyChildren.org provides information to parents on physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
7. Healthy Kids, Healthy Future Healthy Kids, Healthy Future offers childhood obesity prevention resources and tools to assist childcare and preschool providers.
8. KidsHealth KidsHealth provides dependable information on children's health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
9. National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education  A collection of national standards promoting healthy weight describing evidence-based best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and screen time for early care and education programs.
10. Screen-free Week In the first week of May, children, families, and communities around the world will rediscover the joys of life beyond the screen. Unplug from digital entertainment and spend your free time playing, reading, daydreaming, creating, exploring, and connecting with family and friends.

1. Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids The Area Health Education Center (AHEC) provides free tobacco cessation services in your area. The overall goal of the AHEC Tobacco Training & Cessation Program known as the IQUIT Program, is to strengthen the capacity of Florida’s healthcare system to deliver effective evidence-based tobacco use treatment, and prevention services throughout the state. 
2. FL Tobacco Prevention Training Provides Florida educators and school nurses with tobacco and vaping prevention lessons.
3. Great America SmokeOut The American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout event is your chance to triumph over addiction. Every November, we set aside the third Thursday to encourage smokers to go the distance, and to finally give up smoking.
4. Healthy Children HealthyChildren.org provides information to parents on physical, mental, and social health and well-being for all infants, children, adolescents, and young adults.
5. KidsHealth KidsHealth provides dependable information on children's health, behavior, and development from before birth through the teen years.
6. Live Vape Free Live Vape Free provides teens (ages 13-17) with text support, interactive content and one-on-one coach support to help them quit e-cigarettes.
7. Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) is a grassroots organization founded by three concerned moms as a response to the current youth vaping epidemic, the most serious adolescent public-health crisis our country has faced in decades.
8. Smokefree Teen  Smokefree Teen helps teens stop using tobacco by providing information and free tools that meet teens where they are—on their mobile phones.
9. Students Working Against Tobacco SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization working to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. SWAT is a united movement of empowered youth working towards a tobacco-free future.
10. Take Down Tobacco A comprehensive youth advocacy training program geared towards middle and high school students. This program equips youth with the skills to create change in their communities and to help create the first tobacco- and nicotine-free generation.
11. THE FACTS NOW THE FACTS NOW is a campaign to expose Big Tobacco’s lies and give the facts about tobacco. Their mission is to protect both non-smokers and smokers from these masters of deception.
12. Truth Truth is dedicated to achieving a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco.
13. Truth Initiative Truth Initiative is dedicated to achieving a culture where all youth and young adults reject tobacco. They educate about smoking, vaping, nicotine and the tobacco industry, engage individuals and groups to make change in their communities, innovate ways to end nicotine addiction and join forces with collaborators committed to a future where tobacco and nicotine addiction are a thing of the past.
14. Tobacco Free Florida Find reasons to quit and learn how to quit using tobacco, including free resources.