Act 1220 of 2003 created the role of the Act 1220 Coordinator/State School Health and Wellness Coordinator. The Act 1220 Coordinator (State School Health and Wellness Coordinator) works with the 1,102 schools in the 262 districts to ensure the requirements of Act 1220 of 2003 and related state and federal school health mandates are met. The main goal is to lower obesity rates by supporting best practices in food service, nutrition, physical, and health education.
The State School Health and Wellness Coordinator work with school and district wellness committees to help ensure their annual School Health Index (SHI) and School Health and Wellness Improvement Plan are accurately completed and submitted by the October 1st deadline. Also, the Coordinator helps schools in reviewing and updating their School Wellness Policy, provides technical assistance, trainings related to school wellness, and regular updates on school wellness data and reporting.
While the school environment is the primary focus of the State School Health and Wellness Coordinator, the role also works to increase partnerships between communities and their schools. The State School Health and Wellness Coordinator discusses the impacts of student health on academics, long-term health, and community strength. Additionally, communities are encouraged to reach out to local schools to engage in conversations about local school wellness programs and initiatives and how they can support school wellness.
In efforts to increase student driven initiatives in school health and wellness programs, the State School Health and Wellness Coordinator at the Arkansas Department of Health started the Student Wellness Advocacy Group (SWAG) Initiative beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. This program is a partnership between the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP) and the Office of School Health Servicestoprovide health education and teach students how to have conversations about their health and how to improve it. Advisors work with SWAG participants to discuss content, projects, and how to use funding.
Arkansas Department of Health, State School Health & Wellness Coordinator: Shanetta Agnew, (501) 280-4889.
Division of Education and Secondary Education, State School Health and Wellness Coordinator: Shy Whitley, (501) 683-3604
Wellness Committee Resources
- American School Health Association(ASHA)
- Arkansas Aware
- Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention: Early Childhood and Schools Team
- Be Well Arkansas
- Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessment Data
- BMI Calculator for Child & Teen
- Body Mass Index Dashboard
- BMI Toolkit
- Body Mass Index: A Training Manual
- CDC: Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH)
- CDC Healthy Schools
- CDC: Virtual Healthy Schools
- Child Health Advisory Committee
- Local School Wellness Policy
- Local School Wellness Policy Implementation Under the HHFK Act of 2010:Summary of Final Rule
- Maximum Portion Size List
- Rules Governing Nutrition & Physical Activity Standards & BMI for Age Assessment Protocols in Arkansas Public Schools
- Wellness Committee Requirements Checklist
- Wellness is Worth It! (Wellness Committee Guide)
- School Health Index
- Smart Snack Calculator
- Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE)
- Student Health Report
- Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®
- USDA Local School Wellness Policy
Assessment Tools for Wellness Committees
- Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP)
- Health Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (HECAT)
- Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT)
- School Health Profiles
- WellSAT
- Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
Family Resources
- Amaze
- Amaze Jr.
- Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention: Growing Healthy Kids
- CDC: About Child & Teen BMI
- Healthy Family Refrigerator Curriculum
School Nutrition Resources
Additional Data Sources
- Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES)
- America’s Health Rankings
- Recess Pilot Impact Report
- School Health Policies and Practices Study (SHPPS)
- School Nurse Survey Report
- State of Childhood Obesity
Associated Legislation
- Act 101 of 2023
- Act 128 of 2023
- Act 286 of 2023
- Act 290 of 2023
- Act 737 of 2023
- Act 1220 of 2003
- Act 201 of 2007
- Act 317 of 2007
- Act 719 of 2007
- Act 1079 of 2015
- Act 1062 of 2017
- Act 641 of 2019
- Act 536 of 2021
- Act 624 of 2021
- Act 767 of 2021
- Act 775 of 2021
- Act 829 of 2021
- Act 886 of 2021
- Act 1002 of 2021
- Act 1070 of 2021
- Act 1074 of 2021
