St Ritas and YMCAs PICH to hold Activated School Challenge Award Presentation

(Lima, January 11, 2016) St. Rita’s Health Partners and YMCA’s PICH Grant launched the Activated School Challenge at the beginning of the 2016-2017 school year. The goal of the challenge is to bring health and wellness initiatives, policies, programs and interventions to local schools. These programs were created with technical assistance and financial support through both parties.

After evaluating the needs of five schools and developing action plans over the last few months, we will recognize each school on Friday, Jan. 13, at 11:20 a.m. that are stepping up to improve their health and wellness initiatives. The Activated School Challenge Award Presentation will take place at St. Rita’s Auxiliary Conference Center located at 718 W. Market St., Lima, Ohio 45801.

“For the last few months, we have been working closely with five schools to determine an individual improvement plan, and the resources that each school needs to work toward a healthier environment,” said Josh Unterbrink, Co-Director of Partnerships to Improve Community Health (PICH). “We and St. Rita’s look forward to recognizing these schools on Friday, and really see their programs come to life.”

The five schools participating in this campaign are Bluffton Local Schools, Elida Schools, Lima City Schools, Shawnee Local Schools and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Schools. Examples of improvement plans established for these schools include: physical activity and recess improvement plans, nutrition improvement plans and mental health improvement plans.

“Part of our mission is building healthier communities, and it’s important that we start within our local schools,” said Amy Marcum, VP Mission and Values Integration at St. Rita’s. “The programs established are worth recognizing as many schools unfortunately have a lack of funding, and to see these schools wanting to improve the health of their students is admirable.”

Throughout the rest of the school year, we look forward to continue working with these schools and building upon these established plans.

For more information, please contact:
Courtney O’Banion
Communications Coordinator
St. Rita’s Health Partners
O: 419-226-9802
C: 567- 242-4078
CLOBanion@mercy.com