Action for HEalthy Kids
About Action for Healthy Kids
AFHK and the NFL®
For More Information
National Dairy Council® (NDC), the nutrition research and education arm of the dairy checkoff, is a founding member of Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK), a broad coalition working to introduce kids to the benefits and joys of exercise and nutritious foods including dairy. AFHK has three major goals:
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Improving children’s eating habits by increasing access to nutritious foods and beverages throughout the school campus and by integrating nutrition education in the curriculum.
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Increasing children’s physical activity by adding or maintaining physical education courses, recess and by promoting after-school and co-curricular programs.
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Educating administrators, teachers, children, and parents about how nutrition and physical activity impact academic achievement.
AFHK has an extensive national volunteer network — with 52 dedicated state and metropolitan teams — comprised of thousands of educators, administrators, health professionals, community leaders, parents, and students. Local dairy council representatives are active on each of the state teams.
These AFHK teams play a role in developing federally mandated school wellness policies. All of these teams are armed with vital producer-funded information to demonstrate the key role dairy can play in wellness policies.
AFHK has secured 50 prestigious national partners, including:
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Health professional organizations, such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Dietetic Association.
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Government agencies, such as those in the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Departments of Education, Health and Human Services.
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Educator groups, such as the American Association of School Administrators, the National School Board Association and the Association of Elementary School Principals.
In January 2004, the National Football League® (NFL) began a four-year partnership with AFHK and committed an unrestricted $2 million to fund on-going AFHK activities.
In 2005, AFHK and the NFL launched an After School Program, “ReCharge!,” that reinforces valuable life skills of healthy eating, physical activity, teamwork, and goal setting through up-out-of-your-seat, hands-on activities. The program is geared for boys and girls in grades K-6. “ReCharge!” was implemented locally by dairy council staffs working with local school districts.
For information on state and metropolitan teams, or to learn how you can become involved in AFHK, visit www.actionforhealthykids.com.