Creating Healthy Schools & Communities (CHSC) 2021-2026

Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC), funded by the NYS Department of Health, is a five-year grant effort utilizing a coordinated, multi-sector approach to increase demand for and access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for daily physical activity to reduce the risk of chronic disease in high-need communities and school districts.

“Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are the major risk factors contributing to Sullivan County’s poor health outcomes,” said Colleen Monaghan, CCESC Executive Director.

“This multi-faceted project is helping communities organize in a way that makes it easier for people to access and make healthier choices.”

CCESC will work directly with the Sullivan County Department of Public Health Services, Sullivan County Childcare Council, schools, daycare facilities and daycare homes, food retailers, municipalities and local employers to improve access to nutritious foods as well as increase opportunities for daily physical activity.

Creating Healthy Schools

The NYS Department of Health awarded Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County to reduce the risk of obesity and chronic disease by increasing demand for and access to healthy food and physical activity. The grant period is June 1, 2021 – May 31, 2026.

Our goal is to create meaningful sustainable change through the implementation of policy, systems, and environmental improvements.

Cornell Cooperative Extension Sullivan County is proud to lead the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) initiative, which is a coordinated, multi-sector plan designed to increase demand for and access to healthy, affordable foods and opportunities for daily physical activity in high-need school districts and their associated communities. The school districts currently involved in this effort are Fallsburg, Liberty, Tri Valley, Monticello, Sullivan West, Livingston Manor, Roscoe, and SC BOCES.

Physical Activity and Nutrition in Schools

Improve policies, practices, and environments for physical activity and nutrition in schools. Implementing components of Local School Wellness Policies for Comprehensive School Physical Activity Programs and a Healthy Nutrition Environment as found in the CDC Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. For more information on these standards, you can check out the CHSC School Strategies or for more information on CDC Healthy School Standards, click here!

Physical Activity & Nutrition Standards in Early Care and Education (ECE)

Improve policies, practices, and environments for physical activity and nutrition in early care and education (ECE) settings [e.g. non-CACFP Child Care Centers, Day Care Homes (either CACFP or non-CACFP), and non-CACFP school-based three-year old pre-kindergarten and pre-kindergarten programs]. Grantees may also work to improve policies, practices, and environments for physical activity in some CACFP centers as identified by the DOH.

Want to learn more about Creating Healthy Schools? Contact SueAnn Boyd, our Healthy Schools Program Coordinator!

Creating Healthy Communities

Provides communities with tools and sustainability that improve health and accessibility for physical activity, healthier foods and safe alternative forms of transportation. Our goals are no different than those of Creating Healthy Schools. Yet in addition to working with Sullivan County Government our implementation differs within our catchment area which only include communities within: Bethel, Fallsburg, Liberty, Mamakating, Monticello and Thompson.

On a worksite level, we will assist in adopting and implementing policies related to Food Service Guidelines and Physical Activity in the workplace while implementing community planning and active transportation (Connecting Activity-Friendly Routes to Everyday Destinations) interventions in municipalities to increase safe and accessible physical activity. This is accomplished through collaboration with partners to connect paths, bicycle routes, and public transit with homes, early care and education sites, schools, worksites, parks, or recreation centers by implementing master plans and land use interventions related to Complete Streets policies or plans. This is achieved by establishing new or improved pedestrian, bicycle, or transit transportation systems (i.e., Activity-Friendly Routes, Safe Routes to School, Safe Routes to Parks, Vision Zero Network, etc.) that are combined with new or improved land use or environmental design (i.e., Connecting Everyday Destinations.)

Check out some more resources for this area:

• Food Service Guidelines Implementation Toolkit | Nutrition | CDC
• Sullivan County Community Initiatives
• Applicant Toolkit for Competitive Funding Programs at USDOT
• Building a Better America Guidebook
• Complete Streets Checklist
• Module 1: Street Design and Connectivity | Physical Activity | CDC
• The Active Communities Tool Assessment Modules (cdc.gov)

Want to learn more about Creating Healthy Communities? Contact Wanda Cruz, our Healthy Communities Program Coordinator!

Last updated October 23, 2023