Healthy Kids Press Contact
Ashley Carr, Chief Marketing Officer,
(850) 701-6160, [email protected].

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Healthy Kids Corporation, in collaboration with the Florida Action for Healthy Kids and Florida Association of District School Superintendents, and as members of the new Florida Partnership for Healthy Schools, have awarded the 2018-2020 Florida Healthy School District Awards to 32 recipients. This two-year award recognizes individual school districts that have met self-assessment tool requirements based on sustainable infrastructure, policy, programs and practices, such as crisis intervention, suicide prevention and trauma-informed care faculty trainings, identified from national and state guidelines, best practices and Florida statutes.

These school districts have committed to meeting the health needs of students and staff by maximizing district resources and removing barriers to learning. In total, 50 of 67 county school districts, representing 75% of all school districts in the state, now have the distinction of being recognized as an awardee of this program over the last two years.

Congratulations are extended to the 2018–2020 Florida Healthy School Districts listed below:

• Gold: Broward, Duval, Leon, Manatee, Nassau, Pasco, Sarasota
• Silver: Baker, Bay, Brevard, Citrus, Clay, Escambia, Flagler, Indian River, Madison, Martin, Monroe, Palm Beach, Polk, St. Lucie, Santa Rosa, Sumter, Volusia
• Bronze: Bradford, Franklin, Hernando, Lake, Levy, Seminole, Wakulla, Washington

“Aligning district policies, practices and procedures with the highest standards of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model promises a positive impact on the social, emotional and physical well-being of students and staff,” said Bill Montford, Florida Senator and CEO of the Florida Association of District School Superintendents. “The self-assessment tool is a roadmap guiding districts toward best practices. It provides the opportunity for district teams to identify areas they can improve, eliminate duplication of efforts and maximize resources to best serve their students and staff.”

“We are a proud sponsor of Florida’s Partnership for Healthy Schools,” said Rebecca Matthews, Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation. “Access to affordable health insurance for children removes barriers to quality of care, and I applaud the school districts that are leading the way as award winners. I look forward to working toward the inclusion of Florida KidCare information in all Florida schools.”

“Each school district receiving this award has made a commitment to advancing policies, programs, and procedures for the health and well-being of Florida students,” said Melodie Griffin, MHA, State Coordinator for Florida Action for Healthy Kids. “While the process they undertake to qualify is a rigorous one, each of these school districts are deserving of this recognition for their exemplary efforts at helping students be healthy, active and ready to learn.”

Districts are encouraged to engage in the self-assessment process every other year and strive to reach the Gold level. The application opens each January and closes April 15.

The Florida Healthy School District award winners from 2017–2019 include:

• Gold: Alachua, Collier, Hillsborough, Lee, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pinellas
• Silver: Clay, DeSoto, Gadsden, Hamilton, Okaloosa, Putnam, St. Johns
• Bronze: Columbia, Dixie, Jackson, Marion

For more information about Florida Healthy School Districts and a complete list of current awarded districts, visit http://www.safehealthyschoolsfl.org.