I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5430 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 27, 2010 Mrs. McCarthy of New York (for herself, Mr. Hinojosa, Mrs. Davis of California, and Mr. Wu) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor A BILL To direct the Secretary of Agriculture to award grants to eligible entities for projects that leverage community resources and support student access to physical activity, nutrition education, and nutritious foods during the regular school calendar.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Partnerships for Wellness Act.

2.

Grants to support physical activity and nutrition

(a)

In General

From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall award grants to eligible entities, on a competitive basis, for projects that leverage community resources and support student access to physical activity, nutrition education, and nutritious foods during the regular school calendar. (b)

Application

(1)

In general

Each eligible entity that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including— (A)a community-involvement plan described in paragraph (2); (B)a description of the partners of the eligible entity that will be involved in the implementation of the community-involvement plan; (C)a description of the roles that will be played by each partner of the eligible entity in the implementation of the community-involvement plan, including a description of the services that will be provided by each partner of the eligible entity; and (D)a description of how funds received under this section will be integrated with other Federal, State, and local funds to maximize services and opportunities for students, their families, and the community to be served by the eligible entity, including a description of how funds received under this section will be distributed and utilized. (2)

Community involvement plan

(A)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall develop a plan for leveraging resources, services, and opportunities available within the community to be served by the eligible entity in order to increase, during the regular school calendar, student access to physical activity, and nutrition education, and nutritious foods. (B)

Requirements

The community-involvement plan shall include— (i)a needs assessment based on guidelines established by the Secretary that describes the need for access to physical activity, nutrition education, and nutritious foods, during the regular school calendar, of students served by the local educational agency that is partner of the eligible entity; (ii)a description of the potential resources, services, and opportunities available within the community to be served by the eligible entity, or available near the community, that the students, the families of such students, and individuals in the community may be able to access to meet the needs identified under clause (i); (iii)a description of the role of each of the partners of the eligible entity in providing services described in subsection (c) to the students and families of the students; (iv)a strategy for linking students and the parents and families of the students with the opportunities for services available through the eligible entity; and (v)a strategy for evaluating the impact of services that will be provided to students and their families through the eligible entity, including— (I)a description of the resources, supports, and opportunities that will be leveraged from the community to provide such services; (II)a description of how progress in increasing student access to physical activity, nutrition education, and nutritious food will be measured; and (III)a description of how the impact of increasing student access to physical activity, nutrition education, and nutritious food will be measured. (c)

Uses of Funds

An eligible entity receiving a grant under this section shall use the funds to carry out 1 or more of the following services: (1)Increasing, during the regular school calendar, student access to physical activity, including through short bouts of physical activity in the classroom and structured physical activities that are taught and led by trained adults during recess. (2)Increasing, during the regular school calendar, student access to nutrition education, including nutrition education provided through the community by local nutritionists, or other health care providers. (3)Increasing, during the regular school calendar, student access to nutritious foods, including through food demonstrations with local chefs and restaurants. (d)

Matching requirement

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall agree to provide non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to not less than 50 percent of the amount of Federal funds provided under a grant under this section. (e)

Duration

A grant under this section shall be awarded for a period of not more than 3 years. (f)

Supplement, not supplant

Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, any other Federal, State, or local funds that would otherwise be available to carry out the services assisted under this section. (g)

Reporting

Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall, on an annual basis during each year of the grant period, report to the Secretary on— (1)the number and type of, and the roles played by, partners of the eligible entity involved in the development and implementation of the entity’s community-involvement plan described in subsection (b)(2); (2)the services coordinated or provided under the community-involvement plan; and (3)a description of the degree to which the eligible entity has made progress in increasing student access to physical activity, nutrition education, and nutritious foods as a result of the services provided under the community-development plan. (h)

Definitions

For purposes of this section: (1)

Child-and-youth-serving organization

The term child-and-youth-serving organization means a public or private organization with a primary focus on providing to children and youth, youth development programs, or health, fitness, education, child welfare, psychological, parenting, or recreation services. (2)

Community-based organization

The term community-based organization means a public or private nonprofit organization of demonstrated effectiveness that— (A)is representative of a community or significant segments of a community; and (B)provides nutrition, nutrition education, or physical fitness services, or other related services to individuals in the community. (3)

During the regular school calendar

The phrase during the regular school calendar refers to a period during the regular school calendar during school hours. (4)

Eligible entity

(A)

In general

The term eligible entity means a local educational agency participating in the lunch program under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the breakfast program under section 4 of the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1771 et seq.) that has established a partnership with 1 or more entities described in subparagraph (B). (B)

Entities

The entities described in this subparagraph are as follows: (i)A community-based organization. (ii)A child-and-youth-serving organization or agency. (iii)An institution of higher education. (iv)A hospital or health care provider. (v)Other business or community partner. (5)

Institution of higher education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002). (6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Agriculture.