School Grants for Healthy Kids
2015-2016 School Year
Frequently Asked Questions
I submitted a grant application last year but I can’t login.AFHK has transitioned to a new login system for our school grant portal that is more user-friendly. Even if you have created a grant login in the past, you will need to create a new one for the 2015-2016 application. You can use the same email.
Which states are eligible to apply for the 2015-2016 School Grants for Healthy Kids?
School Building Alternative Breakfast Grant All states
School District Alternative Breakfast Grant All states
Universal School Breakfast Grant:
Select states - CA, CO, DC/MD/VA, FL, GA, IL, KY, LA, MA, MI, MN, MS, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TX, WA
Every Kid Healthy Grants
Select states - AL, DC, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MD, NC, NY, OH (priority on Toledo and Columbus), PA, WV (priority on Huntington)
Can my school apply for both a Breakfast and Every Kid Healthy grant?
Yes, individual schools can apply for both types of grant opportunities by starting each application in the grant portal.
Can school districts complete one application for multiple schools within the district?
Yes, School districts can answer all general questions for the district and apply them to each school interested in receiving grant funds. School districts will then need to update information for individual school applications with school-specific information and submit individually.
Can more than one person access and submit an application for a school?
No, only one user can submit an application for a school. When creating an online account on the Grant Portal, you will be able to affiliate yourself with individual schools. Multiple users can be affiliated with a single school, but only one person can begin an application. Please make certain you are the appropriate person to begin your school’s application before starting the grant application.
Which schools are eligible to apply for the School Grants for Healthy Kids?
Schools that are eligible must serve grades K-12. For the Breakfast grant opportunities, schools participate in the National School Lunch Program and the National School Breakfast Program.
Depending on the grant you are applying for, your school must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility equal to or greater than:
School Building Alternative Breakfast Grant : 40% School District Alternative Breakfast Grant : 50% Universal School Breakfast Pilot Grants: 60%
Every Kid Healthy Grants: All schools are eligible to apply. Schools with greater than 50% of students eligible for free/reduced priced meals may receive priority
Why do schools need to have a 40% or greater free/reduced criteria to be eligible for the Breakfast grants?
This is a requirement from AFHK national funders which focuses on increasing breakfast participation in higher need schools.
Can only schools with 500 or more students apply for the School Building Alternative Breakfast grants?
Priority will be given to schools with more than 500 students, but all schools are encouraged to apply.
Can organizations that partner with schools apply for the School Grants for Healthy Kids?
Only schools, PTO/PTA, or school health & wellness teams can apply for and receive grant funds. If a partner organization is interested in working with schools to implement school wellness programs, the organization is encouraged to take the lead in submitting the grant application with the approval of school representatives as the Primary School Contact, and the name of the Principal/Administrator, and Food Service Director.
How many grants are available for schools nationwide?
Through partners CSX Transportation, Kellogg Company, Kellogg Company Fund, and the Walmart Foundation, AFHK will award over 1,000 schools nationwide to promote school wellness programs focusing on school breakfast and physical activity.
What are the total grant funds available for each school?
Grant funds range from $500 - $2,500. AFHK has found that schools are able to implement successful school wellness programs utilizing various funds and resources.
Can grant funds be utilized as a stipend for staff members working with the grant?
Grant funds cannot be used for staffing or administrative costs. Grant funds of “Incentives, gifts, and awards” cannot be given to a person working with the grant. School Grants for Healthy Kids is an opportunity for schools to implement a program they would like to see in their schools. AFHK is assisting schools with funds and resources to help them achieve their goals, meet standards, and make their students and school environment healthier.
What can grant funds be used towards:
Funds can be used towards the purchase of equipment, evaluation costs (printing/copying), incentives (no more than 10% of total budget), and food for taste testing only.
What type of assessments and impact are required for the various grant programs?
AFHK encourages schools to be creative when developing their school wellness programs. Details and impact for individual programs include:
School Building Alternative Breakfast Grants– to include alternative breakfast
programs (i.e., breakfast in the classroom, grab and go breakfast, breakfast after 1st
period, breakfast on the school bus) and universal breakfast programs. Grant size is $1,750 per school. IMPACT: Schools must realize an increase in daily ADP of school breakfast program by 25%, and must provide information to students/parents on nutrition and caloric content of foods available. Schools must also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2016. (Note: Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program; and must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility greater than 40% to be eligible. Priority selection will be given to schools with student enrollment greater than 500 students).
School District Alternative Breakfast Grants – to include alternative breakfast programs
(i.e., breakfast in the classroom, grab and go breakfast, breakfast after 1st period,
breakfast on the school bus) in 10-30 schools within the district. Average district grant size will depend on the number of schools included in project with each school receiving $2,100 (i.e., 10 schools funded = $21,000). District will also receive additional technical assistance with a site visit from National AFHK breakfast expert. IMPACT: Schools must realize an increase in daily ADP of school breakfast program by 35%. Schools must also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2016. (Note: Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program; and selected schools must have an average free/reduced meal eligibility greater than 50% across the district to be eligible. Primary Contact (i.e., food service director or other lead staff) must attend a convening of granted districts for additional training and support either during the summer or at the early implementation stage of the grant.)
Universal School Breakfast Pilot – Provides funding to pilot a universal and alternative
breakfast program . Grant size is $2,500 per school with the opportunity to fund multiple schools within the district. Previously funded universal breakfast grantees are eligible to receive $1,000 sustainability grants to support their breakfast program.
IMPACT: Schools must strive to achieve an increase in daily ADP of the new universal
breakfast program to target 85% or greater, and must provide information to
students/parents on nutrition and caloric content of foods available. Schools must also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2016. (NOTE:Schools must participate in the National School Lunch Program and National School Breakfast Program; and must have a free/reduced priced meal eligibility greater than 60% to be eligible).
Every Kid Healthy Grants – Physical activity grants with optional nutrition component to support becoming recognized as a health-promoting school. – Provides funding for physical activity initiatives (such as facilities and equipment for recess,
playgrounds/play-spaces, classroom energizers, physical education, intramural and/or before/after-school programs that introduce the value of an active lifestyle) and an optional nutrition component (such as nutrition education, school gardens, competitive foods/smart snacks, salad bars, smarter lunchrooms, healthy fundraising/classroom celebrations that introduce healthy foods). Grant size ranges from $500 to $2,500 with most schools receiving $1,000. Schools funded in previous grant years are eligible for a sustainability grant of $500. IMPACT: Schools must increase physical activity
opportunities to 30 minutes per day at school, advance the school nutrition environment through access to healthy foods (optional if nutrition component included), provide information to students/parents on the importance of physical activity and healthy eating, and work towards healthy schools certification through the USDA’s HealthierUS Schools Challenge or the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program. Schools must also join the celebration during Every Kid Healthy Week by hosting a family-friendly health-promoting event during April 2016.
(Note: Schools with greater than 50% of students eligible for free/reduced priced meals may receive priority, but all schools are encouraged to apply.)
How often are evaluation assessments required throughout the 2015 – 2016 grant cycle?
AFHK requires the following yearly reports for evaluation measures. AFHK encourages schools to evaluate their school wellness programs throughout implementation to measure progress. Furthermore, AFHK owes to its funders mid-term and final year reports to show progress. Information provided in these reports not only ensures regular progress on grant
implementation, but helps to strengthen the relationship with key funders whose funds are supporting these programs in schools.
June 12, 2015 – Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) (including Wellness Survey and 5 person Team) and School Health Index
December 11, 2015 – Mid-project report March 31, 2016 – Every Kid Healthy survey May 27, 2016 – Final project report
How often are grant funds allocated throughout the 2015 – 2016 grant cycle?
AFHK awards grant funds in two payments, with the first installment (65% of total grant award) provided in the fall of 2015 and the second installment (remaining 35%) provided once mid-project report has been approved in January 2016. This allows AFHK to serve as good stewards of our funders monies and help ensure quality impacts through these projects.
What type of technical assistance does AFHK provide?
AFHK provides ongoing technical assistance to schools to ensure success and sustainability of the various school wellness initiatives. AFHK technical assistance includes:
Expert assistance from National Staff and State Volunteers
School Health Team trainings and resources
Connections to local resources for additional support
Training of key school grant team volunteers
Assistance with evaluation measurements
Assistance with communication efforts
Promotion of school success stories
Project Ideas:
Alternative Breakfast grants:
Breakfast in the Classroom; Grab and Go; Breakfast after 1st period; Second Chance Breakfast;
Breakfast on the School Bus; Universal Breakfast
Universal School Breakfast grants:
Expansion or pilot of universal breakfast to schools within a district. Could also include creating an alternative model (Breakfast in the Classroom, Grab and Go, Breakfast after 1st Period, or
Second Chance Breakfast) in an effort to increase breakfast participation.
Every Kid Healthy grants:
Funding for facilities and equipment for recess, playgrounds/play-spaces, classroom energizers, physical education, intramural and/or before/after-school programs that introduce
underserved youth populations to the value of an active lifestyle.
School Grant Portal Technical Assistance: User Access:
AFHK has transitioned to a new login system for our school grant portal that is more user-friendly. Even if you have created a grant login in the past, you will need to create a new one. You can use the same email.
Application Submission:
Make sure you complete the word document application prior to online submission so you can copy and paste online but won’t lose your information if you run into an error. Make sure your internet browser is up-to-date or try a different internet browser (ex.
Mozilla Foxfire, Google Chrome).
Application Access:
The error messages are automatically triggered by our system based on errors. Unfortunately, the asterisk/error you’re receiving is correct meaning that something in your application is missing or outside of our range. A few tips:
1. Check the character count. Our system will block you from submitting your application if you are over the allotted characters. Please be sure you are verifying the character count and not the word count.
2. Make sure that all of the lists that you selected items on have items selected, with some web browsers hitting save and reaching an error message automatically deletes these lists so you may need to select them again.
3. If you press save and you receive an error message, your application is not actually saved until you navigate these errors. Your application will only be saved if you are re-directed to your home page and find that the application says in progress.
4. Please complete your application via the paper application first so you can easily log in and copy and paste directly into the submission portal to ensure the best use of your time.
5. Don’t forget to frequently save your work!
Contact:
If you have any additional questions about our 2015-2016 grant opportunities, please contact your AFHK State Coordinator or email: Schoolgrants@ActionforHealthyKids.org.
