School Systems and Universities

Elementary and middle schools are successfully implementing the We Can!™ youth curricula either as part of their in-class sessions or in the after school settings. Even colleges and universities are using We Can! materials and curricula to educate students in health, physical education, or nutrition courses. The We Can! parent program can be used in a variety of adult-learning settings, including the classroom; adding value to existing lesson plans.

A variety of schools and universities have already joined the We Can! movement. We Can! sites, such as the Southern Nevada Team, are using program materials and messages to improve community health.

Southern Nevada Team
Team Effort between the University of Nevada Las Vegas Department of Nutrition Sciences and the City of Henderson Department of Parks and Recreation

The Las Vegas location is a strong multi-site effort led by the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Department of Nutrition Sciences, City of Las Vegas Department of Leisure Services, and City of Henderson Department of Parks and Recreation.

Las Vegas worked hard to integrate programming with sites in both Las Vegas and Henderson , relying on the strength of partnerships for implementation. Las Vegas formed partnerships with six groups and individuals including the University of Nevada Las Vegas Department of Nutrition Sciences and the University of Nevada Las Vegas Department of Physical Therapy, to do so.

The sites participated in four community events, including Field Day at Baker School and City of Henderson Fourth of July Celebration, which sought to educate the public about healthy eating and physical activity. These successful events attracted over 7,000 attendees and generated local media coverage. As well, the local television network covered the July 2005 Field Day event, and the site organizer has been interviewed by at least four media outlets, including appearances on local television and in local newspapers. Moreover, this coverage prompted the Southern Nevada Health District to seek a partnership with the site.

Key successes included implementing CATCH Kids Club at Twitchell Elementary School which reached over 70 children on a weekly basis. Additionally, the site received financial support to fund public service announcements that were broadcast on local television networks and in movie theaters throughout Southern Nevada . Finally, the PSAs produced as part of the Media-Smart Youth Curriculum were shown on local television networks and in one of the city’s most popular movie theaters for several weeks, reaching a vast number of viewers. The site attributed much of its success to the partnerships it formed.

Other We Can! Sites Running the Program in School Settings

Use the links below to read brief descriptions of some of the school and university settings that are already involved in We Can!

We Can! Partners Working in School Settings

Use the links below to read brief descriptions of some of the partners that work in school and university settings.

Action For Healthy Kids addresses the epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished youth by focusing on changes in schools to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.

We Can! and the We Can! logo are trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).