Creating Healthy Schools and Communities

NYS Department of Health Grant initiative awarded to Erie 1 BOCES 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.

Erie 1 BOCES is proud to collaborate with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Erie County, Healthy Community Alliance and Go Bike Buffalo to lead the Creating Healthy Schools and Communities (CHSC) initiative, 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 Salamanca, Randolph, West Valley, Springville Griffith Institute, Lackawanna, Cheektowaga Central, Cheektowaga Sloan and Maryvale. We will be working in Cattaraugus County, the Town of Cheektowaga, the City of Lackawanna and the Town of Springville.

Meet the Team

Justin Booth- Complete Streets Coordinator (justin@gobikebuffalo.org) 

Laura Corrin- Community Coordinator (Cheektowaga and Lackawanna) (ljc249@cornell.edu)

Jasmine Filkov- Community Coordinator (Springville and Cattaraugus County) (filkovj@hcanetwork.org)

Kate Huber- Grant Coordinator and Supervisor (khuber@e1b.org)

Sarah Whiteway- School Coordinator (swhiteway@e1b.org)

Types of Change to Promote Wellness: Policies, Systems & Environments (PSEs)

Policy, Systems and Environment (PSE) change is a sustainable way of improving health by modifying the policies, systems, and environments within a community.

• Policy change- The passing of new laws, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or rules
• Systems change- Change to unwritten rules or processes of an organization, institution, or community
• Environment Change- Changes made to the physical, economic, or social environment

Why PSE?

Individual lifestyle choices are only one part of our ability to live healthy, productive lives. A mix of social, economic and physical factors drives health disparities, and these factors are influenced by the policies and processes of our community.  Therefore we are working to improve school, workplace and early childhood center wellness policies and to create a physical environment that is more conducive to being physically active.  We aim to help make the healthy choice, the easy choice for everyone in our community.

Find out more about PSEs and how you can help.

News

Kate Huber is a 2023 Buffalo Business First Wellness Champion!

We are excited to announce that Creating Healthy Schools and Communities Grant Coordinator, Kate Huber has been selected as a Buffalo Business First Wellness Champion! She was honored in a ceremony at RiverWorks in Buffalo on August 24, 2023.

Year end report- Year 2

We are pleased to provide you with this year two grant recap of our accomplishments as we continue to build on the momentum of all involved in this incredible work.