Other Policy Resources

Action for Healthy Kids: Wellness Policy Tool
This Tool is intended to help anyone involved in developing, implementing, and evaluating wellness policies by providing practical guidance and how-to information about the wellness policy process.

Active Living Leadership
Active Living Leadership was developed to support government leaders as they create and promote policies, programs and places that support healthy community environments and enable active living and healthy eating to improve the health, well-being and vitality of communities.

Center for Health Improvement - Health Policy Guide
Health Policy Guide provides evidence-based, peer-reviewed policy guidance and resources to support advocacy and decision-making at the state and local levels. Search or browse over 150 policy topics.

Center for Science in the Public Interest
Policy options to promote nutrition and physical activity.

Community Design Legislation Database
National Conference of State Legislators

Council of State Governments

• State Official's Guide to Wellness (pdf-2Mb)

Local Wellness Policy Tools & Resources
Division of Adolescent and School Health
For wellness policies in schools, DASH provides models (school policies, how-to guides, employee wellness, how-to evaluate, etc).

National Association of Counties' Healthy Counties Database
Recently launched, provides a database for model policies, programs and initiatives from counties nationwide.

National Conference of State Legislatures
State school PE requirements and recommended policies.

National Governor's Association
Healthy America: Wellness Where We Live, Work, and Learn:

• Creating Healthy States: Building Healthy Communities
• Creating Healthy States: Building Healthy Worksites
• Creating Healthy States: Building Healthy Schools
• Center for Best Practices

Policy and Environmental Change: New Directions for Public Health (pdf-874k)
Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education (ASTDHPPHE) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
This report presents a snapshot of how health agencies and States are grappling to influence policies that matter most for health. This report with its recommendations is a valuable beginning, but its real value will be realized as other parts of our society recognize and embrace their roles in improving the health of people in the communities in which they live.

Prevention Institute
Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy page.

Public Health Law Program
In 2000, CDC formally recognized the important role of law in public health by establishing the CDC Public Health Law Program. We are located in the Office of the Chief of Public Health Practice in the CDC Office of the Director. Our mission is to improve the health of the public through law. Our strategic goals are to:

• Develop the legal preparedness of the public health system to address terrorism and other national public health priorities
• Improve the understanding and use of law as a public health tool, and
• Establish robust partnerships to join public health practitioners with partners in key law-related sectors, such as elected officials and the legal and law enforcement communities.

School Health Policy
Policies—including laws, mandates, regulations, standards, resolutions, and guidelines—provide a foundation for school district practices and procedures. Sound policies reassure families, students, and school staff; provide legal protection for schools; and support and direct individuals throughout the school system. Well-drafted and administered policies can also help contain or prevent controversy.

SHPPS: School Health Policies and Programs Study
The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) is a national survey periodically conducted to assess school health policies and practices at the state, district, school, and classroom levels.

Strategic Alliance Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Strategies (ENACT) ENACT and Local Policy Databases
Prevention Institute
Policy planning across seven environments.

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