The Highmark Foundation is now accepting applications for the 2017-2018 Creating a Healthy School Environment Grant and Awards Program, which will make available a total of $425,000 for schools grades K-12 in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

The goal of the program is to create healthier school environments that experience positive, sustainable and lasting change through comprehensive strategies.

“The Highmark Foundation recognizes that schools are powerful places to shape the health, safety, education and well-being of children; as a result, we created a multi-faceted program to provide them with the funding resources they need to create healthier and safer school environments,” said Highmark Foundation President Yvonne Cook. “This strategy is aligned with the Highmark Foundation’s mission, goals and focus that illustrate the effectiveness of early intervention and preventive health programs.”

Public, private, vocational, parochial and charter schools throughout West Virginia and Pennsylvania (excluding Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties) are invited to apply for the three offerings of the Highmark Foundation’s Creating a Healthy School Environment Grant and Awards Program:

• Building Sustainable and Lasting Changes in Schools grant funding ranges from $5,000-7,500 per school district to support evidence-based programs that address one of four priority areas: bullying prevention, child injury prevention, healthy eating and physical activity, or environmental health. As a requirement for funding, grant recipients must provide measureable pre- and post-program intervention status reports. Application deadline: March 17, 2017.
• Advancing Excellence in School Nursing awards recognize the important role school nurses play in adolescent health and wellness. Up to eight school nurses will be presented this honor, accompanied by $1,500 to be used for professional development or school resources. Application deadline: March 17, 2017.
• Meeting Health Needs through Supportive Services grants are part of a strategy to support economically disadvantaged school districts and high-needs schools with financial assistance to meet basic health requests. Child Health and Wellness grants up to $1,000 will be awarded to schools to assist with the purchase of items impacting students’ supportive, social and health needs. School Equipment and Supplies Challenge grants will match up to $2,500 for the purchase of specialized equipment or supplies that enable school nurses to better perform their valuable services. No application deadline.

Now entering its fifth year, the Highmark Foundation’s Creating a Healthy School Environment Grant and Awards Program has provided more than $1.6 million of support to schools in communities served by Highmark Inc. in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

“We are pleased to continue this grant and awards program for the benefit of our children’s health and education. We encourage all eligible schools to apply,” said Cook.

Creating a Healthy School Environment Grant and Awards Program applications are available at: https://highmarkfoundationrfp. versaic.com. Create an account and follow the instructions to submit an application. All applications must be submitted online.