Building Healthy Communities: Reducing Health Disparities in Elementary Schools, is a district-based program focused on addressing the social determinants of health that have contributed to wide disparities in many communities across Michigan. COVID-19 and limited access to health education, healthy foods, and exercise opportunities have impacted some communities substantially more than others. Our program works with elementary school leaders to provide the necessary resources to facilitate a healthier school environment, prevent chronic disease, and improve student mental health. For more than a decade, the Building Healthy Communities grant has encouraged children and families to be active and eat healthy – and in doing so, has reduced childhood obesity and increased school performance for thousands of students.

The Building Healthy Communities program is a collaborative partnership between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, and Wayne State University’s Center for Health and Community Impact. We work together to offer a healthy school transformation opportunity to elementary and middle schools in Michigan.

Building Healthy Communities launched in 2009 and since then, over 400 schools and 200,000 students have participated in the elementary school program and have experienced increased physical and emotional health, academic achievement, interest in healthy choices and activities, and school policies that support student health.

Partners