HealthMPowers, Inc.

HealthMPowers promotes healthy habits to build a better future for all children. By bringing nutrition education and physical activity into everyday life and learning – in schools, childcare centers and out of school time sites – we create a culture that supports healthy life choices for children, families and communities.

With our sites, we strive to increase awareness, improve health behaviors and transform environments through our highly interactive, supportive and incremental approach to change. Our core program model spans a multiyear partner-relationship that’s built on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s evidence-based guidelines for assessing and expanding health and wellness. Over the past 20 years, it’s proven highly effective helping create a future where all children are nourished and active.

The key objectives of the program are to 1) increase nutrition education and physical activity opportunities in schools, centers, clubs and communities; 2) improve nutrition and physical activity health behaviors of youth and adults; 3) improve school, center, club and food retail policies, systems and environments; 4) improve consistent nutrition and physical activity messaging and 5) increase access to fruits and vegetables.

HealthMPowers works with over 20 state and national partners to provide nutrition and physical activity training and support in high-need areas.

HealthMPowers program uses a variety of intervention strategies to promote healthy eating and physical activity including instruction, social marketing, social support, policy and environmental changes. These strategies are based on the evidence-based guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We serve children and families in childcare settings, elementary and secondary schools, and after-school settings. We also work in communities partnering with existing coalitions, food retailers and community leaders to improve access to healthy foods and promote positive health advertising.

A continuous improvement model is used to make sustainable changes throughout the program. Baseline assessments are completed at the start of the program. Sites are then provided with regular trainings and technical assistance, educational resources and reinforcements, and on-site services to support individual plans for improvement. Finally, follow-up assessments are conducted to measure implementation impact and improvements over time.

Consistent nutrition and physical activity messaging is also integrated daily into curriculum and activities by trained staff, including classroom teachers, club program specialists, special area teachers, nutrition managers, counselors and administrators. Reinforcement is provided to families through special programming, text messaging and other family meetings or events. The following key messages targeting healthier behaviors are reinforced throughout all programming:
• Choose more fruits and vegetables
• Move more and sit less
• Drink more water and less sugary beverages

HealthMPowers participates in academic research around children’s health issues and works with our partners to create new programs and statewide health initiatives.

Over the past 20 years, HealthMPowers has been helping kids – and the communities who care for them – make changes that lead to better health, for life.

HealthMPowers SNAP-Ed program “Empowering Healthy Choices in Schools, Homes and Communities” employs a public health approach and is identified as an evidence-based practice-tested intervention in the SNAP-Ed Strategies and Interventions: An Obesity Prevention Toolkit for States.

HealthMPowers works with over 20 state and national partners to provide nutrition and physical activity training and support in high-need areas. In our collaborations with these partners, we’ve brought academic and practical expertise informed by our 20-year history to the task of developing new programs from conception to launch:
• research study design and data collection
• curriculum design – program toolkits and resource guides
• master training design – the model for educating lead training staff
• deployment of new health initiatives – ground-level trainings with school, district, early care center and OST personnel across Georgia

HealthMPowers participates in academic research around children’s health issues and works with our partners to create new programs and statewide health initiatives.

Over the past 20 years, HealthMPowers has served over a million students, and impacted every public school in Georgia through trainings and services.

Last year, HealthMPowers served 800 sites for a total reach of 511,424 students in underserved communities.
• HealthMPowers served 179 early care and education centers through three statewide programs. These programs empowered child care centers to enact policies and practices to increase healthy eating, physical activity and language development supporting both healthy body and brain development. With funding through Nemours Foundation, HealthMPowers established a statewide training network and learning collaboratives.
• Throughout Georgia, HealthMPowers provided program support to 156 K-12 public schools. All schools received training and resources to create a healthier school environment and improve student health. At middle and high schools, students are trained as health advocates and use strategies to promote healthy habits to their peers.
• In collaboration with the Departments of Public Health and Education, HealthMPowers expanded Georgia Shape's Power up for 30! Program, aimed at integrating at least 30 minutes of physical activity during the school day to middle and high schools. HealthMPowers provided training to 339 schools across Georgia to implement the state’s require health-related fitness assessment, FitnessGram.
• HealthMPowers' Out-of-School Time program served 22 Boys and Girls Club sites with year-round programming, providing hands-on taste testing, cooking and gardening, engaging 6,966 youth. HealthMPowers worked in eight food insecure counties to increase access and provide nutrition education and taste testings in food outlets, food pantries and community centers.


In addition to these programs, HealthMPowers and Emory University conducted a large-scale research study funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in 40 Gwinnett county elementary schools to analyze the link between school-based physical activity and academic outcomes.

In the past 3 years, HealthMPowers’ major accomplishments have included honors and awards; grant funding for large-scale research and statewide training; leading strategic partnerships; and ongoing programmatic success. HealthMPowers received a Commendation from Governor Nathan Deal, and a Georgia House Resolution recognizing program impact. The organization received both the All Star and Legacy Healthy Georgia Awards, from Lt. Governor Cagle’s Healthy Kids Georgia, Georgia Shape and Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH), the highest honors given for non-profits leaving an enduring impact on and commitment to youth health. The American Public Health Association chose HealthMPowers as their conference’s charity, raising funds and engaging over 100 volunteers.