Last week, during the Kansas State Board of Education’s August meeting in Topeka, the Kansas State Department of Education Child Nutrition & Wellness program announced the recipients of the 2023-24 Best Practice awards.
The awardees include:
- Wheatland USD 292 – Kansans Can Serve Local Foods
- Fort Leavenworth USD 207 – Kansans Can Provide Outstanding Customer Service
- Patterson Family Child Care Center, Topeka – Kansans Can Increase Access to Quality Child Care & Child Nutrition Programs
- Envision Child Development Center, Wichita – Kansans Can Impact Wellness & Kansans Can Serve Local Foods, Wichita
The Best Practice awards feature four categories. The “Kansans CAN Serve Local Foods” category highlights efforts to partner with local producers, including collaboration with local farmers to use regionally grown produce in child nutrition programs. This category also encompasses activities such as providing nutrition education, organizing field trips, conducting taste tests, and maintaining a garden. Additionally, it includes initiatives that enhance students’ understanding of healthy food and the farming industry.
The “Kansans CAN Provide Outstanding Customer Service” category recognizes events, programs, or services that enhance participation, quality, and delivery of program services, fostering stronger relationships with participants, parents, and the community.
The “Kansans Can Increase Access to Quality Child Care & Child Nutrition Programs” category awards entities that offer quality, affordable childcare and improve access to nutritious meals and snacks through the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
And lastly, the “Kansans Can Impact Wellness” category honors sponsors who lead in educating about healthy eating and promoting an active lifestyle.
“The academic achievement and physical well-being of our children in Kansas today will impact the success of our communities, our state, and the nation in the future,” said Kelly Chanay, KSDE director of child nutrition and wellness. “Our Kansans Can award winners this year exemplify our collective efforts to provide adequate nutrition and physical activity as the pre-requisite for optimal learning.”
