SPLASH EVALUATION

Has the program been successful?

SPLASH has grown to over 300 schools with over 1.5 million contacts with low income students and their families in 2010/11. Teachers have been successful in implementing the Michigan Model for Health^® and EPEC nutritionally enhanced lessons in the classrooms and they have seen a positive response from the students. Most teachers report an increase in healthy food consumption and exercise in their students.

Primary outcomes from the 2010-11 SPLASH student behavioral surveys:

- On most days three out of five third grade SPLASH students eat food from each of the food groups (5.1% increase)

- On most days three out of four fourth grade SPLASH students drink low fat milk (5.5% increase).

- Seven out of ten fourth grade SPLASH students recognize that it is important for their age group to get 60 minutes of physical activity everyday (15.3% increase)

- On most days three out of four fifth grade students in SPLASH eat vegetables (16% increase).

- On most days nine out of ten sixth grade students in SPLASH eat fruit (11.2% increase).

- One out of three SPLASH middle school students get at least one hour of physical activity 5-7 days a week (4.9% increase)

· On a typical day two out of four SPLASH middle school students eat some type of whole grain product (10.5% increase).

· Two out of five SPLASH middle school students have reduced their time watching television to less than an average of one hour each day (4.5% increase).

What teachers say about SPLASH...

"Last year, more of my students found new ways to stay active, help shop and plan family exercise and walking time."

"The students are very much aware of eating right and exercising. They remember from each year what they need to do and try to follow through with the lessons that were taught."

"I feel my students can more easily make healthy, safe choices since they have been a part of this."

"Younger children would talk about not buying from the snack cart, or would bring a snack and announce, "It's a healthy snack."

SPLASH is currently undergoing an outcome study in grades three to middle school to assess student behavior change. Results will be available in November of 2011. Check back here for more updates.