Healthy Hydration Movement Advocacy ToolkitTable of Contents

This toolkit is designed to help local PTAs advocate for healthy hydration and other health improvements in their school community as an extension of the Healthy Hydration program. PTAs can use this resource to effect change, educate members of the school community and ensure that healthy food, beverages and snacks are accessible choices for families at home, in schools and in school communities.

1. Planning Analysis

a. Program Overview

b. Advocacy Fact Sheet

c. Sample Budget

2. Educate to Advocate

a. Talking Points for PTA Leaders

· Adequate Hydration for Children

· The Importance of Staying Hydrated

· Substituting Sugar-Sweetened Beverages

· Clean Water in Schools

· Benefits of Recycling

· Healthy beverages, including water, in meal distributions (food pantries, etc.)

3. Policy and Advocacy Identification

a. School Needs Assessment

· Evaluating your school’s Wellness Policy

b. Collaborate with Supporters to Identify Policy and Advocacy Opportunities

· Sample: Water Break School Policy

· Sample: Water Access Points Policy

· Sample: Water First Policy

4. Advocacy Activation and Collaboration

a. Engaging School Leaders and Community Partners

· How to Organize Supporters

· Partnering with School Nutrition Services

· Establishing a School Health Advisory Board or Committee (SHAB/SHAC)

b. Hosting an Advocacy Forum for School Community Members

· Virtual and In-person formats

5. Policy Implementation

a. How to select and implement effective policies

b. Collaboration during implementation

1. Planning AnalysisProgram Overview

National PTA and Nestlé Waters North America—together with its national brand Nestlé® Pure Life®—are partnering with local PTAs to advocate for healthy hydration and other health improvements in their school community. Over the first year of the Healthy Hydration program, National PTA learned from PTAs that they would like advocacy support to help improve health behaviors and reduce childhood obesity in their school community. Advocacy initiatives should create positive changes in school communities. National PTA has developed resources to provide this much needed support to PTAs. The advocacy options provided vary based on the specific needs of schools and current COVID-19 school precautions. These options include:

1. Advocating for clean water in schools 

2. Advocating for increased water consumption 

3. Advocating for increased school wellness activities, including advocating for teachers to be positive role models in health behaviors, such as drinking water.

4. Advocating for healthy school meal options 

5. Advocating for the inclusion of healthy food/beverages (including water) in school food distribution efforts

6. Advocating for community resources such as community food banks or food pantries that primarily serve families in your school community 

7. Advocating for the redistribution of extra food to families in your school community, supporting the reduction of food waste in communities 

Advocacy Fact Sheet

This fact sheet offers a look at how advocacy is defined, examples of advocacy work, basic steps to become an advocate and PTA’s overall involvement in advocacy work for children.

How Is PTA Involved in Advocacy?

PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer child advocacy association in the United States. PTA has a long and successful history of influencing federal policy to promote the education, health and well-being of all children—our association has worked to establish in kindergarten classes, child labor laws, school lunch programs, the juvenile justice system, and strengthened parent-teacher relationships. PTA continues its advocacy efforts today, but it is important to remember that advocacy is more than only supporting federal legislation. PTA members advocate at the local level—in their schools for programs and policies that positively impact children.

What Is Advocacy?

Advocacy is defined as the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal. In the context of PTA, advocacy is supporting and speaking up for children in schools, communities and before government bodies and other organizations that make decisions that affect children.[footnoteRef:1] [1: https://mffh.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/AFJ_what-is-advocacy.pdf]

What Do Child Advocates Do?

Child advocates make sure there are sound policies that promote the health, safety and well-being of all children at the federal, state and local levels.

What Kind of Activities Are Advocacy Work?

The following list provides examples of advocacy activities:

· Take advantage of all opportunities to engage school administrators and teachers

· Take advantage of all opportunities to engage with city officials on issues important to PTA

· Connect with community sports leagues, parks and recreation departments, etc. to advocate for Healthy Hydration policies such as putting water first or, if being sold, make water a cheaper option compared to sugary beverages

· Attend and participate in local school board meetings

· Develop relevant resources from research that reflects the truth in communities

· Attend conferences where people can network, share information, and plan for the future

· Encourage your school community to vote on a state and/or local level policy important to your PTA

· Work with your State PTA on advocacy efforts that are important to your PTA

· Train others, such as parents, caregivers, students and families, on how to advocate by teaching strategies and skills for direct action

· Influence elected officials by lobbying for or against specific legislation related to your PTA’s health improvement efforts in your school community

· Educate legislators by providing them with information on specific issues that are important to your PTA

Steps to Become an Advocate

Following these steps may help you be a more effective advocate.[footnoteRef:2] [2: https://www.vermontfamilynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Legislative-Advocacy-Tip-Sheet-Fact-sheet-Aug2017.pdf]

Step 1: Identify the issue and know your goal. Focus on a specific issue and identify your end goal.

Step 2: Research the issue. It is important to have a basic understanding of what you want to change, along with understanding the opposing views on the issue.

Step 3: Organize supporters. Advocacy is more effective when working with others with similar goals.

Step 4: Develop a strategy. Meet with your core group of advocates to decide on the next steps.

Step 5: Communicate. Keeping others informed and engaged in the process creates excitement.

Step 6: Be persistent. At first, you may not achieve everything you want, but do not give up! Any change is a foundation for more growth in the future.

Sample Budget

This is an example of how you may plan to make the most of PTA funds (based on a $500 budget) for advocacy efforts. Actual needs and costs may vary.

Expense Description

Estimated Cost

Purchase Date

Actual Cost

Advocacy Training—For example: Zoom Account Fees

$150.00

Consulting Fees—If your PTA chooses to work with a consultant to review/create policies.

$150.00

Advertisements—Paper and mail costs for marketing such as flyers to be sent home and posters for common areas of the school and parking lot/pick-up area.

$50.00

Gift Certificates/Incentives—For those assisting with the grant

$50.00

Interpretation and/or translation costs (if needed)

$50.00

Total:

$500.00

2. Educate to AdvocateHealthy Hydration Talking Points for PTA Leaders

Use these talking points when speaking with school leaders, teachers, community members and families about your Healthy Hydration advocacy initiatives. By educating these stakeholders on the importance of healthy hydration, you can help move advocacy efforts forward.

Adequate Hydration for Children[footnoteRef:3] [3: www.nestlepurelife.com/us/en-us/5-reasons-why-water-is-important-for-kids ]

· Staying hydrated is important for our bodies, yet research has shown that more than 50% of US kids aged six to 19 years old are not receiving enough hydration.

· The hydration rule of thumb: replenish the amount of water lost throughout the day. This is especially important during exercise or hot weather when water-losses may increase.

The Importance of Staying Hydrated[footnoteRef:4] [4: http://www.kidshealth.org/en/kids/water.html]

· Water is essential to keep our bodies functioning properly.

· A person cannot survive for more than a few days without water.

· Water helps keep our body temperature in the correct range.

· Water is the main component of blood and transports nutrients and oxygen to all cells

· Water aids and helps the kidneys by excreting waste from the body.

· The brain is composed of 73% water and helps the brain make hormones and neurotransmitters.

· Water helps lubricate joints allowing us to exercise and play.

Substituting Sugar-Sweetened Beverages[footnoteRef:5] [5: https://health.gov/our-work/food-nutrition/2015-2020-dietary-guidelines/guidelines/chapter-2/a-closer-look-at-current-intakes-and-recommended-shifts/#figure-2-9. ]

· 39% of added sugars in the diet for all Americans age 2 years and up come from beverages.

· Drinking just one sugar-sweetened beverage per day often meets or exceeds the daily recommended added sugar limit.

· The amount of calories for added sugar is very high amongst 4-30 year olds.

· Calories from sugar-sweetened beverages can add up quickly and provide little nutritional value.

· Water has zero added sugar, so it is a smart alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages.

Clean Water in Schools[footnoteRef:6] Talking Points for PTA Leaders [6: www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/npao/wateraccess.htm ]

· National PTA Clean Water Resources

· The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's drinking water in public water supplies before it leaves the water utility.

· Once the clean water leaves the water main, it may go through a series of lead plumbing parts (pipes, fittings, and fixtures).

· Lead is a harmful neurotoxin that is especially harmful to young, developing brains. Lead may leach from the plumbing parts into drinking water, causing contamination.

· Schools need to regularly test the water quality and develop a plan in case there is ever contamination.

Benefits of Recycling

· When you drink a disposable bottle of water, it is important to recycle each bottle properly so that it can be repurposed and turned into something else.

· It is easy to establish recycling as a healthy habit. People tend to recycle more if they have easier access to recycling bins.

Support for Healthy Beverages in Meal Distributions[footnoteRef:7] Talking Points [7: http://www.bridgingthegapresearch.org/_asset/7jf02g/BTG_competitive_beverage_brief_final-8-7-12.pdf ]

· Beverages can contain significant amounts of added sugar and calories, so it is important to make sure that the healthiest choices are provided.

· Calorie-free beverages (especially water) and nutrient-filled drinks (fat-free or low-fat milk and juices) should be the primary consumed beverages for students at all grade levels during the school day.

· Milk and 100% fruit and vegetable juice should be consumed within the recommended food calorie limits.

· If schools are providing meals that include beverages as part of distributions for families to address food insecurity, the meal packages should include water as the primary beverage.

· Due to COVID-19, beverages served at school must be individually packaged, wherever possible. Where individual packaging is not possible, beverages must be served directly to students.

3. Policy and Advocacy Identification

How to Evaluate Your Local School Wellness PolicyWhat Is A Local School Wellness Policy?

A local school wellness policy is a written document that guides a local educational agency (LEA) or school district's efforts to create supportive nutrition and physical activity environments before, during and after school. All LEAs participating in federal child nutrition programs, including the National School Lunch Program or the School Breakfast Program, are required to develop and implement a wellness policy.[footnoteRef:8] Effective wellness policies support a culture of health within a school community by establishing practices and procedures that make the healthy choice the easy choice for students, staff and families. [8: https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/local-school-wellness-policy ]

Action Steps to Evaluate Your Local School Wellness Policy

· Obtain a copy of the current local school wellness policy

· It usually can be found on the school district website

· In some cases, this document may need to be requested from a school official

· Review the district’s most recent assessment of the local school wellness policy

· Through a unified accountability system mandated by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the Administrative Review provides for robust review and evaluation of school meals programs and program operations during a 3-year cycle

· The scope of monitoring may require a state agency to assess how the local educational agency implements its local school wellness policy

· Analyze the policies listed within the School Wellness Policy and identify any gaps in the health topics addressed, such as:

· Is hydration addressed?

· How is hydration addressed?

· Does the wellness policy allow students to carry water bottles with them at school?

· Are beverage machines allowed in classrooms?

· Are there any policies for what beverages teachers and school administration can have in the classroom? Does the policy allow beverage machines in the classroom?

· Are there any additional health topics missing that need to be addressed?

· Identify the school official responsible for developing, implementing and monitoring the school wellness policy if you have further questions regarding the policy.

After Reviewing Your Local School Wellness Policy, Do You Think It Needs to be Updated?

Use the resources listed below to find a model wellness policy, learn easy ways to refresh your school wellness policy and what steps you can toke to put your wellness policy into practice. Additional resources can also be found at National PTA School Wellness.

· Alliance for Healthier Generation: Local School Wellness Policy

· USDA’s Action Steps for LEAs on Wellness Policies

· CDC’s Putting Local School Wellness Policies into Action

· Institute for Child Nutrition: Sustaining and Strengthening Local Wellness Initiatives

Sample: Student Water Break School Policy

Provided here is a sample school policy for student water breaks. This policy is an example for PTA members to refer to when creating their policy related to one of the advocacy options provided.

TITLE: Student Water Break School Policy

POLICY: The [insert name of school district or school] is committed to ensuring that students stay hydrated. We encourage students to stay hydrated by providing a designated time when students can focus on drinking water. This time will be referred to as a water break. This school-wide water break will occur once per day, although students are encouraged to drink water continually throughout the day. Students are encouraged to utilize reusable water bottles provided by the school. In the case where a water bottle is lost, the staff is responsible for providing students access to a water fountain.

PURPOSE: To ensure that students are staying adequately hydrated during school hours.

SCOPE: This policy applies to all students.

RESPONSIBILITIES: School health councils, nutrition services providers, principals, teachers, parents and other school staff individually and collectively have the overall responsibility of carrying out the Student Water Break School Policy.

DEFINITIONS: Hydration—the introduction of additional fluid into the body.

Sample: Water Access Points Policy

Provided here is a sample school policy for water access points. This policy is an example for PTA members to refer to when creating their policy for one of the advocacy options provided.

TITLE: Water Access Points Policy

POLICY: The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that schools participating in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) or School Breakfast Program (SBP) make plain drinking water available to students at no cost during the breakfast/lunch meal periods at the locations where meals are served. Water is also required to be available during the after-school snack meal service. The [insert name of school or school district] is committed to ensuring that students have free, clean and functional water access points throughout the school. Water access points must be properly cleaned and maintained according to state requirements and the local health department. Additionally, water access points must be sanitized according to COVID-19 safety precautions set by each school and deep cleaned quarterly unless otherwise stated in the Local School Wellness Policy.

PURPOSE: To ensure that students have access to free, clean, and functional water access points.

SCOPE: This policy applies to all students.

RESPONSIBILITIES: School health councils, nutrition services providers, principals, teachers, parents and other school staff individually and collectively have the overall responsibility of carrying out the Student Water Break Policy.

DEFINITIONS:

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) – The federal agency that proposes programs and implements policies and regulations related to American farming, forestry, ranching, food quality and nutrition.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP) – Federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

School Breakfast Program (SBP) – Federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential childcare institutions. It provides reimbursement to states to operate nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions.

Sample: Water First Policy

Provided here is a sample school policy to promote water at PTA events. This policy is an example for PTA members to refer to when creating their policy for one of the advocacy options provided.

TITLE: Water First Policy

POLICY: The National Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is partnering with [insert name of school or school district] to promote the consumption of water at PTA events. They encourage all attendees of PTA events to choose water first over sugar-sweetened beverages because they are the top source of added sugars for all Americans which can lead to poor health outcomes. PTA volunteers will promote water at PTA events by displaying educational materials stating the benefits of water consumption over sugar-sweetened beverages and by providing water at no or reduced cost.

PURPOSE: To promote water consumption to all PTA event attendees.

SCOPE: This policy applies to all PTA volunteers.

RESPONSIBILITIES: School health councils, nutrition services providers, principals, teachers, parents and other school staff individually and collectively have the overall responsibility of carrying out the Water First Policy.

4. Advocacy Activation and CollaborationHow to Organize Supporters

Every great movement usually begins with one person or a small group of people that are passionate about advocating for change. While this is a pivotal part of getting an idea off the ground, it cannot stop there. There is strength in numbers, and organizing supporters is necessary to facilitate change. To organize supporters within your local school community, try following the three steps listed below:

Step 1: Find Your Supporters

Organizing a group can feel overwhelming, but the best way to get started is to find groups or individuals that are passionate about the same unmet need that you are trying to fill. You can do this by identifying people in your school community that have expressed interest in the past or work in an area related to the goals you are trying to accomplish. Contact these groups or individuals through any line of communication that feels most appropriate to you (e.g., in-person, phone call, text, email). In your conversation, explain the importance of the advocacy effort you are working towards and the goals you hope to achieve.

Step 2: Build A Relationship

Building a relationship with your supporters is a process that takes time and flexibility. There is no one “right way” to build a relationship with a group, but there are key guidelines to keep in mind. To build a healthy, thriving relationship with your supporters, it is important to be transparent about the goals you are trying to achieve, keep them informed about the latest updates to the project and be receptive to their opinions and constructive feedback. As you build a relationship with your supporters, do not be afraid to delegate. In fact, supporters will often feel more invested if there are opportunities for them to get involved. Remember that everyone has something to contribute.

Step 3: Maintain Momentum

Now that you have your core people in place, you will need to keep the work going at a steady pace. Getting people engaged initially can be easy if you can find the right allies or supporters, but it is keeping them engaged and involved, amongst all the other things happening, that is challenging. Ways to keep the momentum going include keeping supporters informed by holding regular stakeholder meetings, continuing to educate and engage the school community and mentoring other groups that are new to advocacy work.

Engaging with Stakeholders

Stakeholders in your school community may include parents, students, teachers, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators and members of the general public. When advocating for Healthy Hydration, it is important to engage with stakeholders to achieve success.

The more regularly you engage and involve stakeholders from the start, the more likely you will have positive results throughout the process. Stakeholders provide expertise, help uncover risks, and aid in developing effective strategies to implement in your advocacy efforts.

Partnering with School Nutrition Services

The School Nutrition Services team is a vital part of the school district. PTAs should position themselves as partners with the food service team and work with them to identify how they can work together. For the Healthy Hydration Movement, PTAs can connect with the School Nutrition Services team to see if they can be supportive in meeting the water requirement at mealtimes or provide water for families at meal distributions.

When identifying advocacy efforts, it is vital to engage with the School Nutrition Services director to see if there are needs that school nutrition may have, including equipment or training. Additionally, PTA members should invite School Nutrition team members to be supporters of the PTA Healthy Hydration Movement. Here is an additional resource from National PTA: Advocate for the Food Service Team.

Establishing a School Health Advisory Council (SHAC)What Is a SHAC or SHAB? [footnoteRef:9] [9: www.advocatesforyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/storage//advfy/documents/sea/missouri-shac-guide.pdf]

A school health advisory council (SHAC) or school health advisory board (SHAB) is usually a school board appointed advisory group that provides advice to the district about school health programs. They assist school districts in developing health policies and ensure that local community values are reflected in health education programs. The SHAC/SHAB is made up of parents, community members, students and school staff working together to improve the health of all students and families. Group members should represent different segments of the community.

Why Do We Need a SHAC/SHAB?

· By law, some states require every school to have a SHAC/SHAB

· A healthy child is more likely to be academically successful in school

· To create a healthy school environment for students

What Are the Roles Of a SHAC/SHAB?

Members of the SHAC/SHAB hold a variety of roles that address issues around health. Some common roles that are assigned to SHACs/SHABs include the following:

· Program Planning

· Advocacy

· Liaison with District and State Agencies

How Do I Develop a SHAC/SHAB?

When developing a SHAC/SHAB, consider the existing councils that may already serve at your school. Your school may consider expanding pre-existing health-related councils like the Drug-Free School Committee to address all school health programs. When a SHAC/SHAB needs to be developed from the ground up, consider the following steps to create your own SHAC/SHAB:

1. Review any established school district procedures for advisory councils

1. Prepare a brief proposal on the formation of a SHAC/SHAB

1. Gain support from the school district

1. Hold an initial meeting to determine interest in serving on the SHAC/SHAB

1. Compile the membership list and elect officers

1. Conduct training for members

1. Perform a needs assessment

1. Develop task and project plans based upon needs assessment

1. Establish a mechanism for regular reporting to the school district and community

How Are Members Selected to Serve on the SHAC/SHAB?

The procedure for obtaining members is different for each school district. Some districts allow individuals to volunteer to serve on the SHAC/SHAB, while others choose to hold elections for SHAC/SHAB members. In other instances, school board members appoint SHAC/SHAB members to represent them on the SHAC/SHAB.

Sample Invitation to Join the SHAC/SHAB

Date

Name

Job Title

Agency/Organization

Address

City, State, Zip Code

Dear [Insert Name],

The [Insert Name of School District] is establishing a School Health Advisory Council/Board to advise the school board and [Insert Name of School District Superintendent] on developing school health programs. The advisory council will advise and support the school’s efforts to design programs to help children develop the knowledge and skills they need to become healthy citizens.

As someone interested in the health and well-being of our children, we would like to invite you to join the district’s advisory council. The advisory council will include parents, students, teachers, school administrators, voluntary organizations, business representatives, health professionals and other interested, concerned citizens.

We hope that you can attend an organizational meeting on [Insert Day] at [Insert Time] at [Insert Location] to consider ways we can address the health needs of our community’s children and youth. If you have questions, please reach out to [Insert Name] at [Insert Phone Number or Email]. We look forward to working with you to promote better health among our district’s students.

Sincerely,

Name

Title

Agency/Organization

A Guide to Organizing an Advocacy Forum for School Community Members

Forum organizers should make every effort to plan the most effective forum possible because when well-planned, they can be a powerful tool used to organize, educate and engage school community members. Forums are used to raise the community’s awareness of important issues and motivate community members to participate in advocacy efforts.

This guide will help PTA leaders in organizing a forum used to present their Healthy Hydration Movement to the stakeholders within the school community for both an in-person and/or virtual format.

Planning the Advocacy Forum

Start by asking yourself the questions listed below:

· Who is your target audience for the forum?

· How will you promote the forum?

· What will be the format of the forum?

· What do you want to accomplish during the forum?

· What are the messages and facts that you want to convey to attendees?

· How do you want the attendee to feel after leaving the forum?

· What questions stakeholder to answer during the forum?

· Do you foresee any issues with hosting a forum? If so, how can you overcome this problem?

Steps to Organizing A Forum[footnoteRef:10] [10: www.communitycatalyst.org/doc-store/publications/a_guide_to_organizing_community_forums_jul02.pdf ]

Step 1. Know Your Audience

It is difficult to determine who will show up to a forum, but it is important to think ahead and have an idea of the needs of the audience that may attend. If you have specific individuals in mind that you would like to attend the forum, contact them ahead of time to let them know the details of the forum and what they can expect from the session. For general attendance, consider posting flyers around the school, advertising the meeting on social media and emailing stakeholders in the school community.

Step 2. Plan Your Presenters

Determine far in advance what the format of the forum will be like and who will be presenting. Delegate tasks to other PTA volunteers to facilitate the forum based on their skills and abilities. Consider inviting an elected official or health professional from your local community to discuss the importance of Healthy Hydration for students. If you invite a speaker from outside the school community, check with them to see if they have any special requests before arriving at the forum (e.g., Audiovisual equipment, transportation, access code for virtual meeting).

Step 3. Secure Your Meeting Space

In the case of a virtual meeting, PTA leaders will need to set up a virtual forum and allow attendees to access the video presentation. Read National PTA’s blog post on How to Get the Technology Your PTA Needs for ideas and make sure you follow National PTA’s Safety Guidelines for Virtual Conferences. It is highly encouraged to do a test run for virtual events to ensure all of the technology is working properly.

If meeting in-person, a meeting space will need to be secured in advance. PTA leaders may consider meeting in the school auditorium, cafeteria, or local library as a free of charge option. Materials needed during the forum should be requested in advance from the facility or local community (e.g., chairs, podium, microphone).

Be sure to follow your state’s specific rules and regulations around social distancing and public gatherings.

Step 4. Delegate Responsibilities

The day of the forum should be simple to execute if tasks are delegated in advance and enough volunteers sign up for the forum. Everyone must know their role in the forum to ensure it runs smoothly. If there are situations that do not go as planned, be ready to adapt, and make the best of what is available. Teamwork and collaboration among PTA members is key.

Step 5. Identify Potential Barriers

If you can, practice the meeting beforehand (virtually or in-person). Practice gives you the opportunity to work out any problems ahead of time and gives you time to adapt your plan before the forum begins. If held in person, hang signs that lead attendees to the location where your forum is held. If held virtually, send out instructions to potential attendees so that they will know how to operate and access the virtual format.

5. Policy ImplementationHow to Select and Implement Effective PoliciesSelect Your Policy

· Select a policy that:

· Fits the needs of your school community

· Will be effective and has a likelihood of producing results

· Is feasible to accomplish within the set perimeters

· Make sure your school has the time, resources and personnel to implement the policy

Develop Your Policy

· Decide on a specific and concise title for your policy

· Develop a policy that:

· Has clear headings and is easy to understand

· Follows a standard format to ensure consistency

· Easily editable when updates are needed

· Include a purpose statement at the beginning explaining why the policy is being developed

· Include the scope of your policy. Who will this policy impact?

· Outline the responsibilities of the people in charge of enforcing the policy

· Define any terms used in the policy that may be unfamiliar to readers

Implement Your Policy

· Consult with all relevant stakeholders before implementing a policy to ensure that all ideas and concerns have been considered

· When implementing a policy, tailor it to the specific needs of your community

· Make sure that the policy is accessible to the public

· Provide adequate training to those responsible for enforcing the policy

· Be consistent in your policy implementation and follow-up if your policy is not being observed

· Continue to update your policy periodically to ensure it stays relevant

· Collaborate with stakeholders and other community members to create collaborative results

Collaboration During Implementation

Collaboration is the process of two or more people or organizations working together to complete a task or achieve a goal. Collaboration is an essential part of the implementation phase because it creates better communication and teamwork among advocates. For the Healthy Hydration Movement, PTAs may collaborate with various members of their community to achieve advocacy goals. These community members may include parents, students, teachers, school health professionals, the school board, school administrators and members of the public.

Tips for Successful Collaboration

1. Stay open-minded: Be open to and accepting of new ideas

2. Be mindful of different communication styles: Evaluate your communication style and adapt as needed to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard

3. Prioritize organization: Being organized can help you delegate the workload efficiently

4. Think long-term: Contribute to a shared vision for the future to achieve the best end-results

5. Do not be afraid to debate: Be able to debate ideas tactfully and productively with stakeholders. This will help you identify challenges to your success and strategize solutions to those challenges.