LIBERTY — School administrators, Sullivan 180 members and elected officials gathered in the lobby of the CVI Building in Liberty to announce a new health initiative for Sullivan County schools.

The “Empowering a Healthier Generation School Award,” will be a competition over the 2020/21 school year with over $200,000 in monetary awards and grants available for county school districts that show the most progress in promoting health and wellness.

Sullivan 180 is a non-profit organization founded to address the consistently low health rankings of Sullivan County. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation ranks Sullivan as 61 out of 62 counties in New York State in terms of health outcomes.

“With the help of many partners and organizations collectively working together with the same vision, our mission is the building of a healthier Sullivan County, reversing that ranking 180 degrees, one degree at a time,” said Sandra Gerry, Chair of the Board of Directors for Sullivan 180.

She described the competition as much like the model for Sullivan Renaissance Feather Awards, but more geared and designed to school districts.

Gerry was joined by State Senator Jen Metzger, Sullivan BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Robert Dufour, County Health Services Director Nancy McGraw and Sullivan 180 Executive Director Sandi Rowland.

Metzger, who just recently presented Sullivan 180 with the New York State Empire Award, said she was delighted to partner with school districts who are already taking initiative toward promoting healthy lifestyles for younger generations.

“Making sure that young people here in Sullivan County have access to healthy choices is vital to their physical, emotional and social well-being,” Metzger said.

Rowland said they structured the program as a competition to “encourage students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents to think of bold and innovative ways to promote health and wellness in their districts, and also to recognize those districts that are doing exemplary work.”

Rowland said all the county school districts will have two months to submit an application highlighting opportunities in categories such as physical fitness, healthy eating, emotional and mental health, as well as parent and community involvement.

At the end of May, five finalists will be chosen to participate in the competition over the inaugural academic year. Those districts will have access to seed grants and technical assistance over the next academic year to help implement their proposals.

In April, 2021, the schools will report back on their accomplishments to a panel of outside judges who will conduct site visits and determine award winners. The principal award is a $200,000 SAM grant offered through Sen. Metzger's office.

“I foresee every school district in Sullivan County applying for this grant,” Dr Dufour said. “Schools have a number of budgetary constraints that limit the opportunity to expand initiatives not tied to instructional requirements. Being awarded funds to expand wellness initiatives will benefit everyone in the school community.”