Washington

Located in the upper Pacific Northwest, Washington state shares a border with Canada to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its largest city, Seattle, houses more than half of the state’s population and is known for its thriving tech industry and coffeehouse culture.

There is much for Washingtonians to be proud of about their state. But one fact that most would like to change is that more than a quarter of Washington’s young people are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for serious health problems.

Thanks to support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kaiser Permanente and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is working with communities throughout the state to make it easier for kids to lead healthier lives.

Our Work in Washington

In Washington, we’re making it easier for kids to develop healthy habits.

More than 640 schools serving over 379,000 students across the state have joined Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program, creating healthier school environments for children to thrive. Since 2007, 12 Washington schools have been recognized with National Healthy Schools Awards for their outstanding efforts.

We’ve also made it easier for more than 12,000 youth in 67 out-of-school time programs to eat right and move more through our Healthy Out-of-School Time Initiative.

Success Stories

Hear from school champions from just two of the many schools and districts we work with in Washington: Heritage High School, enrolled in the Healthy Schools Program since 2014; and Mark Morris High School, enrolled since 2014. 

Thanks to the Healthy Schools Program, we’ve been able to transform our school into one that puts wellness for students, staff, and community first! Their resources helped us to see that our goal wasn’t far off and gave us the confidence and tools to achieve a healthier environment.

Daniel Orrantia

Associate Principal, Heritage High School

The Healthy Schools Program Manager for our school has been pivotal in supporting and promoting a healthy atmosphere in our school.

Lisa Kloke

Health/PE Teacher & District PE Coordinator, Mark Morris High School

From Our Program Manager

Our Healthy Schools Program Managers work in Washington, supporting our work in schools. Hear from them about the impact we’re making in Washington.

Through the Healthy Schools Program, Washington schools empower staff to cultivate healthier environments where students thrive and are ready to learn.

Tara Witten

Healthy Schools Program Manager, WA