Introducing systems change in the schools: the case of school luncheons and vending machines

Abstract

A major public health crisis facing America's society is the increase in child and youth obesity, which has seen a fourfold increase in the last four decades. Major concerns include what children eat for school lunch and what other foods are available in schools. This paper illustrates efforts towards systems change in the luncheon program and food vending machines in the Chicago Public Schools. We discuss the different factors that lead to such changes using the framework of the social ecological model and the soft systems methodology, and we analyze how the resulting innovation was implemented and evaluated. First, we present a theoretical perspective to explain factors that influence children's eating patterns from a systems approach. Second, we discuss the antecedent factors that lead to systems change. Finally, we examine challenges to systems change, such as resistance to change, different stakeholder priorities, lack of resources, institutional bureaucracy, and unrealistic funder expectations.

The Production, Communication, and Contestation of Physical Education Policy: The Cases of Mississippi and Tennessee

“…In fact, the evaluation report from the Coordinated School Health (CSH) program in Tennessee found that students' physical activity levels actually decreased during the first year of our study (CSH, 2008). Similar to other school-based research (Suarez-Balcazar et al, 2007), we found resistance to change due to a perpetuation of the status quo, a lack of school revenue and resources, and institutional bureaucracy. Evenson et al (2009) reported that, 'State legislation often mandates programs but does not offer sufficient guidance or resources to implement new policies ' (p. 236).…”

“…They proposed that SEM focuses attention on the contexts of behavior when designing, implementing or critically evaluating programs, and we argue that this can apply to physical education reform in schools. These data 'helped us understand the multiple perspectives of stakeholders which in this case were also a source of resistance to change and conflict' (Suarez-Balcazar et al, 2007;p. 345).…”

Differential Improvements in Student Fruit and Vegetable Selection and Consumption in Response to the New National School Lunch Program Regulations: A Pilot Study

“…For example, one previous study found that nutrition classes were needed to enable elementary school students to select more fruit or vegetables when a salad bar was introduced. 21 In the Institute of Medicine Report, support for school food service staff was recommended. 3 This support could include marketing and presentation tips, as well as training for the food service staff to offer positive encouragement about the foods during meal service.…”

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