Karin Wetherill Email & Phone Number

Ri Healthy Schools Coalition

Co-Director for statewide school wellness organization, working collaboratively with State agencies, community partner organizations, school district leadership and district wellness committees to advance healthy culture change in schools through policies and practices that positively impact health and education outcomes for RI children/youth. • Responsible for strategic planning and implementation of organizational mission• Provide leadership for program partnerships and establish and maintain external relationships and communication • Research and write grants to secure government and private funds and solicit corporate sponsorships and public donations for program operations• Responsible for school Outreach & Technical Assistance program, providing guidance based on compliance with federal/state regulation and individualized technical assistance for wellness objectives• Develop and deliver workshops and trainings for school administrators, staff, student and parents and community partners

Provides services to the RI Department of Health's CDC funded project. Assists target schools with the completion of the CDC School Health Index and with the use of results to plan for school and district based nutrition and physical activity policy and practice improvements.

Provides services to the American Heart Association to support school-based campaign goals so all children can grow up at a healthy weight, including awareness of RI's competitive foods standards in schools, law to eliminate unhealthy food and beverage marketing/advertising and effective Physical Education/Health in RI schools. Manages and coordinates activities for the statewide coalition, Alliance for a Healthier Rhode Island, and coordinates Youth engagement and advocacy. Provides technical assistance to school districts to adopt and implement policies addressing competitive foods, school marketing and effective Physical Education/Health.

Leads the RI Department of Education's Wellness Collaborative to provide guidance and support to RI school districts through a group process of local wellness policy assessment and review. Provides tools, resources and national model policy language and practices to assure compliance with HHFKA and state and federal regulations and laws. Delivers individualized technical assistance for help with local considerations, including the policy approval process, communication and implementation.

Lead staff member of state nonprofit organization working to create healthier school, community, and worksite environments and to reduce obesity and improve nutrition and fitness outcomes in children and adults. • Provided technical assistance and facilitation services to RI school districts wellness committees • Developed and delivered site based, experiential wellness programs for children and adults • Worked collaboratively with state agencies and community partner organizations to develop and execute various wellness initiatives • Helped craft healthy policy change at state, district and school levels • Organized annual state wide conferences for school leaders and national Healthy Food Trade shows • Part of development team for new line of business, Real Food First, focusing on worksite wellnessWork required strong interpersonal skills for advocacy, networking and constituent engagement, comfort with public speaking and presentations, flexibility and resourcefulness working both in teams and independently, attention to detail with multiple priorities, and ability to work within budgets and/or grant parameters.