Aramark Joins the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Legacy Sponsor CVS Health to Advance Student Health and Education

The Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF), multi-cultural partner for SMART™ Student Health, is pleased to announce that Aramark has joined Legacy Funder, CVS Health, and SMART™ architect, Ginn Group Consulting (GGC), to support development of SMART™ Student Health and Wellness Centers in K–12 schools across the country.

SMART™, which stands for School Health Model for Academics Reaching All and Transforming Lives, is a solution dedicated to improving individual student and school academic outcomes by proactively delivering Active Access to physical and behavioral health care interventions within K–12 schools. It possesses a five-year track record of uniquely outstanding reach, results and impacts. Currently, there are SMART™ Centers in several schools in Chicago and rural Alabama, with plans to expand to other cities over the next 5 years.

“We are so grateful to have another industry leader help advance student health and education,” said Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO, HHF. “Aramark’s generous grant will allow us to build the infrastructure to maintain fidelity to the model, scale, expand and replicate SMART™ Centers across the country, and ultimately help break the cycle of poverty by supporting educators and eliminating or reducing the barriers to student success.”

“We are proud to join this powerful coalition, led by CVS Health and Ginn Group Consulting, that is making a significant, long-term impact on the health, well-being and academic achievement of young people,” said Eric J. Foss, Aramark’s Chairman, President and CEO. “As part of our mission to enrich and nourish lives, we focus on initiatives that advance health and wellness, and strengthen local communities. The SMART™ model is a truly innovative solution with impressive, holistic outcomes for schools, students and communities.”

In addition to the 5-year, multi-million dollar grant from the Aramark Charitable Fund, the company will also lend its expertise as a leader in K–12 nutrition, incorporating its Healthy for Life® and Feed Your Potential™ nutrition education and engagement programs into the SMART™ Centers.

“To have a national leader like Aramark, come alongside our extraordinary Legacy Funder, CVS Health and Cultural Advisor, HHF, and make such an extraordinary investment in the purpose and mission of SMART™ is incredibly affirming and exciting for all of our stakeholders,” said Melanie Ginn, CEO of GGC, and architect of the new model.

Expansion for 2018 includes three new SMART™ Centers in Pickens County Alabama, in partnership with the University of Alabama and Dr. Julia Boothe and two additional sites in Chicago at Gale Community Academy and Hibbard Elementary with medical provider partner Heartland Health Centers.

SMART™ was developed in Chicago in 2013 and recently marked 5 years of successful operation at its flagship site. Heartland was recruited in 2016 to serve as the medical provider partner. The flagship site has routinely reached 98% of the student population, increasing attendance by 3-4%, and improving the school’s academic metrics and rating, at lower operational costs than traditional models. The data collected from this nationally-recognized model has been shared in Washington, D.C. to members of Congress as a best practice innovation by Dr. Liza Cariaga-Lo, Vice President for Academic Development, Diversity and Inclusion at Brown University, (as a Formative Evaluation). Ginn recently presented to The Republican Task Force on Hispanic Affairs, founded and led by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).

The SMART™ Model will again be featured at the Second Annual SMART™ Congressional Briefing and Symposium in Washington, D.C. on December 4th and 5th, 2018 hosted by Ginn Group Consulting and the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and sponsored by CVS Health and Aramark.

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