United Way of West Florida (UWWF) is proud to announce the expansion of its Healthy Schools Escambia (HSE) program to four Escambia County elementary schools, serving students and families with comprehensive, whole-child wellness initiatives. Funded by the Escambia Children's Trust, Healthy Schools Escambia is founded on the principle that children thrive when schools, families, and communities work together to support their physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Healthy Schools Escambia is dedicated to building healthy learning environments by partnering with local schools, families, and community organizations to ensure every child’s physical, emotional, and academic well-being. With selection by the Escambia County Public School System and building on the program’s successful first year at O.J. Semmes Elementary and Global Learning Academy, HSE now includes Brentwood Elementary and West Pensacola Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year. The program follows the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) framework, a research-based approach that coordinates school and community resources to foster student success. Through responsive access to healthcare, enrichment opportunities, and family engagement, HSE empowers students to succeed both in school and in life.
Promote Healthy Habits
Healthy Schools Escambia prioritizes student movement and physical wellness. During its first year, the program implemented after-school sports programming at Global Learning Academy and West Pensacola Elementary through YMCA’s Y-Sports initiative, engaging 42 students across partner schools in activities that encourage teamwork and healthy habits. Field trips to Fort Pickens and the Gulf Breeze Zoo offered 72 students at O.J. Semmes Elementary the opportunity to engage in physically active, experiential learning, connecting movement with exploration and real-world discovery. Investments in physical education resources and structured recess activities at Global Learning Academy enhanced students’ daily movement experiences and built a foundation for lifelong wellness.
Lifelong Well-Being
Nutrition and health education have been central to HSE’s approach. The program hosted school registration events and summer enrichment programs that connected families with nutrition support and food security services, benefitting more than 25 families. Students engaged in hands-on learning about healthy food choices, the importance of balanced diets, and the relationship between nutrition, active play, and mental wellness. Nearly 800 students and community members also received child abuse prevention and safety education through partnerships with Gulf Coast Kids House.
Student Development
Healthy Schools Escambia supports the social and emotional well-being of students through mentorship, tutoring, and wellness initiatives. Council on Aging of West Florida’s Foster Grandparent Program provided emotional support and intergenerational connection for over 322 students, while after-school tutoring at Global Learning Academy, O.J. Semmes, West Pensacola Elementary, and Brentwood Elementary strengthened both academic and relational growth.
Incentive programs encouraged positive behavior, attendance, and academic achievement, and summer enrichment activities blended academic and social-emotional development for students entering fifth grade.
Faculty and staff at all partner schools also received wellness activities and healthy meals, reinforcing a culture of well-being throughout the school community.
Health Services
Access to health services was a key focus of HSE’s first year. Medical and dental care reached over 358 students, and school events provided free health screenings and vaccinations to ensure students started the school year ready to learn. The program also facilitated mental health support for families, referring students and parents to Lakeview for ongoing services, and conducted home visits to connect families with wellness supports. Collaborative efforts with Legal Services of North Florida and local community-based agencies addressed housing instability for several households, ensuring that students’ basic needs were met alongside their health and learning needs.
Family Engagement
Family engagement remains a cornerstone of the program. Parent Café sessions, hosted by ARC Gateway/Help Me Grow, home visits, and school registration events created meaningful opportunities for families to participate in school life and connect with resources. Needs assessments conducted by the University of West Florida with families and school staff helped guide programming focused on education, basic needs support, expanded health services, trauma-informed training, and after-school enrichment opportunities. Families were recognized through incentive programs for supporting children’s attendance and participation, helping to strengthen school-family partnerships.
Student Success
HSE exemplifies UWWF’s broader mission to advance health, youth opportunity, and family well-being in Escambia County. By expanding to four elementary schools, the program strengthens its capacity to transform schools into community hubs where partnerships and resources come together to support students and families.
As the program continues to grow, UWWF is committed to expanding its reach across its many programs, ensuring that more students across Escambia County have access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.