NEWS RELEASE
Step Up for Wellness: Michigan Schools Can Apply for 2026-2027 Building Healthy Communities Program
Teddy Lemmer
| 4 min read
DETROIT, April 27, 2026 — Schools across Michigan have a new opportunity to prioritize student well-being and academic success as the Building Healthy Communities (BHC) program opens applications for the 2026-2027 school year. Since 2009, this innovative initiative has impacted 615,000 students in more than 1,400 schools, transforming school environments to improve the health of students and staff.
Building Healthy Communities: Step up for School Wellness program creates healthier environments to foster lifelong healthy behaviors that decrease rates of obesity, reduce absenteeism, address trauma and promote a productive teaching and learning environment. The program utilizes a five-step model that offers 18 resources for schools to select from to meet their unique needs., BHC empowers:
Students to be more physically active each day and to make healthy choices—including fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy, whole grains and lean proteins—and learn and practice social and emotional skills.
Schools to make changes in policies, systems and the environment that promote a culture of wellness, supporting the well-being of both students and staff.
New Smart Swaps Resource
This year, a Smart Swaps resource will be available through the program, offering support and culinary training to help school food service programs comply with updated nutrition standards. It provides recipes, menu templates and training tools that promote the use of Smart Swaps. Schools choosing this resource will receive assistance in meeting the new standards through student-approved recipes with lower amounts of added sugar and higher protein content. The educational and training materials focus on cooking techniques designed to fit within the staffing, time and space constraints typical of K-12 kitchens.
What Leaders are Saying
“Building Healthy Communities is a long-standing initiative to help schools increase healthier environments for students and staff and we’re incredibly proud that, over the past 17 years, our impact and the resources we provide with our partners have only grown,” said Tiffany Albert, senior vice president of Community Relations and chief inclusion officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. “It’s truly rewarding to hear from schools about the positive changes they’re seeing in the healthy behaviors of their students, staff and communities. Nutrition, physical activity and mental health are all fundamental issues—and addressing them is essential to making health care more affordable. That’s exactly what BHC is doing.”
“Our schools’ success with the Healthy Smoothies resource has been incredible,” said Sydney Hebel, Adapted PE Teacher, Diann Banks Williamson Education Center, Detroit Public Schools Community School District. “Students are making healthier choices, learning about nutrition and discovering the impact of fueling their bodies with the right ingredients. This program has empowered them to take ownership of their well-being, sparking excitement for a healthier lifestyle that extends beyond the classroom.”
“Reading the plethora of research available regarding the effects of physical activity on classroom performance is one way to understand why implementation of breaks is important,” said Jessica Rollins, Teacher, Ronald Brown Academy, Detroit Public Schools Community District. “Actually seeing the students joyfully participating in daily physical activity breaks, following prescribed routines and getting right back to work afterward, is far more impactful.”
Partners and Support
Multiple statewide organizations support the Building Healthy Communities program, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Wayne State University Center for Health and Community Impact, United Dairy Industry of Michigan, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Department of Education, the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology, Michigan Recreation and Park Association and OK2SAY.
How to Apply
All public, charter and private nonprofit schools in the state are encouraged to review the full program descriptions and eligibility information at bcbsm.com/buildhealth. Applications are due June 1, 2026, and can be submitted at buildinghealthycommunities.arewehealthy.com.
Building Healthy Communities supports Blue Cross’ ongoing commitment to children’s health and its #MIKidsCan campaign – an initiative focused on encouraging kids to adopt healthy habits early in life that are more likely to be carried into adulthood. For more information on Blue Cross’ ongoing efforts to help improve childhood health, visit AHealthierMichigan.org/MIKidsCan.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides health benefits to more than 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies residing outside the state. The company has been committed to delivering affordable health care products through a broad variety of plans for businesses, individuals and seniors for more than 80 years. Beyond health care coverage, BCBSM supports impactful community initiatives and provides leadership in improving health care. For more information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBlueDaily.com.
