American Cleaning Institute, CDC launch joint initiative to improve hand hygiene, prevent infectious disease via program that enables schools to earn cash, recognition for creating handwashing project, campaign, activity

Michelle Rivera

WASHINGTON , November 28, 2011 (press release) – The Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP program is a joint initiative of the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that seeks to improve hand hygiene and prevent infectious disease. This program is a perfect opportunity for schools to earn cash and recognition for creating handwashing project, campaign or activity.

The coming days will be filled with lots of special events, shopping, texting, cleaning and baking your favorite holiday treats. ACI encourages you to share the Clean Your Paws handwashing poster/coloring sheet with folks in your community. If you are looking for ideas for your school handwashing project for the Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP National Awards program, this coloring sheet can be your inspiration. Here are two project examples:

Focus on Children: Teach children to wash their hands. Have them color the sheet, select the best – and award a prize (gloves, mittens, etc.). For additional visibility, send completed coloring sheets to education@cleaninginstitute.org so ACI can add them to the art gallery.

Community Service: Collect mittens and gloves and hang on a holiday tree in your room or make a tree on your classroom door or wall. Collect hand sanitizer or soap and put it in the mittens/gloves and take to a local homeless shelter.

ACI has more handwashing education resources including story books, brochures, posters and coloring sheets that can support your project. You can download and copy as many as you need from www.cleaninginstitute.org/clean_living/hands_publications.aspx or email education@cleaninginstitute.org to request hard copies.

The deadline to apply for national awards recognition for the Healthy Schools, Healthy People, It’s a SNAP program is December 1st, and it's easy to apply:

1. Complete your school handwashing project, activity or campaign
2. Write a one page summary and gather a few pictures, new paper article, short video (less than 5 minutes please) or other supporting documents
3. Send in your summary, photos, etc. by December 1 to SNAP@cleaninginstitute.org

Full details about the Healthy Schools, Healthy People It’s a SNAP program and resources can be found online at www.itsasnap.org.

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