The New Voices for Healthy Kids Water Access Toolkit

Advocating for water bottle filling stations that provide access to water at no charge to students in every school in the United States is something Voices for Healthy Kids—and the National Drinking Water Alliance—has supported for quite some time.

Why? Because water is a basic human need—something kids can’t live without. And because children spend so much time at school, having safe and appealing options for water is critical for them to live healthier lives.

As some schools reopen during the COVID-19 pandemic, water bottle filling stations are more important than ever before. Unlike water fountains, water bottle filling stations don’t come in contact with a person’s mouth, making them a sanitary way for students, teachers, staff and parents to stay hydrated while on campus.

But how do you work to get water bottle filling stations inside your schools? That’s where the new Voices for Healthy Kids Water Access in Schools Toolkit comes in handy. As you dive into this toolkit, you’ll find:

• Messaging that works on a variety of audiences

• Sample op-eds, letters to the editor, action alerts, social media posts and more

• Fact sheets, graphics and lobbying materials

In addition to the toolkit, please use Fast Facts for Water Access in Schools. This invaluable resource provides you with all kinds of American Heart Association science-approved, consumer-friendly messaging using the latest research.

Every kid deserves access to safe and appealing water in school. Together, we can make this a reality.

News post adapted from American Heart Association’s Voices for Healthy Kids