UPDATED for SY 26/27! The USDA Triennial Assessment Explained in 3 Steps
The USDA requires all SFAs to complete a Wellness Policy Triennial Assessment on a 3-year cycle. A Triennial Assessment is a formal assessment of your wellness Policy. It’s an opportunity to review and update your wellness policy and assess progress towards the goals you’ve set.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to running a successful Triennial Assessment meeting:
Step 1: Prework
Gather and review the following documents - SFS has prepared templates for you:
Your most recent Wellness Policy
Grab a copy of your Wellness Policy and complete the WellSat Assessment (20 minutes).
This is a quick and easy questionnaire that allows you to compare your Wellness Policy to a model policy.
Once complete, the survey will tell you where your policy is strong and where it can be improved.
Use this data to fill the Areas of Strength and Opportunities for Improvement sections on pg. 1 of the Triennial Assessment Document prior to the wellness meeting.
Save the completed WellSat form somewhere safe. You’ll need to reference this data during your Triennial Assessment meeting.
Schedule your meeting and invite the community.
The USDA requires that the meeting be open to the public.
Post a meeting invite to your website. Here’s a template invite to post:
Hi Families, Students, Staff, and Community Members,
(SFA) is hosting a School Wellness Committee Triennial Assessment meeting to bring together families, staff, community members, and students to help support community health and wellness. Your input is particularly important, and we would be honored to have you as a Wellness Committee member. We hope you will accept our invitation and join us as we prepare our students for college, fulfilling careers, and a healthy life.
Our next meeting will take place on (date) from (time) to (time). For location information, including a virtual meeting link if applicable, please reach out to (name) at (email).
If you have any questions or want to know more about what sort of responsibilities you would have as a member, please contact (name) at (contact information here).
Step 2: Hold the Meeting
Open the Triennial Assessment Document and delegate someone as the note-taker in this document. If possible, share this document on your screen or project it for the group. This document will guide you through the entire meeting!
Component #1: Comparison to a Model LSWP (Triennial Assessment Document pg. 2)
Review the findings from the WellSat Assessment.
Note any changes you’d like to make to your Wellness Policy based on these findings.
Component #2: Evaluation of Compliance (Triennial Assessment Document pg. 3)
Assess - in practice, are we actually compliant with our Wellness Policy?
Component #3: Progress Made in Reaching LSWP Goals (Triennial Assessment Document pg. 4)
Review progress towards the wellness goals we’ve set.
Component #4: Housekeeping and Public Reporting
Delegate tasks to committee members.
Step 3: Housekeeping
Complete the tasks delegated during the meeting. Ensure the Triennial Assessment document is posted to the school website and that the meeting documents are saved somewhere safe.
Any questions? Just ask SFS. We’re happy to help!