The Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds Institute (HBHM) is an annual, free professional development conference that helps educators, school leaders, and youth-serving professionals create healthier, more equitable school environments. Hosted by the Pottstown Regional Community Foundation (PRCF), HBHM highlights wellness as a core driver of student success, staff wellbeing, and positive school culture.
Since 2011, the Institute has reached thousands of participants from public, private, and charter schools, as well as community organizations, across western Montgomery, northern Chester, and eastern Berks Counties.
The Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds Institute is a cornerstone of PRCF’s broader School Wellness Initiative, which supports whole child wellbeing through grantmaking, the School Wellness Checklist Challenge, and the regional School Collaborative.
Wellness touches every aspect of learning. When students and staff have access to nutritious food, safe and active learning environments, and mental health supports, schools see improvements in:
HBHM promotes a systems approach to education and health, helping schools move from one time programs to sustainable practices that are woven into everyday routines.
Through the Institute, participants:
HBHM is designed for:
Each year, the Institute draws participants from PRCF partner districts and schools across the region, including:
In recent years, HBHM has:
HBHM is a one day event, typically held in early August at Montgomery County Community College’s Pottstown Campus. The conference is free to attend, and breakfast and lunch are provided. A typical conference day includes:
A keynote speaker grounds the day in practical strategies for educator wellbeing, resilience, and school culture.
Participants choose from interactive workshops aligned with the conference tracks.
Hands on activities such as movement breaks, mindfulness practices, or peer to peer conversations.
Facilitated small group discussions where educators share challenges, solutions, and resources across districts.
Additional workshops that help participants translate ideas into action plans for their schools.
Recognition of School Wellness Checklist champions, conference highlights, and next steps for the coming school year.
Professional development credits such as Act 48 are available to Pennsylvania educators who complete the required participation and evaluation forms.
Each year, the Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds Institute features a unique conference theme and a mix of tracks that reflect current needs in schools. Recent themes have focused on ideas like:
While the specific theme and tracks change annually, HBHM consistently highlights the connection between wellness, equity, and learning. Examples of previous HBHM tracks include:
How schools partner with families, nonprofits, health systems, higher education, and local leaders to support students and staff.
Strategies to address stress, anxiety, trauma, and grief for both students and adults, including trauma informed practice, emotional regulation, and creating supportive classrooms.
Practical ideas for integrating physical activity, movement based learning, and staff wellness into the school day, along with lifestyle habits that support long term health.
Approaches to improve nutrition education, food access, school meals, and active play across the school environment.
Best practices for using the School Wellness Checklist to design, implement, and sustain comprehensive wellness strategies that align with district policies and the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model.
Ways to build self awareness, self management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making for students and adults.
Sessions that explore how wellness efforts can better serve students and staff of all backgrounds, with attention to identity, culture, and fair access to resources.
Not every track appears every year, but all HBHM content supports a shared vision: schools as healthy, equitable, and engaging places for students and staff to learn, work, and thrive.
There are several ways to engage with the Healthy Bodies Healthy Minds Institute:
PRCF is building a dedicated fund to sustain HBHM for years to come. Contributions of any size are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law and directly support program costs.
At the moment, this fund is not live, so please leave a dedication in your donation to HBHM.
