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January 2008 |
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State Budget Cuts Impact Nutrition and Physical Activity
On January 10, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released the 2008-09 fiscal year budget which calls for a 10% across-the-board reduction in spending for all agencies and programs. The Governor is asking that the spending cuts be implemented by March 1st and is calling a special legislative session for that purpose. If passed, the budget would make it even harder for families in California to afford a healthy diet, be physically active, and have access to affordable, culturally competent healthcare. Read more about the important cuts that would affect nutrition and physical activity in California...
New Action Plan Released in Contra Costa County On January 11, the Healthy and Active Before 5 collaborative unveiled the culmination of a year-long planning process to develop an action plan to combat early childhood obesity in Contra Costa County. The goal of this comprehensive action plan is to create food and activity environments in neighborhoods and key institutions that will motivate and support children and families to adopt healthy behaviors. The final plan is composed of eight key principles, developed by leaders from many Contra Costa organizations and agencies, with input from families throughout the County. Read more...
Farmers’ Market Vouchers Increases Fruit and Vegetable Consumption
A new study shows that vouchers given to low-income women to purchase produce at farmers’ markets substantially increased fruit and vegetable consumption. University of California, Los Angeles researchers provided Federal WIC participants $10 in weekly vouchers to purchase fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets and supermarkets. Women who shopped at farmers’ markets consumed an average of 3 additional servings of fruits and vegetables daily compared to the control group. Women who used their vouchers at supermarkets increased their consumption by 1.5 servings per day. Read more... ...
McDonald's Report Card Ads Expelled from Seminole County
Last month, Strategic Alliance reported on a McDonald’s program in Seminole County, Florida that sent elementary school students’ report cards home in envelopes that promised free Happy Meals to those with good grades or attendance (learn more). The issue received national media attention after a Seminole County parent, outraged that children would be rewarded with fast food for academic performance, complained to the school board and alerted Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood of the program. The bad publicity and the 2,000 letters McDonald’s received in response were successful in getting the program to end. This victory sends a strong message to fast food corporations that rewarding children with junk food, though legal, will not be tolerated. Visit CCFC’s website for more details.
Good Health Counts: A 21st Century Approach to Health & Community for California What makes a community healthy? "Good Health Counts: A 21st Century Approach to Health and Community for California" synthesizes findings from nearly 100 community report cards and indicator reports from throughout the country and broadens understanding of all the elements that contribute to community health. Read more...
The Ad-Hoc Coalition for Healthy School Siting Needs You!
The Ad-Hoc Coalition for Healthy School Siting has spearheaded an effort to urge the California Department of Education to revise existing school siting regulatory requirements while undergoing a current document revision process. The coalition is seeking California-based organizations to sign on in support of the letter and research brief. Please email Carol Chao by January 28th at 12 noon notifying her of your organization’s endorsement. Read more about school siting and the coalition... ...
New CDC Funding Opportunity
SF Town Hall Meeting on Land Use and Health January 30, 2008, San Francisco, CA The Ethics of Food and the Environment Events January 17-April 23, 2008, Palo Alto, CA Models for Addressing PE, Safe Routes to School, and School Health February 4, 2008, Sacramento, CA Regional Equity ‘08: Summit on Equitable Development, Social Justice, and Smart Growth March 5-7, 2008, New Orleans, LA Celebration of Nutrition and Fitness Advocacy in California March 6, 2008, Los Angeles, CA ... Making Change Matter: Maximizing Impact of New WIC Foods April 7, 2008, Los Angeles, CA (new date!) ... BEAT Institute (Built Environment Assessment Training Institute) International Urban Parks Conference September 21-23, 2008, Pittsburgh, PA
Thanks for reading! The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership. If you were forwarded this e-mail and want to receive your own copy in the future, please click here or e-mail carol@preventioninstitute.org. And if you’re already a member, please forward this message to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition. Thank you!
WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE? The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity away from a focus solely on individual choice and lifestyle towards one of environmental influences and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA), California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA), California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS), California Project LEAN, California WIC Association (CWA), Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Partnership for the Public’s Health, Prevention Institute, Samuels & Associates, and YMCA of the East Bay.
The Strategic Alliance is supported by funding from The California Endowment.
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