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July 2007 |
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ENACT Local Policy Database Turns 100!
In July 2006, the Strategic Alliance launched the Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool (ENACT) Local Policy Database which houses local level policies that improve opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. One year later, we are happy to announce we have 100 policies in our collection!
We encourage you to take what other communities have done and tailor their policies to your own needs. Explore the local policy database to learn about promising policies that change people’s nutrition and activity environment, connect with local groups working on these issues, or share a great policy with us. For each policy, you’ll find a brief description, health implications, links to the companion ENACT tool, and the actual policy language. You’ll also find policy profiles for innovative policies that give you a deeper understanding for what it took to get the policy passed and implemented. Learn what Woodbury IA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles, CA and Olympia WA are doing to make their communities a healthier place! We’re always looking to add to our growing collection, so please submit a local policy. Check back frequently to get an idea of what’s happening in California and around the country!
Farm Bill Passes Through the House of Representatives On Friday, the House of Representatives approved the Farm Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007 in a mostly party line vote 231-191. According to the California Coalition for Food and Farming, “Despite major calls for reform, the [House] Ag Committee…missed a historic opportunity to enact serious reform and set a new direction for our food and farm policy.” The House version of the bill did include an important policy to allow schools to use geographic preference to purchase local food in all federally-funded Child Nutrition programs. It also expanded Food Stamp and Nutrition Education programs and increased funding for fruit and vegetable programs for schools. The bill also includes funding for a new loan program to support local processing and distribution that will make it easier for local farmers to serve schools and other institutional markets. However, the overall funding allocations for most of these programs remain small. Not only are advocates concerned about the modest funding support for these health-promoting programs, they are also concerned about provisions of the Farm Bill that may have a negative impact on health. The House version cut billions of dollars from the Conservation Security Program, it eliminated mandatory funding for the Community Food Projects Program and failed to provide mandatory funding for Organic Transition. Both the Community Food Projects and Organic Transition Programs, however, did receive discretionary funding. This means that instead of having an automatic place in the budget, these programs will have to go through the allocation process in order to receive funding each and every year. Finally, House Bill included a commodity reform policy that expands rather than cuts payment limits that farmers and agribusinesses can receive from the commodity program. The Farm Bill now makes it way to the Senate. The Senate Agriculture Committee is not expected to release its draft of the Farm Bill until after Labor Day. Stay tuned to Strategic Alliance action alerts, or visit California Coalition for Food and Farming for up-to-date information on the 2007 Farm Bill.
Prevention Initiatives Not Yet Strongly Integrated Into Health Care Reform The health care reform debate will be in full swing over the next four weeks. Now is the pivotal time to contact legislators and the Governor to share perspectives on what should be included in the final plan. As many readers know, Governor Schwarzenegger introduced early proposals related to health care reform that emphasized health care coverage for all while also proposing $52 million in funding dedicated to obesity prevention strategies including “community makeover fund” to support localities in fostering healthy community environments. The California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness conducted a briefing to highlight the links between health care reform and prevention, co-sponsored by the Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments and Prevention Institute among others. According to Leslie Mikkelsen, representing Strategic Alliance and Prevention Institute at the briefing, “The good news is, through the efforts of Strategic Alliance and our allies, legislative staff and the administration do understand the concept of healthy environments, citing menu labeling, access to parks, and consideration of health impact in planning decisions as examples of the support and structures needed to encourage people to make good choices. Now we need to make it clear why investing in healthy community environments is fundamental for the success of health care reform in order to reduce future costs and burden on the system.” At the July 13 meeting, staff representing the Governor and legislators shared key elements of their proposals. Presenters included Cindy Ehnes, Department of Managed Care (representing the Governor), Sumi Sousa (for Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez representing AB8 the bill newly merged Senator Pro Temp Don Perata’ SB48) and Sarah Rogers (Senator Sheila Kuehl). All expressed a commitment to wellness and prevention, defined as keeping healthy folks healthy, reducing risk factors, and preventing consequences in those diagnosed with chronic disease. Among the proposed strategies were clinical screening, prevention care services, chronic disease management, and health plan incentives for healthy behaviors. Absent from their presentations was any focus on specific efforts to improve community environments to support healthy behaviors. In response to audience queries, legislative staff suggested that these issues are being addressed independently by other bills rather than as a specific element of health care legislation. Click here for more information on health care reform.
Food Companies Bow to Pressure On July 18, 2007, 11 of the biggest food and beverage companies in the country—including the Kellogg Company, General Mills, Kraft Foods, the Coca Cola company and PepsiCo—announced voluntary pledges to set nutrition standards in the foods and beverages they promote to children and to reduce advertising to children under 12. These pledges come in response to increasing pressure on the industry to reform its foods and its marketing practices from those concerned about children’s health. The pledges are, as Margo Wootan of CSPI notes, a “positive and historic” step. By making these pledges the companies are acknowledging the link between food marketing and children’s health. However, it will take some time to assess the details of each company’s promises and whether they deliver on those promises. Right now there are some immediate concerns about the actual pledges, including the lack of uniformity between the companies in terms of nutrition or marketing criteria, the voluntary nature of the pledges, and the lack of protections for adolescents. To learn more about what you can do, please link to the Rapid Response alert.
Summer Lunch Report Released
... Summer Lunch Database Even though school has been out for several weeks, summer school will wind down in many school districts, so your help is needed to ensure that families find out about where children and teens can eat a free, nutritious lunch. You can search the Summer Lunch database by zip code, street name and city. Click here:
Statewide Menu Labeling Forums Open to the Public! The California Center for Public Health Advocacy, in coordination with SB 120 co-sponsoring organizations, is convening a series of statewide public forums on menu-labeling the week of July 30, 2007. Dr. Margo Wootan, Director of Nutrition Policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest and the nation’s leading public health expert on menu-labeling, will be speaking at the forums to discuss the importance of requiring restaurants to provide nutritional information on menus and menu boards.
California has the opportunity to lead the nation on this landmark issue, but needs your help to make sure that the legislature and the Governor understand the great need for access to nutrition information at the point of purchase. People need nutrition information to make informed choices: the time to get involved is now!
Please join us at a forum in your area to hear Dr. Wootan speak. All forums are free and open to the public. Space is limited; RSVP is required. See Schedule ... Prevention Institute is hiring! Prevention Institute is looking for candidates to join our growing team as a Program Coordinator or Program Assistant. The Institute advocates for primary prevention and develops methods for practice Our approach is interdisciplinary in nature, addressing health and social issues such as violence prevention, injury prevention, traffic safety, and nutrition and physical activity promotion. The Institute's work is characterized by a strong commitment to community participation and promotion of equitable health outcomes among all social and economic groups. Access the full job description and spread the word to others who might be interested, or contact greta@preventioninstitute.org for more details.
Upcoming Statewide Forums on Menu Labeling Various dates and locations (between July 30-Aug 2) Walk/Bike California 2007 Conference September 11-14, 2007, Davis, CA School Wellness Conference Healthy Communities Taking Action
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 Sana@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.
The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity--from a focus solely on individual choice and lifestyle, towards one of environmental influences and corporate and government responsibility.
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