STRATEGIC ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER

July 2003

Welcome to the update from the Strategic Alliance. In this issue, we highlight an upcoming strategy planning meeting in Sacramento. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for future issues.

UPCOMING EVENT

Planning Meeting in Sacramento, August 6, 4:30 pm

Join the Strategic Alliance for the first of several strategy planning sessions to be held around the state. This event will take advantage of Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, being in Sacramento. Current and potential new members are welcome to come and hear about the Alliance's activities, offer your own insights and experiences, and engage in a dialogue with Margo about the connections among local, state, and national advocacy efforts. Please look for another announcement soon for the exact location in downtown Sacramento.

PAST EVENTS

Marketing to Children Talk a Big Success

On June 11, the Strategic Alliance hosted a talk on "Schools, Marketing, and Children's Health," by Professor Alex Molnar, Ph.D., from Arizona State University. Professor Molnar spoke passionately about the different ways that unhealthy foods are becoming more prevalent on school grounds and also led a lively discussion on possible solutions. Thanks to the Center for Weight and Health for being our co-sponsor. If you missed the talk and would like a copy of Professor Molnar's informative handout, please email Michele Simon at Michele@preventioninstitute.org or call 510.444.7738.

Strategic Alliance Member Speaks At Institute of Medicine Forum on Obesity

On June 16, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth held a workshop on school nutrition and physical activity in Washington DC. Strategic Alliance steering committee member Harold Goldstein spoke about the importance of urging local politicians to enact nutrition reforms such as removing sodas and other junk foods from schools. Goldstein, executive director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy told the panel: "There is enormous potential for environmental change through policy reform." To read more about the Institute of Medicine's work on obesity, go to www.iom.edu/project.asp?id=5867.

NEWS WE CAN USE

Physical Inactivity Costing Michigan $8.9 Billion

A study commissioned by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports reports that physical inactivity in Michigan is costing $8.9 billion dollars a year including medical care, workers' compensation and lost productivity. If current trends continue, the cost of physical inactivity could increase to $12.65 billion by 2007. For full story, visit: michiganfitness.org.

Profits Soar With Improved School Food

One of the arguments often faced by advocates trying to improve the school food environment is that removing unhealthy options will result in a loss of revenue. But now there's evidence to the contrary from the Aptos Middle School in San Francisco. Since January, the school has eliminated junk food and replaced it with healthier fare. By March, the program became profitable, and finished the year more than $6,000 in the black. To learn more about this success story and for resources on how to implement changes in your school, visit: pasaorg.tripod.com/nutrition/aptos.html.

Is Junk Food the Next Tobacco?

This op-ed piece, written by Prevention Institute's program manager, Michele Simon, and originally published in the Oakland Tribune on June 8, highlights several ways that the law can be applied to take on the food industry. For full article, visit www.preventioninstitute.org/junkfood.html.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Amended Soda Bill Passes Assembly Committees

SB 677, informally known as the "soda ban bill," recently passed both the Assembly Health and Education Committees. Unfortunately, however, high schools were taken out. The amended version would restrict beverage sales during the school day in elementary, middle and junior high schools starting January 1, 2004. To track the status of this and other nutrition-related state legislation, visit California Food Policy Advocates, at: www.cfpa.net/legislation/2003LegistiveTrackingPage.htm.

RESOURCES

Physical Activity and Community Design

The National Center for Bicycling and Walking has a wonderful resource called Increasing Physical Activity Through Community Design: A Guide for Public Health Professionals. The guide gives practical advice on how to create more friendly community environments to encourage walking and biking. To order or download the report, visit www.bikewalk.org/PubHealth.htm.

Healthy Food Policy Resource Guide

California Project LEAN (Leaders Encouraging Activity and Nutrition) and the California School Boards Association have developed the Healthy Food Policy Resource Guide. Aimed at school board members and administrators who want to help students practice healthy eating habits through policy change, the guide offers a step-by-step approach for creating a healthy school environment. The guide outlines the link between nutrition, physical activity and learning; addresses the nutritional and physical activity status of children and youth; highlights examples of school districts that are successfully offering healthy foods and beverages; and provides sample policies, fact sheets and other resources. You can order a copy for $20 by calling 800.266.3382, or by visiting: www.californiaprojectlean.org/consumer/healthyGuide.html.

Bay Area Regional Afterschool and Nutrition Network

Sponsored by the Bay Area Partnership, the Bay Area Regional Afterschool and Nutrition Network (BARANN) provides critical, up-to-date policy and resource information to those who are working to build and strengthen afterschool and child nutrition programs in the Bay Area. To sign up for their monthly newsletter, email Erin Gabel at erin.gabel@bayareapartnership.org.

UPCOMING CONFERENCE

Social Marketing Conference 2003

The California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families presents its annual social marketing conference, From People to Policy: Empowering Healthy Change, on August 6 and 7 in Sacramento. This year's themes include "Policy, Systems & Environmental Change" and "Effective Advertising and Public Relations Approaches." The Strategic Alliance will be giving a presentation on "Innovative Partnerships and Collaborations." Visit www.matsonian.com/smc/about.htm for more information and to register.

TIP OF THE MONTH

Use a Big Jar of Sugar to Make the Point

By now, almost everybody knows about the huge success of getting a policy passed in the Los Angeles Unified School District to ban sale of sodas in schools there. What you might not know is one of the unconventional, yet very effective educational tools they used was a mason jar full of sugar, representing the average amount of sugar consumed each week by a teenage boy. This visual aid helped get attention from policymakers and media alike. For more details on the LAUSD's policy, visit: nojunkfood.org.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE?

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity, away from a focus on individual choice and lifestyle, towards one of environment and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy, California Food Policy Advocates, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Project LEAN, California WIC Association, Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Prevention Institute, and Samuels & Associates.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership. To join or for more information, please visit us on the Web, or contact Michele Simon at Michele@preventioninstitute.org or 510.444.7738.

And even if you're already a member, please forward this message on to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition. Thank you!

The Strategic Alliance is supported by funding from The California Endowment and The California Wellness Foundation.

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