STRATEGIC ALLIANCE NEWSLETTER

October 2004

Welcome to the latest newsletter from the Strategic Alliance, which provides an update on the three nutrition and physical activity bills supported by the Alliance, upcoming events and resources of interest, including the new Institute of Medicine Report on Preventing Childhood Obesity.

"Prevention of obesity in children and youth is, ultimately, about community -- extending beyond individuals and families."
-Institute of Medicine, Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, 2004.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATES

Governor Signs Safe Routes to School Reauthorization!
SB 1087 (Soto) was signed by Governor Schwarzenegger. SB 1087 extends the life of California's Safe Routes to School program until 2008 and will dedicate $20-25 million federal transportation dollars a year for six categories of projects: sidewalk improvements; traffic calming and speed reduction; pedestrian/bicycle crossing improvements; on-street bicycle facilities; and, traffic diversion improvements. Renewal of the Safe Routes to School legislation is a pragmatic way to increase walking and biking in communities while bringing federal dollars to our State. For more information on SB 1087 and Safe Routes to School, please visit http://www.eatbettermovemore.org/policy.html.

Governor Vetoes AB 2686
Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed AB 2686 (Jackson), which (as amended) would have urged school districts to adopt certain standards for the fat and saturated fat levels for entrées served as part of the National School Lunch Program while providing parents with nutrition information about the school lunch program. Although clearly disappointing, the language in the Governor's veto letter does "seem to open the door to an omnibus nutrition bill next year" according to the California Food Policy Advocates, who sponsored the bill. Governor Schwarzenegger explained "I have long been committed to the physical health and fitness for kids and adults alike for many years and am concerned that childhood obesity rates have increased dramatically... The State should tackle important child obesity and health issues in a comprehensive manner."

SB 1566 fails passage on the Assembly floor
SB 1566 (Escutia), which would have established comprehensive nutrition standards for all foods sold outside of the federal meal programs in all California public schools K-12, failed in the Assembly, falling 5 votes short of the 41 votes needed for passage. The California Center for Public Health Advocacy, sponsors of the bill, vow that they will be back next year "to get junk food out of schools!" Final vote tally

UPCOMING EVENTS

CANFit Partners with CalSAC to Host the National Middle School Conference
The California Adolescent Nutrition & Fitness (CANFit) Program is partnering with the California School-Age Consortium (CalSAC) to host the National Middle School Conference: Take Your Job and Love It! at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco on November 3-6, 2004. The conference will provide an exciting and valuable training experience, especially for after-school, school-age care, and youth development professionals. Workshop topics will include behavior guidance, diversity and inclusion, fitness and nutrition, integrating academics, program management, pop culture, and much more. A conference brochure with registration form can be downloaded. Contact CANFit at 510-644-1533 or info@canfit.org for more information on the conference in general.

RESOURCES

Institute of Medicine Report, Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance, 2004
In response to a request from Congress for a prevention-oriented action plan to tackle the alarming rise in childhood obesity, the IOM Committee on Prevention of Obesity in Children and Youth has developed a comprehensive national strategy that recommends specific actions for families, schools, industry, communities, and government. The report provides a broad-based examination of the nature, extent, and consequences of obesity in U.S. children and youth, including the social, environmental, and dietary factors responsible for its increased prevalence. The report's action plan lays out explicit goals and recommendations for preventing obesity and promoting healthy weight in children and youth in various segments of society. It also explores the actions needed to initiate, support, and sustain the societal and lifestyle changes that can reverse the trend among our children and youth.

Understanding Nutrition: A Primer on Programs and Policies in California is one in a series of primers offered to assist practitioners and policy leaders in advancing their basic knowledge of complex social service systems. This Primer offers a statistical profile of the weight, dietary practices, and physical activity of Californians, a review of the relevant federal and state governmental structures and laws, a description of the programs supporting nutrition and community food security, and a review of the key policy issues.

Rethinking School Lunch (RSL) is a comprehensive resource that explores an innovative vision: School lunch as part of an integrated curriculum using local food systems as a context for learning, while restoring the connection of farms to communities, meals to culture, and health to our children and environment.

The Healthy Transportation Network (HTN), a project of the California Center for Physical Activity, strives to promote the health and economic benefits of walking and biking to California's local elected officials and city managers. The HTN website will serve as a user-friendly, interactive hub for local electeds seeking tools and resources such as success stories, model zoning codes and ordinances, and even opportunities to request direct technical assistance. For further information about the Healthy Transportation Network, please visit healthytransportation.net or contact HTN Project Coordinator Jeffery Rosenhall at 916.552.9885 or jrosenhall@dhs.ca.gov.

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 Parks and Recreation Society, California Project LEAN, California WIC Association, Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Prevention Institute, Samuels & Associates and YMCA of the East Bay.

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, eatbettermovemore.org, or contact Sana Chehimi at 510.444.7738 or sana@preventioninstitute.org. 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.

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