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Rosalie Aguilar-Santos

Rosalie Aguilar Santos, MS, is Salud America!'s national project coordinator. She is passionate about nutrition, physical activity, and opportunities to engage communities in advocacy actions to promote Latino childhood health.


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Articles by Rosalie Aguilar-Santos

4 Ways to Improve PE Standards in California Schools



According to California state law, all elementary school students should receive a minimum of 200 minutes of physical education (PE) every 10 days. For middle school students the number increases to 400 minutes of PE every 10 days. Unfortunately, Latino students, along with other minority & low-income students, are often denied access to physical education, despite widespread support for physical education among California’s constituents. In fact, The City Project reports that Californians not only favor PE, but they support it more than any other obesity prevention policy. When low-income students and students of color receive disproportionately lower levels of physical education and schools fail to comply with state law, The City Project says this becomes a civil rights ...

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Four Ways to Improve PE Standards in California Schools



According to California state law, all elementary school students should receive a minimum of 200 minutes of physical education (PE) every 10 days. For middle school students the number increases to 400 minutes of PE every 10 days. Unfortunately, Latino students, along with other minority & low-income students, are often denied access to physical education, despite widespread support for physical education among California's constituents. In fact, The City Project reports that Californians not only favor PE, but they support it more than any other obesity prevention policy. When low-income students and students of color receive disproportionately lower levels of physical education and schools fail to comply with state law---The City Project says this becomes a civil rights ...

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2015 America After 3PM Report–‘Kids on the Move: Afterschool Programs Promoting Healthy Eating and Physical Activity’



With over 10 million children attending afterschool programming, afterschool care providers can play an important role when it comes to expanding healthy eating and active living opportunities for children. An October 2014 report produced by the Afterschool Alliance highlights the latest research on how parents feel about the quality of afterschool care their children receive. For the survey, 13,709 households with children, throughout the U.S., answered an in-depth on-line survey. Key findings from report include: 80% of parents believed that afterschool programs should help children be active (82% of African American and Latino parents believed programs should help children be active) 70% of parents believed that afterschool programs should provide children with healthy ...

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A New Focus on Equality Brings Much Needed Park Renovations to Predominantly Latino Area of the Bronx



Children and residents living in the South Bronx, are hoping to see some long needed improvements brought to St. Mary's Park. Thanks to a $1.5 million commitment backed by city council member Melissa Mark-Viverito, the park's playground will hopefully soon see improvements. “If you are a child growing up in a community where everything around you is in disarray, with trash and broken things, it sends a message that you don’t count,” said Deborah Marton, executive director of the New York Restoration Project, in a New York Times article. “If you walk through a well-maintained open space, even in a low-income community, you feel like your city is investing in you.” According to the New York Times, although mayor Bill de Blasio recently launched a city-wide Community Parks ...

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Lawmaker Proposes Afterschool Recognition Program To Encourage Healthy Living



One Texas legislator hopes to encourage healthy eating and physical activity among students enrolled in after school programming, through the creation of a statewide distinguished afterschool recognition program (DASH). Legislation for the program was first introduced by Texas state representative Carol Alvarado in February 2015. If created the proposed program would recognize before and after school care providers with recognition for going the extra mile to ensure that all children are provided with healthy opportunities during the out-of-school setting. After school care providers would be eligible to apply for yearly recognition if they provide: staff member training on the importance of modeling healthy eating and physical activity; regular & ongoing nutrition ...

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Report Finds Latino Parents Support Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards in After School Programs



With over 10 million children attending afterschool programming, afterschool care providers can play an important role when it comes to expanding healthy eating and active living opportunities for children. An October 2014 report produced by the Afterschool Alliance highlights the latest research on how parents feel about the quality of afterschool care their children receive. For the survey, 13,709 households with children, throughout the U.S., answered an in-depth on-line survey. Key findings from report include: 80% of parents believed that afterschool programs should help children be active (82% of African American and Latino parents believed programs should help children be active) 70% of parents believed that afterschool programs should provide children with healthy ...

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How faith based organizations (FBOs) Can Promote Better Health In Their Community



Faith based organizations (FBOs) are uniquely positioned to expand their congregation's opportunities for learning about & leading a healthy lifestyle. However, according to a recent study conducted among 844 faith leaders throughout the U.S., over 77% of clergy members were overweight or obese. While certain barriers such as a lack of medical insurance, fear, language, embarrassment, and beliefs in fatalism might contribute to the poor health of some church members, faith based organizations have the opportunity to step in to offer services to those that they might not otherwise have access to. Faith-based leaders can counteract unhealthy lifestyles by providing accurate health information, addressing cultural beliefs about health and addressing behaviors which ...

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Latino Kids From the Bronx Run in First Ever Times Square Kids Run



Over 1,000 kids (including many Latinos) will be running in the New York Road Runners' (NYRR)  first-ever Times Square Kids Run! The free event which is part of the NYRR's Five-Borough Series is set to kick-off on Sunday March 15, 2015 alongside the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon. Events like these are especially important for Latino kids  who are often faced with multiple barriers to physical activity. For kids at one school, PS 159 in the Bronx, programs like the NYRR's young runners program provide them with the opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis. At PS 159, teacher Sally Bojorquez leads the running team in morning runs on a weekly basis. For some of the students running in the race, this will be their first time leaving the Bronx. Starting at ...

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Legislators Introduce Policy to Boost Daily Physical Activity For Students in Maryland



A House bill aimed at increasing daily physical activity among elementary school students was introduced to the Maryland legislature, Feb. 4, 2015. If enacted, elementary school students would receive a total of 150 minutes per week of physical activity, with a minimum of 90 minutes devoted to physical education (PE). According to the bill, the remaining minutes should consist of "developmentally appropriate moderate-to-vigorous," activities such as recess. Additionally, the bill would require that all public elementary schools develop a physical activity leadership team who would oversee the planning of activities that would increase the quality and quantity of physical activity.The state board would be responsible for adopting regulations that would facilitate the implementation ...

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