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Amanda Merck

Merck completed her MPH with a concentration in Physical Activity and Health. She curates content for Salud America! (@SaludAmerica), a Latino childhood obesity prevention project based at the Institute for Health Promotion Research at UT Health San Antonio. She focuses on the latest research, resources, and stories related to policy, systems, and environmental changes to enhance equitable access to safe places for kids and families to walk, bike, and play.

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Articles by Amanda Merck

Florida Kids Under Age 5 Learn Water Safety Thanks to Voucher Program



In the past 15 years, the drowning rate of school-age children in Broward County, Fla. (27.5% Latino), has plummeted thanks in part to SWIM Central, a program that provides free water safety education classes and transportation for public school children. SWIM Central is funded by the Children’s Services Council (CSC), Broward County, and Broward County School District. The CSC was established in 2000 by Broward County voters to levy a 0.48% property tax in order to fund programs that enhance children’s lives. However, drowning rates remain the No. 1 cause of death among children younger than 5 and remain higher among minorities and low-income populations. SWIM Central’s manager and the CEO/President of CSC teamed up to develop a voucher program for parents to get their ...

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Study: Latino Millennnials and Healthcare



A new study reveals striking data on Latino millennials and their health, The Houston Chronicle reports. The Hispanic Millennial Project revealed that U.S. born Latino millennials describe health as being happy while foreign-born describe it as not being sick. "I was surprised by that," Beatriz Mallory, vice president of SensisHealth, a Los Angeles-based national advertising agency that works with healthcare providers, drug companies and insurers told The Houston Chronicle. "We've been making the wrong assumptions all these years, which can hamper any attempt to change behavior." Among other findings Latinos “as a whole were less vigilant than non-Hispanic whites in checking calorie counts in food. They were also less likely than other ethnic groups to see processed food as a ...

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City Updates Website to be Responsive and Mobile-Friendly



The City of Bakersfield, CA (45.5% Latino) updated their 16-year old website to be more responsive, mobile-friendly, user-friendly, interactive, and accessible for minorities-by offering content in 90 languages. Cities provide residents with information, amenities, programs, resources, and events, many of which can influence resident's health, such as free organized bike rides, aquatics classes, maps of parks and trails, nutritious snack programs, afterschool activities, gardening classes, and more. When considering how residents access these healthy resources, technology plays a critical role, particularly because a growing portion of the population-youth and Latinos-use mobile devices to access information. Thus, it is important for cities to ensure the information they ...

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School Grants for Healthy Kids Applications Due April 1



Action for Healthy Kids will be awarding over $1.6 million to schools for the 2016-2017 academic year. School Breakfast Grants: Up to 550 schools will receive grant awards ranging from $500 to $5,000 to support increased breakfast participation. Game On Grants: Up to 500 schools will receive grants awards ranging from $500 to $2,500 for physical activity and nutrition initiatives that support schools in becoming nationally recognized as a health-promoting school. Applications are due April 1, 2016. Register for our introductory webinars and get valuable tips for applying. Recordings will be available.  Breakfast Grants Webinar: Tuesday, March 1, 2016, 2:00 - 3:00 PM (CT) Game On Grants Webinar: Wednesday, March 2, 2016, 2:00 - 3:00 PM (CT) Learn more about the Action ...

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Erika Sisneros: An Èxito! Grad With a Passion to End Latino Health Disparities



Editor’s Note: This is the story of a graduate of the 2015 Èxito! Latino Cancer Research Leadership Training program. Apply now for 2016. Erika Sisneros Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Although she grew up in Colorado, Erika Sisneros' family’s New Mexican red chili sauce reminds her of home. Having grown up in a community with great need, Erika gained a passion for finding ways to prevent teen pregnancy, substance abuse, and dating violence. Just as her grandmother, Patricia, always stood by her side during trying situations, she hopes to serve as an advocate for low-income populations. With her strong sense of faith, and desire to implement change, Erika is on her way towards having a great impact on Latino communities. Erika obtained her bachelor's in Integrative ...

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Merck Manuals Now Available in Spanish



The United States is the second-largest Spanish-speaking country in the world after Mexico,  yet the number of bilingual doctors has declined steadily over the last 30 years and medical information for Spanish speakers remains limited. With that in mind, Merck Manuals recently translated its trusted medical resources into Spanish. “The best medical information worldwide is documented in English as a universal language, but unfortunately, the advances in diagnosis and treatments for common medical conditions are out of reach for all the people around the world who don't speak English," said Dr. Hector Gonzalez Usigli, based in Guadalajara, Mexico, and Merck Manuals author. "Having a resource translated into their native language is highly important to help increase their ...

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El agua puede ayudar a ganar la batalla contra la obesidad infantil



Un nuevo estudio sugiere que el  ofrecer agua a los estudiantes puede ayudar a reducir la obesidad infantil, reporta CBS News. En los EE.UU. más del 39% de los niños latinos tienen sobrepeso o son obesos, pero los investigadores de la Universidad de Nueva York Langone encontraron que miles de niños en escuelas de Nueva York perdieron peso y redujeron su índice de masa corporal después de que dispensadores automaticos de agua fueron instalados. ." "Nos fijamos en más de un millón niños en poco más de 1.200 escuelas,“Brian Elbel, coautor del estudio y profesor asociado en el Centro Médico Langone de la Universidad de Nueva York, le comento  a CBS. Según los autores del estudio, cuando los estudiantes tienen acceso facil a dispensadores de agua las ventas de leche de ...

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Colorado Steps Up Obesity Prevention Policies in Child Care Centers



On February 2, 2016, new obesity prevention rules took effect in child care centers in Colorado (21.2% Latino) after a five-year revision process to update childcare regulations was approved by the State Board of Human Services Office of Early Childhood in December 2015. Some of the new rules related to obesity prevention include: a ban on sugar-sweetened beverages-soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks and flavored milk; a requirement of 60 minutes of physical activity a day for preschoolers and toddlers in full-day programs; and a ban on all television or video time for children under two. The previous childcare regulations regarding obesity prevention were often vague and lacked specific, measurable goals. The new, more specific goals are expected to affect about ...

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Celebrities and Athletes Teach Compton Kids the Importance of Health and Doing Good



UPDATE: Watch Episode 2 of La Golda for a limited time here. On January 31st, 2016, the Sound of Gol Foundation and UnitedHealthcare hosted a health and soccer clinic at Tibby Elementary in Compton, Calif. (65% Latino) to encourage students to make healthy food choices, participate in physical activities like soccer, and give back to their communities. The Sound of Gol Foundation’s mission is to build strong leaders for tomorrow through the game of soccer. The founder, George Valencia a director, writer, and producer, started by developing and producing an animated video series titled La Golda-with executive producers, actress, Judy Reyes, actress, Roselyn Sanchez, and actor, Eric Winter. Sponsored by UnitedHealthcare's Do Good. Live Well. initiative, La Golda, tells the ...

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