Washington Governor Jay Inslee has announced his health care agenda for 2014, and set reducing and preventing childhood obesity as a top priority. One proposal would lead to revised health and fitness standards for schools. It would also deploy experts in state government to work with K-12 schools, preschools, and maternity-care programs, encouraging healthful practices such as breast feeding. Read more ...
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According to a dallasnews.com article, plans are underway for an important hike-and-bike trail expansion to the Hutton Branch trail in Carrollton, Tx. The project will include the construction of a pedestrian bridge which will connect to the county's DART Green Line rail system, providing pedestrians of all ages with an alternative means of transportation. City officials from the Dallas suburb of Carrollton began working on the trail system in 2004 and have since continued to expand it by sections. Recently, a new section of the Hutton Branch hike-and-bike trail was opened, making the trail's current length 11 miles. Carrollton's trail projects are all part of a larger plan to create an expansive network of trails that connects 10 counties and 117 cities. Regional planners refer to ...
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New York State Senate Co-Leader and Leader of the Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) Jeffrey D. Klein along with assemblyman Felix Ortiz has announced his support of a handful of bills introduced in the State legislature that hope to health youth live healthier lives. Klein also revealed the results of a health education survey that shed some light on what teens know and don't know about healthy living. As part of the Teen Health Awareness Campaign launched in 2013, the IDC administered a Teen Health Awareness and Education survey, a 23-question survey for teenagers in junior high and high schools throughout the State. The survey was designed to gauge knowledge on three issues that can have a great impact on their health: obesity, substance abuse, and endometriosis. The survey ...
Read MoreOn January 8, 2014, the California Food Policy Council (CAFPC) released its first report to evaluate California’s legislative record related to food and farms. It is the first state-policy-focused analysis of legislative votes in the nation. The report tracks 10 food-related bills that were introduced by California lawmakers in the past year. Chances are, one of the five that passed could affect you! Read the report ...
Read MoreThe California Food Policy Council, a network of 19 groups around the state, wants to persuade legislators to pass laws that would support sustainable agriculture and safeguard soil and water quality for large and small farmers. The idea, organizers say, is to make healthful, affordable food options available for low-income urban dwellers, schoolchildren, and others. The council published a report in January 2014 that outlined bills related to food policy that were tracked in the California legislature in the past year. Read the report here. The California Food Policy Council is supported by Roots of Change, a collaborative network of leaders and institutions in California with interest in establishing a sustainable food system in the state. Read more ...
Read MoreCheck out this great video about a Latino community, East Salinas, Calif., which is mobilizing for change to address crime and violence to become a healthier community. The video, from the Health Happens Here campaign from the California Endowment, describes how a unique program La Cultura Cura (English: The Cultural Cure) is educating individuals, re-embracing traditional values of family, culture and community, and conducting community service to capitalize on resources that can promote healing and growth in a community traumatized by violence. Salinas, Calif., is 75% Latino. Read more about La Cultural Cura ...
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After-school programs are great ways for kids to get active after school and to try new things. But sometimes the snacks provided aren't the healthiest. Healthy Kids Out of School, an initiative of ChildObesity180 in collaboration with Tufts University, has put together some tips on how programs can partner with food stores to get fresh, healthy snacks to hungry kids. Learn how you can build a partnership to help kids snack smart while staying within your ...
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A new bridge in El Paso will now allow pedestrians to get from downtown to the Union Plaza Entertainment District in just twenty minutes! What used to be a four-lane road is now being re-purposed into a two-lane road with a brightly colored pedestrian walkway adjacent to it. Artwork will be used as a buffer to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic. Along with the Durango bridge improvements, the city will be adding artwork, benches and lighting to the north end of the El Paso Convention Center. Read the full El Paso Times news article here. ...
Read MoreAre you looking for a way to create a more vibrant community with Complete Streets? Why not install some musical swings, and burn some calories while you're at it? In 2012, 21 colorful swings, designed by Daily tous le jour Design Studio, were installed in downtown Montreal and residents definitely took a liking to them. Watch the video below for a glimpse of what these swings look like! Get creative and think up your own ways to create a healthier environment and promote active living in your ...
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