Search Results for "nature"

National Initiative Works to Promote Access to Nature For Children



The Children and Nature Network (C&NN) has recently announced a new partnership with the National League of Cities (NLC) which will lead to the expansion of programs and policies aimed at connecting underserved children and youth to parks and greenspace. The three year project called the Cities Promoting Access to Nature Initiative is being made possible through a grant from the JPB Foundation. According to a press release from the C&NN, representatives from the NLC, the YMCA, and the U.S. Department of the Interior signed a Memorandum of Understanding in April 2014, where they pledged to coordinate efforts to reduce the disconnect between children and the outdoors. Building upon this partnership the C&NN will work with the three groups to help advance the latest ...

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Rozarks Nature Trail Brings Physical Activity to Community in Need in Kansas City, KS



After learning that kids in Rosedale were at a high risk for childhood obesity, the Rosedale Development Association (RDA) decided it was time to do something about it. They learned that the community wanted more trails so they hired an expert who developed plans for a hike & bike nature trail to connect the community to parks and other key spots. With support from various groups and the local government, the RDA built over 2.3 miles of nature trail, all at a minimal expense. Families and children in the community are already benefitting from the trail and the group continues expanding the Rozarks trail network. EMERGENCE Awareness:  The Rosedale Development Association (RDA), a Kansas City, Kan., non-profit community development corporation, has worked since the 1940s to solve ...

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DC Doctors Encourage Kids to Connect With Nature Via Park Prescriptions



Some doctors prescribe only medicine, but others like the pediatrician, Robert Zarr, MD, in Washington, D.C. are prescribing nature to children as a way to prevent obesity and to address a nature deficit disorder. In a blog from the Children and Nature Network, Dr. Zarr said he noticed that too many of his patients weren't getting outside like they should. Fortunately through a collaboration of several healthcare providers, private foundations,and partners like the National Park  Service, the DC Department  of  Health, US Health and Human Services, NEEF, GW University, and AAP, Zarr and his colleagues launched the DC Park Prescription Program (DC Park Rx). Within four months, Zarr had handed out over 400 park prescriptions and some of his colleagues have reported positive ...

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Infographic: Being Active in Nature Makes Kids Healthier



The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) Health & Environment Program released an infographic, Children & Nature: Being Active in Nature Makes Kids Healthier, to show the many benefits of being active in nature for children, Active Living Research reports on its blog. Some of the facts include: Children living within a 1/2 mile of a park are more likely to have higher levels of physical activity. Children who spend more time outdoors are less likely to be overweight by 27-41%. Children have lost 25% of playtime and 50% of unstructured outdoor activity over recent ...

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How Healthcare Professionals Can Help Address Climate Change Health Effects



The summer of 2023 was one of the hottest seasons on record for some areas across the US, bringing sweltering temperatures that caused heat stroke and heat exhaustion. Experts see this as a prime example climate change endangering health. While extreme weather events like heat are nothing new, the frequency of these events is cause for concern, especially when it comes to health and well-being. To tackle some of these issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a new toolkit to help healthcare professionals arm themselves with knowledge about climate change and health. Communicating on climate change and health toolkit for health professionals discusses the ways to start difficult conversations about climate change with patients, other providers, and officials, and find ...

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Diversity of All of Us Research Data Unlocks 275 Million New Genetic Variants



For the last few years, the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has mounted an unprecedented effort to collect health data from 1 million people of all ages and ethnicities across the country for use in impactful scientific research. In fact, the data has led researchers to a shocking discovery — 275 million previously unknown genetic variants, according to a recent news release. Nearly 4 million of the variants are in areas that may be connected to risk for disease. The variants, uncovered using data shared by nearly 250,000 All of Us participants, put researchers in a position to better understand genetic influences on health and disease, especially in diverse communities often left out of research. NIH reported that half the genomic data came from Latino, ...

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Latino Influence on U.S. Economy Continues to Grow



The total economic output, or gross domestic product (GDP), for Latinos in the United States has grown from $1.7 trillion in 2010 to $3.2 trillion in 2021, according to the Latino Donor Collaborative’s 2023 U.S. Latino GDP Report.   Let’s dive deeper into why and how Latinos are driving the U.S. economy.   The Latino GDP  The U.S. Latino GDP is $3.2 trillion.  That makes it the is the fifth-largest economy in the world embedded inside the United States, according to 2023 U.S. Latino GPD Report.  “U.S. Latinos are not a niche market, nor small, nor as sometimes described as a market of the future,” according to the report. “It is already the third fastest growing economy on the planet, and may soon rival China’s growth rates.”  Growth of the Latino ...

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How to Show Compassion and Sensitivity While Screening for Social Needs


sensitivity screening for social needs

Many healthcare facilities require healthcare staff to complete regular sensitivity trainings on cultural competency, bedside manner, and similar topics. These trainings can help providers deliver compassionate care for diverse patients. But, as more healthcare systems go the extra mile to create a social determinants of health (SDoH) screening program to care for patients’ non-medical social needs, staff may need additional resources to guide conversations that are often deeply personal for some patients. Here’s how healthcare staff can build rapport with patients and gain confidence in discussing social needs, from housing to income. Put Yourself in the Patient’s Shoes Think about your patient’s demographics. What non-medical barriers to health do they face? What ...

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5 Reasons to Register for Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos



Did you know Latinos are expected to face a 142% rise in cancer cases in coming years? To address the heavy burden of Latino cancer, you can register now for UT Health San Antonio's 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference Feb. 21-23, 2024, at the Marriott Riverwalk in San Antonio, Texas. The conference will welcome researchers, physicians, community leaders, patient advocates, policymakers, and students from across the country to tackle Latino cancer from prevention to treatment to survivorship. “Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos is a sanctuary where we can share research, experience, and action to translate basic research into clinical best practices, effective community interventions, and professional training programs to eliminate cancer ...

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