With 23.5 million children across the country overweight or obese and at risk for developing chronic disease, states across the country are beginning to invest in healthier roads.
States like Pennsylvania, Colorado, Delaware and California have recently set aside funds to make active transportation a priority. Bike lanes, sidewalks and walking trails can help more people choose an active commute to school, work, shopping centers, and places of recreation. Local transportation authorities, and groups like the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the American Heart Association's Voices for Healthy Kids program are working together to improve road infrastructure and bring more walking and biking opportunities to children. According to the Safe Routes to School National ...
Even when shared use agreements already exist, school districts can often be hesitant to actually enforce such policies. Because this seemed to be the case in North Carolina, the North Carolina Division of Public Health (NCDPH) and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) worked together to learn more about shared use practices in the state. They soon learned that although 76 percent of schools in the state seemed to have policies that allowed for the shared use of their facilities during after-school hours, that only a fraction of these schools actually had written agreements. According to a case study written by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), the NCDPH and NCDPI also found that some of the schools' written policies were weak ...
UPDATE: Garcia's grocery store, Alba Snacks & Services, officially re-opened in March 2014, offering several new options of fresh fruit, like bananas and oranges, and healthy snack foods like applesauce. Because his crowd-funding goal was met, Garcia will eventually add more fresh produce as well as a stock of student supplies, a computer lab, and a remittance service where people can transfer money to their home countries. The grand re-opening event held March 30th was well attended by local leaders and folks from the community. With a school two blocks away, health advocates (including Garcia) hope that the store will encourage youth to make smart, healthy snack choices.
Read more here. From February 18, 2014: After college, Nelson Garcia moved from his home ...
In December 2013, the YMCA of the Greater New York area announced plans for the development of a new 48,000 sq ft. facility in the Bronx. The new building, which will bring a much needed recreation space to a predominantly Latino neighborhood, is part of an exciting new mixed-use development known as La Central. The new YMCA facility will feature an aquatic center, fitness studios, a community center and a rooftop garden. After school programs along with teen leadership activities will be provided to local children. Nutrition and fitness courses will also be offered to address the growing prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the area. The La Central community is part of public-private development which will create 1,000 new housing units for low-moderate income residents. ...
Students at Francis elementary in Houston, Texas were in great need of a place to play. Although the school had a small playground, they were restricted from using it due to the unsafe conditions of the outdated equipment. Now, thanks to a partnership between Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) and KaBoom!, a non-profit group that helps communities in need build playgrounds, these kids will have a safe and inviting place to play! According to a CW39 news article this playscape is the 13th playground that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas has helped sponsor. In preparation for the playground building event, which was scheduled for Nov. 2013, students did their part to dream up their very own playground. For more information on the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas ...
Representative Matt Lori (R) has proposed a new law which would bring more PE time to elementary and middle school students. In December of 2013, Rep. Lori wrote a bill which would require that all kids in grades K-5 receive at least 30 minutes of physical activity, 2 days a week. The bill would also require 60 minutes of additional physical activity within the school day for elementary school children. For middle school students in grades 6-8th, the law would require at least one semester of PE everyday for 45 minutes. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2012, Michigan had a population that was 4.6% Latino, but according to a news report, this number is expected to grow as more Latinos arrive in Michigan. For more information on how to improve PE in the state of Michigan, ...
Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Mark Begich (D-Alaska) have introduced the Safe Streets Act of 2014 to ensure that roads funded by federal dollars are created with all road users in mind. Communities all across the country are already finding that Complete Streets are an important way to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe and to promote more active lifestyles. Complete Streets can also enhance property values and help reduce traffic congestion. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over 47,000 pedestrians were killed in the last ten years. Part of the problem is that many of these individuals do not have safe options for travel. Between 2001-2010 death rates for men were highest among American Indian and Alaska Natives (7.73) followed by Hispanics ...
New Haven Mayor Toni Harp believes a state-raised tax on sugary drinks will help reduce obesity in Connecticut, where Latinos make up the largest minority group. She says a 2 percent tax on high-calorie sugary drinks would reduce sales of the beverage and generate about $144 million in revenue that could be used to combat obesity. Only the state can raise taxes, not cities, so the mayor will push for state legislators to consider the tax during this 2014 legislative session. Read more ...
In Houston, TX, every block has a corner store, especially in predominately Latino neighborhoods. While corner stores selling chips and soda are plenty, full-service grocery stores selling fruits and vegetables are scare in some of these areas. Houston City Councilman Jerry Davis has decided that if the big supermarkets won't move into low-income neighborhoods, he would seek them out himself. He plans to meet with Sterling Farms, a supermarket in Louisiana started by actor Wendell Pierce. Read more about Sterling Farms here! Meeting with potential partners is one step on the road to bringing healthy food into neighborhoods that need it. Read more ...
