In 2012, Mississippi legislators passed a bill to encourage the shared use of schoolyards. Soon after the legislation passed, a state Joint Use Agreement (shared use agreement) Toolkit was developed. Now schools across the state have begun to enact and implement shared use agreements, as a measure to support active living and reduce obesity, among Mississippians of all backgrounds. This slideshow presentation, "Health is Academic," describes how the use of resources can be maximized through partnerships and shared use agreements. Another slideshow presentation, "Integrating research, legal technical expertise, and advocacy to inform, shape and promote successful shared use legislation in Mississippi," shows how representatives from the University of Florida, the Public Health Law ...
Ms. Wells’s second grade class in Fort Mills, South Carolina, wrote a letter to the Fort Mills Times editor, explaining their desire to have a second recess period at their school. In the letter they explain that more physical activity time will improve their ability to "focus better" in their classroom. Read the letter that Ms. Wells's class sent to the editor of the Fort Mills ...
In September 2012, Mayor Annise Parker of Houston announced the launch of The Healthy Houston Initiative to help combat obesity in the city of Houston, Texas. The initiative will work to address food deserts, improve the Houston bike share program, expand hike and bike trails, and promote avenues for more physical activity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uhywt4njET4 This press release from Mayor Parker's office announces the launch of the Healthy Houston Initiative which will be led by a 22 member task force. According to this statement, in 2010, 28% of fourth graders, 17% of adolescents age 15-18 and 29% of adults in Houston/Harris County were obese. According to a news article from the Houston Chronicle, Men's Fitness Magazine once named Houston the fattest city in the nation. The ...
Schools in Wenatchee School District, Wa., will be seeing healthier meals in their lunch rooms and an improved effort to change the way food is used throughout the school day. The District's food service director, Kent Getzin, is focusing on encouraging students to try new foods, showing students where foods come from, and changing the way food is used in the school as reward or fund raising opportunities. “It comes back to our philosophy about our kids being healthy, and eating well, and the impact that has on learning,” said Superintendent Brian Flones, in The Wenatchee World article , “Like any other life skill, kids need to learn early what’s going to be best for them. And if we’re not modeling it with what we do at school, they’re going to probably leave with a lot ...
Students in Mason County, West Virginia, are able to begin their school day with a healthy, nutritious breakfast. They eat with their fellow classmates and prepare their brains for a day of learning. The success of school breakfasts for all students in Mason County has lead to the passing of a bill that will require all schools in West Virginia to provide a school breakfast to every student before the day's lesson's begin. The goal of this program is to improve achievement in the state and reduce childhood obesity, which is extremely important in this state with 29% of high school students being obese. Along with requiring breakfast, this bill requires every county to set up a fund to collect private donations that will go toward other healthy initiatives like buying more fresh produce ...
Unhealthy drinks are the source of many extra calories in kids' diets, especially among Latino children. Unfortunately sodas and other sugary drinks are easy to find in almost every community---even in hospitals! Let's be real: hospitals and sugary drinks just don't mix! In order to encourage patients and their families to make healthy beverage options, Indiana University Heath has begun removing all sugary drinks from cafeterias, vending machines and gift shops. Starting with their downtown Indianapolis and Fishers hospitals, the hospital system plans to eventually move sugary drinks out of its about a dozen other hospitals around the state. This sort of internal policy helps patients and families make healthier choices in a place that should serve as a role model for healthy ...
Parent role models from the Chicago area are getting involved at schools to improve the health of their children, through the Healthy Schools Campaign (HSC). According to HSC parents United for Healthy Schools (PUHS)/ Padres Unidos para Escuelas Saludables is a Coalition of parents and community members who work to create healthy school environments for the city’s children, particularly those in low-income minority communities. In this video Karina, a mother and member of PUHS, talks about how PUHS gave her the tools she needed to become an active parent leader: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-ON9Ffl3Z0 In March of 2012, PUHS decided to form a school wellness team at the Greene Elementary School in Chicago to improve the heath of their children. The school hosted their first ...
