Since 2007, Oregon became a beacon of healthy school food, as a state bill helped remove unhealthy foods like candy and soda in vending machines and give the school standards on serving healthier school meals. Now new standards from the US Department of Agriculture will not be a big surprise to students in Oregon. The Oregon Smart Snacks Standard, also helped to implement the Federal Smart Snack program into schools across the state since 2014. The Oregon schools that have 50% or more of the population on free and reduced lunches, will also help serve free lunches to students over the summer months, helping all students have access to healthier meals and be more likely to grow up a healthy weight. Studies show that many Latino schools often offer less access to healthy vending, ...
The Orange County Convention Center was host to the annual National Latino Family Expo in July. Located in Orlando, Fla. (27% Latino population), the event runs in tandem with the National Council of La Raza’s (NCLR) annual conference. The event included more than 125 exhibitors and drew upward of 20,000 attendees. The free expo connects Latino families with local service providers and included a health fair, job fair, and financial services geared toward Latinos. “We like to partner with local organizations in the cities that we're in,” said Enrique Chaurand, deputy vice president of NCLR. In order to reduce health disparities, it is critical to address inequities in programs, practices, and policies. Join our site, connect with others, and get involved. The ...
Since 2001, due to larger socioeconomic forces, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children benefiting indirectly from Social Security. Economic inequality, income stagnation, immigration, and the recession have all contributed to the rise of extended, multi-generation families with shared living arrangements. In 2014, 3.2 million children under the age of 18 received Social Security. Certain families receive benefits through the survivor insurance program that provides income to the dependents of covered workers how have passed away. Children under the age of 18 also qualify for benefits if they are dependents of a parent or guardian who is disabled or retired. According to the Social Security Administration, with longer life expectancies, elderly Latinos will live ...
The U.S. Department of Education recently announced new federal guidelines for states and school districts across the country to better serve students that do not have a permanent home. The new guidelines were mandated by federal legislation and will become effective on October 1. According to federal data gathered during the 2013-2014 school year, there are 1.3 million homeless students in the U.S. This population is also among the country’s most vulnerable. “Struggling to survive was a constant battle, but having your entire support system, your entire family, stripped from you so quickly and completely – it's an experience I will never be able to fully and accurately articulate,” said Levi Bohanan, special projects manager in the Office of the Secretary of Education and ...
Healthy ATC is a data portal created by Central Health, the City of Austin Health & Human Services Department, and Travis County Health & Human Service and Veterans Service to help community members and policy makers learn about health indicators that affect the health and quality of life of Austin Travis County (33.8% Latino) residents. Healthy ATC focuses on the four priority health indicators in their area which include diabetes, tobacco, obesity, and HIV. It provides local health data, resources, best practices, news articles and information about community events. Their goal is to strengthen and build healthier communities through the provision of state-of the art web-based assessment and improvement tools to support the systematic adoption, implementation, and ...
Grants were recently given to help eradicate hunger and bring healthier foods to Southern Arizona, which currently deals with low food access, according to recent county health rankings. The grants were received by various organizations that have already started initiatives to bring healthier foods to Arizona, including The Willcox Community Food Pantry, The University of Arizona, The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, the Vitalyst Health Foundation, Feeding Matters, The Arizona Community Foundation and various other organizations. Many of the funds will go to help expand and develop programs that help to build or sustain programs around healthy eating, gardens, and agricultural supply chains. Healthy food access is vital for Latino youth, who often live in areas far from ...
A public-private partnership in New York City (28.6% Latino) to build and maintain 50 soccer fields in underserved neighborhoods across the five boroughs over the next five years. Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Mayor’s Fund to Advance NYC, the U.S. Soccer Foundation, the New York City Football Club and adidas are the team behind the New York City Soccer Initiative to reduce inequality in parks and outdoor spaces to give kids safe places to be physically active. Physical activity is a critical component of health. Unfortunately, many Latinos face inequity in access to safe places to play, thus face disparities in obesity rates, and numerous chronic diseases associated with physical inactivity. Take a moment to consider how YOUR life and health would be impacted if you ...
According to a new report, the United States ranks ninth among the world’s 19 wealthiest nations in terms of overall child well-being. According to the Save the Children report, the U.S. has this dubious ranking despite having “the world’s largest economy.” The Child Prosperity Index looks at indicators in eight areas that affect children throughout the world; these indicators include: health, education, income, safety, employment, and gender equality. The index doesn’t directly report on child poverty data, but it does emphasize the prevalence of the issue in many high-income countries. According to research, 22% of American children live below the poverty line. “The U.S. really needs to make sure every child benefits from the economic growth of the country,” said ...
New Wellness Policy guidelines and Smart Snack rules from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have officially been announced, ensuring that more students will have access to healthier foods in schools. The rules require schools to promote healthy eating habits and require that food marketed in schools must meet Smart Snacks nutrition standards. For snacks in schools to meet this requirement they must offer healthier vending machines, school stores, and a la carte cafeteria lines. These food environments must offer fresh fruits, water, and vegetables, and are allowed to offer other snack products but they all must be free from candy or sodas. These new rules will continue to build a culture of health ensuring healthier food is available in schools and impacting not only the ...
