Since 2013, Voices for Healthy Kids has funded efforts and supported policy changes to reach kids where they live (in their community), where they learn (at school) and where they play (out-of-school or early care) to give them the best start in life. Voices for Healthy Kids has contributed funding, technical assistance and strategic direction to over 50 campaigns in 26 states, which has lead to the passage of 14 state or local policies. The Transforming Communities Changing Lives Voices for Healthy Kids 2015 Progress Report highlights projects in multiple states that focus on the following Voices for Healthy Kids efforts: Increasing opportunities for physical activity
Improving the nutritional quality of snack foods and beverages in schools
Increasing access to ...
Safe Routes to School National Partnership developed a report and two fact sheets to explore equity issues related to active modes of transportation in order to increase health, fairness, and opportunity for low-income communities and communities of color. In order to positively influence health at the community level, it is important to not only identify socioeconomic inequities, but also environmental inequities, particularly inequities related to transportation infrastructure which influence access to employment and education opportunities as well as healthy resources, like nutritious food, safe places to play, and government services. The report sets out why equity and active transportation matter, addresses tensions that may arise when the active transportation and equity ...
The last in a series of reports by the Kids Safe and Healthful Foods Project, this report (1) describes the training needs of school food authorities and personnel to successfully implement USDA’s updated nutrition standards; and (2) provides recommendations for school nutrition professionals. In order to meet updated meal standards and requirements and to improve the quality of meals served to students, many school food authorities must modify some of their practices. These modifications may require additional training in nutrient content, cooking skills, food safety, and the use of new kitchen equipment. This report explores these training needs and provides recommendations. Additionally, food service personnel in child care centers also need to make modifications ...
Physical activity is a necessity with many cities dealing with high obesity rates, but how can physical activity be promoted within neighborhoods? Street connectivity and walkability are two built environment factors that may assist in physical activity within neighborhoods. Educational tools that analyze a support for walkability are helpful in understanding ways to change the built environment to help the community increase physical activity daily and in helping combat obesity. A recent report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) used a 15-item environment audit tool, called MAPS-Mini to evaluate neighborhood design and physical activity in four age groups. MAPS stands for, Microscale Audit of Pedestrian Streetscapes (MAPS), it works to measure street design, ...
Now you can be more connected with Latino health issues with a new bilingual live show produced by Salud America!, formerly called SaludToday. #SaludbySandra & #SaludconSandra will air every Tuesday at 11 a.m. ET on Periscope and Twitter. The show is hosted by Professor Sandra San Miguel, Research Instructor at the Institute for Health Promotion Research --the team behind Salud America!. Here’s the schedule of the topics we will cover in the next three weeks: 09/15/2015- National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
09/22/2015- Oral Health Habits
09/29/2015- Family Health & Fitness You can catch the show live on Periscope and ...
The League of American Bicyclists recognizes that women, youth and people of color are underrepresented in many bike advocacy efforts; therefore, in 2013, they established the Equity Initiative to engage leaders from traditionally underrepresented groups. The Equity of Access to Bicycle Infrastructure: GIS Methods for Investigating the Equity of Access to Bike Infrastructure (1) explores a case study evaluation of bicycle infrastructure access in Chicago; (2) details the methodology of the construction of a Bicycle Equity Index (BEI), the mapping of the BEI to identify disadvantaged communities, and the mapping and analysis of bicycle facilities to identify access deprived areas; and (3) provides a tutorial regarding the methods previously described. This case study found that ...
How does a busy Latina mom keep her kids healthy and have time for nutritious meals, if she doesn't have a full kitchen to prepare meals? A cookbook for families who only have microwaves is a great resource to help provide easy to make healthy family dinners. The Microwave Chef cookbook, includes recipes from renowned chefs like Rachel Ray, and helps users learn how to make any meal from pancakes to a meatloaf, all only using a microwave. Click here to download The Microwave ...
Transformative Schools Network (TSN) is a group of grassroots organizations and networks working to bring winning policies and resources for local school districts to foster healthy, equitable, safe schools. Centering on 6 policy focuses, TSN hopes to create solutions to help people achieve healthy schools in their community. The 6 policy focuses are: Healthy & Safe Food and Water
Equitable funding and governance
Health services
Safety/Safe Space
Physical activity
Equitable Facilities and school infrastructure Check out their Policy toolkit to help movers and shakers take action step by step. To learn more about TSN and how it can help you change local schools for the better, click ...
Two qualitative studies, Nutrition and Physical Activity Environments of Home-Based Care: What Hispanic Providers Have to Say and Latino Family Childcare Providers' Beliefs, Attitudes and Practices Related to Promotion of Healthy Behaviors among Preschool Children: A Qualitative Study, explored the perceptions, beliefs and attitudes of Latino family child care providers regarding nutrition, physical activity, sedentary time, and communication with parents. Findings from Nutrition and Physical Activity Environments of Home-Based Care: What Hispanic Providers Have to Say suggest that providers may have knowledge regarding healthy eating and physical activity; however, they lack practical application of this knowledge into everyday activities. Findings from Latino Family Childcare ...
