The state of California (38.4% Latino) approved more than $300 million for early childhood care and education for 2015-2016. This is important in a state with 3.39 million Hispanic children enrolled in K-12, which is more than any other state. The executive director of First 5 LA said, “these new investments are critical to addressing two of our state’s defining challenges: closing the gap in educational opportunity and reducing poverty.” In California, 31% of Hispanic children under 17 are living in poverty, compared to 10% of non-Hispanic White children. In addition to increasing slots in state-funded preschools, the budget approval will allow low-income parents to enroll their children in daycare programs and will provide grants to improve quality in programs ...
South El Monte High School is a predominantly Latino High School located in Los Angeles, California. The School is located in a Latino working class community, with little access or education on obesity prevention. A chart from the local public health report shows the school as the highest ranked city with prevalence of diabetes at 34.5% for children. The students at South El Monte High School wanted to leave a lasting impression for future students in regards to having a healthier future. Working with Youth voices and the PTA, six students quickly grew an idea of how to help future students have better eating habits through a school garden, the SEMHS Greensleeves: Garden Project. The Team GreenSleeves, consists of six students: Vienna Z., Jocelyn R., Adriana T., Francisco ...
Urban environments can increase risk for development of obesity, insulin resistance (IR), and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) by limiting physical activity. This study examined, in a cohort of urban Hispanic youth, the relationship between daily physical activity (PA) measured by GPS, insulin resistance and cardiovascular fitness. The researchers found that moderate and vigorous physical activity was extremely low in the youth they surveyed, possibly contributing to insulin resistance and obesity. The data from this study suggest that children in urban settings confront physical, cultural, and attitudinal barriers that severely limit physical activity. The urban built environment near the school in this study (i.e. high crime area abutting a major highway) could markedly impede ...
The Oliver Foundation is a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to preventing childhood obesity. They provide a variety of resources for students, educators, parents, and health professionals, with a strong emphasis on eating/preparing nutritious foods and maintaining healthy weight. The Oliver Foundation also offers grants for schools and summer programs aimed at improving eating or physical ...
A recent study shows that two key factors -- taste and choice -- are instrumental in improving school childrens' lunchtime nutritional choices. You need both, the researchers found. Absent tasty food, choice alone is doomed to fail.The study was published in the March 2015 issue of JAMA Pediatrics. When children exercise their small measure of independence in the school lunch line, they do respond well to choice, according to the study. So giving kids a range of options for fruits and vegetables -- and presenting the healthiest options in attractive ways -- prompts these tough customers to pick them more often. But when it comes to getting kids to not just pick but actually eat more fruits and vegetables over the long haul, there's no substitute for a tasty food, the ...
Preschools are moving outdoors. Erin Kenny at Cedar Song Nature Schools says, “children can’t bounce off the walls if we take away the walls.” In November 2014, Seattle voters approved a property tax to increase funding for high-quality preschools to low-income families. Tiny Trees is one of the startup preschools. It will open 6 preschools in 2016. However, Tiny Trees will open its doors to the outdoors because it is opening outdoor preschools. Elements Preschool, in urban Lower East Side of Manhattan, NY, is also opening an outdoor preschool. 41% of public school students in New York at Latino. Although health is not at the forefront of their child-led and nature-based philosophy, play is, and play is a critical component of child development and ...
Afterschool and summer programs are important to keep kids safe, healthy, active and prepared for school in the fall. “Research shows that summer learning loss is a significant contributor to the achievement gap; students from low-income families typically lose two to three months in reading achievement and two months of math skills during the summer months.” The America After 3PM household survey results demonstrate unmet demand for afterschool and summer learning programs for Latino youth. Latino families participate in and request more summer learning programs than other families. Click here for the America After 3PM News Release. Click here for ...
Grass is greener on the other side, or maybe just a 10-minute walk away. Green 2015 and the national Trust for Public Land are working under the program Parks for People- Philadelphia to bring in new parks and green spaces to Philadelphia's underserved communities. A study from Green 2015 showed that one in eight Philadelphia residents don't have access to public parks or green space within a short distance from home. Eighty percent of Americans are living in urban or metropolitan areas, where these green spaces offer the closest way for many Latino kids to get the exercise they need on a daily basis. Philadelphia's new initiative is to create suitable green spaces within a 10-minute walk of every home in the city. This goal is under a program called Parks for People- ...
According to a recent research review, the Safe Routes to School program has been successful in increasing the proportion of students that walk and bike to school. The Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program provides education, encouragement and road improvements to create safe conditions to increase rates of walking and biking. This is particularly important for low income and Latino populations who tend to experience greater rates of obesity and pedestrian injury and tend to live in areas with poor walking conditions. Participating schools were more likely to be in high-density areas and to serve a higher proportion of Latino students. These areas found fewer rates of child pedestrian injuries and increased rates of walking and biking compared to areas that did not participate ...
