Beginning in January 2013, volunteers will guide children who live within a one mile radius to schools through a walking school bus program in Marana County, AZ. According to a news article from the Arizona Daily Star, three schools belonging to the Marana Unified School District in Marana, Arizona, will participate in this program thanks to a $4.5 million grant provided to 27 Safe Routes to School projects by the Arizona Transportation Board. A walking school bus program promotes physical activity in children before and after school, helps reduce traffic congestion, The first school in the Marana Unified School District to start a walking school bus program was Estes elementary school. In December of 2012, 75 students from this school walked to school. View the registration ...
Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, introduced a bill that outlines critical public health and prevention initiatives to fight chronic disease, encourage healthier schools, communities and workplaces, and improve physical activity opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Healthier Lifestyles and Prevention America (HeLP America) Act includes wellness provisions in a broad range of areas, including expanded access to fresh fruits and vegetables for all low-income elementary schools, tax incentives for businesses that offer comprehensive workplace wellness programs to their employees, improved physical activity and athletic opportunities for individuals with disabilities, and greater oversight with regard ...
The Mind, Exercise, Nutrition, Do It! (MEND) Program offered through the YMCA in Austin, is a free 10 week program offered to children ages 7-13 and their families. MEND is a non-profit organization located in New York, which aims to develop behavioral changes for overweight and obese children. The MEND program is funded through grants from St. David's Foundation, and through annual Partner of Youth campaign donations. Elementary school locations in the Austin area including Galindo, Langford, Popham, Pillow, Sanchez, Science Hall (Hays County), and UT elementary, will host the MEND program beginning January 12, 2013. Families who complete the program will be eligible for a free 3-month membership at the YMCA of Austin. Read about the physical activity components developed by ...
The organizers behind Transit to Trails recognize that although few people of color visit national forests and other green spaces in Southern California, it does not mean that they do not value parks and green space. Cities that have fewer parks or wilderness areas have higher levels of childhood obesity. That's why Transit to Trails takes inner city youth and their families and friends on fun mountain, beach, and Los Angeles River hiking and biking trips. The project enriches their education about water, land, wildlife, and cultural history, and teaches the importance of physical activity and healthy eating for life-long health. Transit to Trails aims to diversify access to parks and support for green space. Although Latino children in Southern California are less likely to visit ...
Through the Healthy Place Initiative efforts to improve green space, and provide opportunities for out-of-school play time have been successful. The Healthy Place Initiative in Chicago is a $5.8 million project funded by the CDC and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative (CPPW). Healthy Places focuses on four target areas including: food access, safe walking and biking, breastfeeding support, and school environments. There are many ways to get involved in efforts to make Chicago a healthier place to live. Resources This presentation from the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago (CLOCC), provides information on ways to improve Chicago's outdoor spaces. This interactive mapping tool will help you share your thoughts about ...
The Active Living Council (ALC) of San Antonio was formed in 2010, in order to discuss ways to increase physical activity within the city. In accord with the National Physical Activity Plan, the council produced the Active Living Plan for a Healthier San Antonio. This plan was endorsed by Mayor Julian Castro, and will serve as a guide for policy changes which would enable citizens living in San Antonio, to become more active. The ALC works in collaboration with the San Antonio Mayor's Fitness Council. The Active Living Plan is available in English and in Spanish. Read the Active Living Council of San Antonio's 2012 policy recommendations to the city ...
Although children in Texas are required to have 135 minutes of physical activity per week, children from the Austin Independent School District (AISD) were only getting 90 minutes of physical education. In order to fill this gap, the Active Play Project has provided educators with a way to teach subjects like math, while simultaneously allowing children to participate in physical activity. The Active Play Project gives kids an opportunity to learn while having fun and staying active by providing school teachers with a curriculum to incorporate physical activity into their lessons throughout the day. Colorful paint is used to turn a school play yard into an outdoor, active classroom. Dr. Andrew Springer from the University of Texas School of Public Health developed the program ...
One of the top five priorities of the Bexar County Community Health Improvement Plan is to promote Healthy Eating and Active Living. Increasing the availability of healthier food options, meeting with county officials to promote strategies in the Active Living Plan, promoting the adoption of Safe Routes to School programs, and promoting policies to support infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, are all examples of policy recommendations featured in the plan. This plan was organized by the Bexar County Community Health Collaborative and the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District in an effort to serve as a framework for creating a healthier county. Recommendations for partnerships, and ways to take on an active role, to improve the health of the community are also ...
The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program is a school based physical activity and nutrition program that promotes healthy food choices among children. After CATCH was implemented at schools in El Paso and Austin, Texas the program demonstrated that it had the potential to lower obesity in children. Recently, CATCH was recognized by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for advancing policies and environmental strategies to control obesity. It has been adopted by schools in all fifty states and now offers early childhood and after school programs. The success of evidence based programs such as CATCH suggest that policies to improve physical activity standards for children, could have the potential to significantly reduce and prevent childhood ...
