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Tennessee Clean Water Network is working to “Bring Tap Back”.
The nonprofit organization promotes clean water and healthy communities and has been a part of local visits to schools to encourage to use free water bottles to drink water and educate kids about the importance of consuming fewer sodas and sugary beverages. The “Bring Tap Back” initiative was funded by a three-year Project Diabetes grant from the Tenn. Dept. of Health. that has helped provide water bottle refill stations across the state.
In Knoxville, Tenn. 80 water bottle refill stations have helped people trade sugary drinks for water to reduce risks of obesity and diabetes.
Sodas, sports drinks, unnaturally sweetened juices and other sugary beverages are known to increase risks of diabetes and obesity in Latino kids. Studies have shown that about 74 percent of Latinos have had a sugary drink by age two and with every sugary beverage consumed, the risk of becoming an obese adult increases.
The water access in the local schools is not just for the kids, but for the community as well, giving access to parents and putting water stations in universities and local parks too.
“The water station is in the cafeteria where parent meetings are held, so parents have access to it as well” explained Kori Lautner, the Lonsdale site resource coordinator for the community schools initiative in a local news article.
Decreasing soda availability and increasing access to clean and easily accessible water may help the future health of Latino kids in school.
Copy & Share on Twitter: @BTB_TN is keeping kids healthy & hydrated across the state! Way to go! #SaludAmerica http://salud.to/1VCLa0V
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Education, Healthy Families & Schools, Healthy Food, Healthy Neighborhoods & Communities, WaterBy The Numbers
84
percent
of Latino parents support public funding for afterschool programs
