Safe Routes to School State Network Project: Final Report 07-09
In May 2007, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership launched a three-year Safe Routes to School (SRTS) State Network Project to leverage resources in nine states and the District of Columbia to make it safer and easier for children to be physically active by walking and bicycling to school. This final report summarizes the progress that the State Network Project has achieved in its three years (2007-2009) of operation, outlines lessons learned, highlights accomplishments in each State Network and suggests next steps to maintain the momentum necessary to build the SRTS program at state levels.
EPA Regional Backyard Gardener Network
The East Palo Alto (EPA) Regional Backyard Gardener Network is a group currently forming that seeks to encourage community members to grow food in their backyards. The Network make it possible to sell produce at the EPA Community Farmers’ Market, and soon hope to host seed swap, potlucks, and other events to share information and resources. Check out this article (English and Spanish) to learn more.
MarketMakeovers.org is a dynamic, user-friendly online toolkit about the process of transforming small corner stores to carry healthier food choices.
The City of East Palo Alto and the Ravenswood City School District will jointly host a ribbon cutting ceremony on October 13th to officially open the recently completed sidewalk improvements between O’Connor and Donohoe Streets, adjacent to Edison Brentwood School. The improvements are part of a citywide program designed to install sidewalks and other traffic improvements that would make it generally safe for children to walk, bike, be dropped off, picked up and even skate to their neighborhood schools. Click to view the press release and event flyer.
Supervisor Carole Groom will host a convening on October 16th on Creating & Using Active Public Spaces. The event will be held from 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at Redwood Shores Library (399 Marine Parkway, Redwood City). This convening will bring together health officials, city staff, elected school leadership and community-based organizations to learn about innovative ways of increasing public spaces which promote social connection and physical activity, and to share local work in this area. The keynote speaker is Gil Penalosa, the Executive Director for Walk and Bike for Life and former Commissioner of Parks, Sports and Recreation for the City of Bogota, Colombia. The convening will provide practitioners with tools for increasing parks and public spaces as a way of improving the health of San Mateo County residents. Space is limited and registration is required to attend. Contact (650) 363-4568 or e-mail gquiney@ co.sanmateo.ca.us to register.
In its September 2009 report, “Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity,” the Institute of Medicine (IOM) highlighted six goals and strategies that will enable local leaders to act promptly and effectively to improve the places where children live and play. Click to view report brief.
On September September 17, 2009, the California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA) and the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research released the report, Bubbling Over: Soda Consumption and Its Link to Obesity in California. This landmark study provides important scientific evidence of the direct contribution of sugar-sweetened beverages to California's $41 billion obesity epidemic. The policy brief and accompanying press materials are posted on CCPHA’s website. A list of recommendations is also posted.
San Mateo County is updating its Housing Element! This update is a chance for all members of the community to be heard on housing issues, and to offer ideas on the County's needs, priorities, and policies. You are invited to share your ideas at one of the upcoming Community Workshops:
- September 24, 6:45-9:00 PM, Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Rd., Redwood City
- September 30, 6:00-8:30 PM, Half Moon Village, 9 Bloom Lane, Half Moon Bay
The Redwood City School District was one of eleven districts statewide to win a “Champion for Fitness” Spotlight Award from the California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Click here to view the press release.
Article from Beyond Chron that talks about the cost of improving school food through the farm to school model of procuring locally grown fruits and vegetables for school cafeterias. The author of the article argues for Congress to put more money into child nutrition programs.
Stanford Hospital teamed up with local chef Jesse Cool to adopt a Farm Fresh initiative for their clinics. Stanford patients now have the option of choosing a meal created from seasonal ingredients picked from within a 200-mile radius of the medical center. Click here to view the full article.
La Honda-Pescadero Unified School District is offering organic and locally sourced school lunches made from scratch despite being one of the most underresourced school district in the County. The revamped lunch menu came about after the school district adopted a new school wellness policy two years ago. Click here to view the San Mateo County Times article.
Preventing Childhood Obesity: A School Health Policy Guide, a report from the National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), synthesizes research on obesity and physical activity to deliver useful integrated policy models for stakeholders. The policy models suggests to educators and lawmakers basic goals upon which to base their new standards and specific components that can be integrated into new policies, such as providing students with life-long skills and knowledge to make healthy decisions and coordinated school and community activities for times when school is not in session.
The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) released the first set of comprehensive recommendations to promote healthy eating and active living and reduce the prevalence of obesity in the United States. The report contains 24 recommended obesity prevention strategies focusing on environmental and policy level change initiatives that can be implemented by local governments and school districts. To assist local governments, states, and policy makers implement the CDC recommended obesity prevention strategies and report on the associated measurements, a detailed Implementation and Measurement Guide was developed. The guide includes measurement data protocols, a listing of useful resources, and examples of communities that successfully implemented each obesity prevention strategy.
Several African-American churches in Chicago this month established farmers’ markets aimed at increasing access to healthy food options in neighborhoods that were previously designated as food deserts, the Chicago Tribune reports. Such efforts are representative of a growing national movement to promote wholesome diets and environmental consciousness within the faith community, according to a recent report by the Minnesota-based Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. Proponents say the initiatives will help address the high incidence of obesity, chronic disease and economic disparities experienced by those who live in food deserts. Click here to view the article.
The 6th annual edition of F as in Fat examines obesity trends in the United States. It assesses state and federal policies aimed at preventing or reducing obesity in children and adults and chronicles actions the federal government, states and communities nationwide are taking to address this critical health issue. Finally, it suggests ways to accelerate those efforts given the challenges of the economy and the opportunities of health reform. Click to view the full report or the executive summary.
An Op-ed written by Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson in the Mercury News comments on the American Academy of Pediatrics' policy statement on how the design of neighborhoods affect children's health. The article mentions the GHSMC Task Force as an example of how San Mateo County is taking action in making our communities healthier.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a statement calling for enhanced neighborhood access to physical activity opportunities for children through more conscientious land use design. Click here to view the full report.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) released a research brief on how federally mandated school wellness polices are being implemented by schools throughout the nation. This brief summarizes results of the preliminary evidence on the implementation of local school wellness policies in three key areas: quality, evaluation and funding of the policies; nutrition standards and nutrition education requirements; and physical activity requirements.
JointUse.org is a website created by the Joint Use Statewide Task Force (JUST) to ensure that all children have a safe space to play and be active within easy reach. The website features information on joint use policies, joint use checklist and agreement templates, funding resources, and success stories. It even has a joint use locator where you put in your address and it gives you the contact information of organizations near you that currently have joint use agreements with other organizations in their area.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation released Walking and Biking to School, Physical Activity and Health Outcomes, which summarizes research on active transport to school, physical activity levels and health outcomes. It also explores the factors that influence walking and biking to school, including the impact of the Safe Routes to School programs.
Commissioned by the Institute of Medicine's Roundtable on Health Disparities, and co-authored by Dr. Tony Iton, Director of the Alameda County Public Health Department, A Time of Opportunity: Local Solutions to Reduce Inequities in Health and Safety presents a synthesis of state and local efforts, and identifies recommendations on how to strengthen communities, enhance health care services to underserved communities, and improve the public health and health care systems.
In an effort to increase their access to healthy food options, students from Jefferson High School in Daly City advocated to City Council members on May 11th to put a ban on new fast food establishments around their school. The students are part of the Environment Club and Project Heart at Jefferson Union High School. Click here to view a newscast of the City Council presentation from KTVU Channel 2. Click here to learn more about Project Heart and view their video "Life in the Fast Food Lane."
To combat the obesity epidemic, Rudd Center Director Kelly D. Brownell, PhD, and New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Frieden, MD, MPH, advocated taxing sugared beverages in the April 30 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Click here to view the article. Click here to view a newscast from ABC News about the sugared beverage tax.
A study published in Pediatrics finds that regular recess improves student behavior and academic performance.
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awards $4.8 million to combat childhood obesity.