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News from the Partnership
August 2011
Partners N Health is a statewide collaboration of people and organizations that work together to create a healthier Nebraska by advocating for healthy eating, active living, and breastfeeding in their communities. |
Dear Partners,
Thank you for being a part of the Partners N Health mission to improve the lives of Nebraskans by being advocates for healthy eating, active living, and breastfeeding!
This month, we are unveiling the Partners N Health website, www.partnersnhealth.org. We are currently Beta testing the site, so if you find any necessary corrections or changes, let us know! Log on, customize your own action plan, find partners and resources, and share your successes.
Look for the Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan print version coming to the Partners N Health website this fall! |
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Partner Spotlight
The Partners N Health Advisory Group was formed in April 2009 to formalize stakeholder involvement, communication, and shared planning to develop, implement, and evaluate the Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan. The group is comprised of 20 health professionals from a variety of interdisciplinary organizations across the state.
The group meets quarterly to help assess the progress and direction of the State Plan and create a plan for future successes. Thanks to all members of the Partners N Health Advisory group!
Read more about the Partners N Health Advisory group
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Success Story of the Month
Omaha's Edward "Babe" Gomez Heritage Elementary School uses its outdoor classroom to show how immersion in planting gardens, recycling, music and movement, art, and nature benefit all children.
Read more about the Gomez Outdoor Classroom
Have a success story? Share it with us! Contact us at info@partnersnhealth.org. |
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Healthy Eating in the News
The effect of food and beverage prices on children's weights
A report from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Kindergarten Class of 1998-99 and the Quarterly Food-at-Home Price Database One explores the relationship between the price of food and children's Body Mass Index (BMI). The report found that, on average, "higher prices for soda, 100 percent juice, starchy vegetables, and sweet snacks are associated with lower BMIs among children. In addition, lower prices for dark green vegetables and lowfat milk are associated with reduced BMI." Read the report here
CDC DASH releases fact sheet on school finances and quality nutrition standards
The Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the "Implementing Strong Nutrition Standards for Schools: Financial Implications" fact sheet, which summarizes findings on the financial impact on schools that have implemented strong nutrition standards. A primary barrier for many schools to implement strong nutrition standards is the fear of lost revenue from selling snacks and beverages to students.
Read more here |
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Active Living in the News
School finds value in adding physical activity to classrooms
Three years ago, the Lexington Public School District began adding regular physical activity to their elementary schools with a program called Take 10. The daily stint of 20 minutes of running or walking came from the belief that there is positive connection between physical activity and better academic performance. The program's success inspired Superintendent Todd Chessmore to write an editorial encouraging parents to be active with their children as a positive influence on their academic achievement.
High school students need more daily physical activity
According to a 2010 study by the CDC, American high school students are not getting enough daily physical activity. The study emphasizes the need for teens and other youth to be more active. Healthy People 2020 objectives, which are based off of current federal physical activity guidelines, encourage youth six to 17 years to get one hour of physical activity every day and engage in a muscle strengthening activity at least three days a week.
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Breastfeeding in the News
August 1-7 is World Breastfeeding Week
World Breastfeeding Week serves to highlight and support efforts to increase breastfeeding worldwide. Read the statement from Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin here.
Mark your calendars!
The 9th Biennial Breastfeeding: Baby's Natural Choice Conference will be held at the Omaha Qwest Center on August 24th, 2011. Registrations are due Friday, August 19th. The day-long event is offered to health care professionals and features keynote speakers: Ayman El-Mohandes from the Unviersity of Nebraska Medical Center; Michael A. Young from Howard University College of Medicine; and Amy Evans from the Center for Breastfeeding Medicine.
Learn more about the conference
Register for the conference here |
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Announcements
DHHS to hold open comment hearing for child care licensing rules and regulations
The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services has announced that current rules and regulations for child care licensing have been approved for open comment. The open comment period will be on Thursday, August 25th, 2011 and will take place in Lincoln at the Executive Building, 521 S. 14th Street, Suite 103.
In addition to the public hearing site in Lincoln, noted above, these hearings will also be broadcast to the following video conference sites. Attendees may comment from these sites:
Chadron Chadron State College, Old Admin Building, Room 031
Grand Island Public Library, 211 North Washington Street
Kearney Communications Center, 1910 University Dr., Rm 218
Norfolk Northeast Community College, Maclay Building, Room 167A
North Platte Vocational Rehabilitation, 200 South Silber, Building 2
Omaha State Office Building, 1313 Farnam, Room 207
Scottsbluff Panhandle Education Center, 4502 Ave. I, High Plains Rm.
There will be two separate open comment hearings to accept comments on proposed regulations for:
9:30 a.m. CT: Licensing of Child Care Centers, School-Age-Only Child Care Centers, and Preschools
1:00 p.m. CT: Licensing of Family Child Care Home I and Family Child Care Home II
The proposed regulations will:
- Create a separate chapter of regulations for each type of child care license;
- Organize each chapter in the same manner;
- Incorporate updated standards to improve child health and safety in licensed child care and the quality of licensed child care; and
- Incorporate legislative changes.
Written comments are also welcome and will be given the same consideration as comments made in person. Written comments must be postmarked or received by 5:00 p.m. CT on Saturday, August 27, 2011, and sent to DHHS Legal Services, P.O. Box 95026, Lincoln, NE 68509-5026, fax 402-742-2382, or e-mailed to DHHS.RulesandRegs@nebraska.gov.
Questions about regulations may be directed to Pat Urzedowski at 402-471-9431 or pat.urzedowski@nebraska.gov. Comments about regulations may be directed to Kay Pinkley, 402-471-0144 or kay.pinkley@nebraska.gov.
Draft regulations will be available online 3 weeks before the hearing at http://www.sos.ne.gov/rules-and-regs/regtrack/index.cgi. |
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Look for the Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan print version coming to the Partners N Health website this fall! |
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