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News from the Partnership
September 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!
Stay tuned! Here are some important updates for the upcoming 2011-2016 Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan: - October marks the official launch of the Partners N Health website, www.partnersnhealth.org, and the release of the 2011-2016 Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan. - Until the end of September, we are 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. Send your comments to info@partnersnhealth.org.
- The Partners N Health Advisory Group is seeking three new members in the areas of Health Disparities, Physical Activity, and Rural Health. Members commit to quarterly meetings in Lincoln. If you are interested in serving as a member of the Partners N Health Advisory Group, fill out the nomination form. Applications are due Oct. 14.
Look for the 2011-2016 Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan coming to the Partners N Health website this October! |
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Partner Spotlight
Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition to conduct children's menu study in Omaha restaurants
The Omaha-based Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition will fund and conduct a pilot study examining the effects of making healthful changes to children's menus in South Omaha. The Center hopes to use the pilot study to expand efforts to other communities that are at a high risk for poverty and obesity. The study will address health disparities that lead to poor access to healthful foods, called "food deserts."
Click here to learn more about the study.
Learn more about the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition.
Thanks to the Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition and their work to grow the Partnership!
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Success Story of the Month
 The Elmwood Park Outdoor Gym was unveiled in June 2011 as a collaborative effort between partners in the public and private sectors in Omaha. The vision behind the park is to encourage and promote healthy, active lifestyles for all age groups and levels of fitness--including those with physical disabilities --by creating a safe, fun, and functional atmosphere within the community.
Read more about the Elmwood Fitness Park here.
Have a success story? Share it with us! Contact us at info@partnersnhealth.org.
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Healthy Eating in the News
Farmageddon screening to be held September 22nd in Omaha
The Nebraska Food Cooperative (NFC), a year-round farmers market and food delivery service in Nebraska, will hold a fundraiser movie event featuring Farmageddon: the Unseen War on American Family Farms on Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. The event will take place at Aksarben Cinema, 2110 S. 67th St. in Omaha.
The movie will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion with local farmers and food purveyors.
This will be a one night only screening. Tickets are $15 and are available here. Buy them early as this showing might sell out!
Click here for the Washington Post review.
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness and Fruit & Veggies-More Matters Month
Mark your calendars: September is the time to color your plate healthy! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has many resources coming out this month to help celebrate and promote National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and Fruit & Veggies - More Matters Month.
-- Download and print 30 Ways in 30 Days to learn about how to get more fruits and veggies in your diet without putting a dent your pocketbook.
-- Check out the Explore the World with Fruits and Vegetables
toolkit to help adults inspire children to eat more fruits and vegetables. The kit includes a guide, poster, recipe cards for adults and children, worksheets, and a brochure.
Let's Move! Child Care to present webinar on nutrition in early learning settings
A webinar presented by Let's Move! Child Care will present the Nutrition for the Food Research and Action Center Director Geraldine Henchy's research on the importance of developing healthy food practices in early learning settings. A providers-only webinar session will be help on Thursday, September 22nd from 8-9 p.m. EST. Registration for the webinar is available here. The webinar will be recorded and posted on the Let's Move! Child Care website following the live presentations.
Learn more about the Let's Move! Child Care goals related to healthy eating and nutrition here.
Center for Science in the Public Interest launches campaign to combat soda consumption
The Washington-based health advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) is partnering with health departments in several major U.S. cities, the American Heart Association, and the American Diabetes Association to spearhead a new campaign to reduce the consumption of soda and other sugar drinks. The campaign, "Life's Sweeter with Fewer Sugar Drinks" aims for the lofty goal of cutting consumption of sugary drinks to three cans per person per week by 2020. The average American consumption is currently more than double that.
Health departments in Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Antonio and Seattle-among others-have pledged to participate in the campaign and encourage reduced consumption of "liquid candy."
Visit the campaign's website. |
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Active Living in the News
First Annual Heartland Active Transportation Summit to be held September 30-October 1 in Omaha
The 2011 Heartland Active Transportation Summit will host engineers, city planners, elected officials, and active transportation advocates Friday, September 30th and Saturday, October 1st in Omaha. U.S. Representative Jim Oberstar will be the keynote speaker for the Friday session of the summit. The summit will offer informational sessions and workshops on engineering and design, policy and planning, advocacy and health-related issues.
The summit will conclude on Saturday afternoon with a focus on advocacy, an anniversary celebration for Omaha Bikes, and an overview of recent active transportation successes in Omaha.
To learn more about the Heartland Active Transportation Summit or to register for the event, click here.
Streets Alive! comes to Lincoln on September 25th
September 25, 2011; 12:30-5:00 PM
This month, Lincoln will join communities around the world participating in a free citywide event called Streets Alive! The 3.26 mile loop of Lincoln's streets will be closed to motorized vehicles, opening the streets to pedestrians, runners, walkers, cyclists, wheelchairs, skaters, strollers, and more! Start and stop anywhere along the route to participate in fitness and dance activities, music, healthy foods, health information, exhibits, and more.
Organizations can reserve free both space along the route to hold demonstrations, promote activities, or provide education to participants. For more information, contact Linda Kern at (402) 483-4800 or lkern@healthylincoln.org.
Learn more about the event here.
Fall into step with International Walk to School Day on October 5th
International Walk to School day is a global event celebrating the many benefits of walking and biking. Whether it's to promote healthy lifestyles, to raise awareness about the environment, or to get out and be active in the community, the simple act of walking or biking to school can make a difference in the lives of kids. Safe Routes Nebraska offers free, professionally designed materials to plan and promote a Walk to School Day event or activity at their website. Don't forget to register your event!
American Public Health Association to hold National Walking Survey and Impacts to Health Policies Webinar
America Walks, the American Public Health Association, and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals will be presenting the 2011 National Walking Survey and Impacts to Health Policies Webinar on Tuesday, September 20, 2011 from 2-3 p.m. CT. Register online for the webinar here. Registration is limited to the first 1,000 registrants, so sign up right away!
September 24th is the 8th Annual World Wide Day of Play
Nickelodeon's 8th Annual World Wide Day of Play is Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011. Nickelodeon will suspend all television programming form noon to 3 p.m. to encourage kids to trade in the TV for physical activity. Read more about the World Wide Day of Play and how you can get involved here.
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Breastfeeding in the News
Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition calling for new members
The Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition is currently calling for new members to join and for existing members to renew their memberships. Click here to sign up or renew your membership.
Learn more about the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition here.
Free downloadable breastfeeding promotional cards available
Celebrate the passing of LB197, Nebraska's Breastfeeding Law, by downloading the Nebraska Breastfeeding Coalition's Anytime, Anywhere promotional cards! Print them off, distribute them as needed, and celebrate a mother's right to breastfeed her baby anytime and anywhere!
Click here to download your Anytime, Anywhere promotional cards!
Explaining the Health Care Reform Act as it relates to employers and breastfeeding mothers .
In 2010, the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was enacted. The Act contains a provision that guarantees break times for breastfeeding mothers to express milk for their babies, as well as access to an employer-provided lactation break room.
Are you curious to know more about the Health Care Reform Act as it relates to employers and nursing mothers? Learn more here |
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Upcoming Events
Nebraska Department of Education to sponsor two free Healthy School workshops
The Nebraska Department of Education has scheduled two free Healthy School workshops on Thursday, Sept. 29 and Friday, Sept. 30, 2011. The trainings are designed for health and physical education teachers, family and consumer science teachers, after school coordinators, health professionals, healthy school advocates, and wellness council members. Below is a brief synopsis of each of the events:
Thursday, September 29, 2011 at Lincoln Southeast Community College
SPARK Middle School Physical Education Workshop: The SPARK Middle School Physical Education program is an evidence-based program aligned to the National Physical Education Standards. Instruction in standards-based lessons, utilization of a variety of teaching styles and strategies, and content analysis will move participants towards creating a quality Physical Education program in or out of school. A 6-8 SPARK Middle School Curriculum will be provided to all participants.
Friday, September 30, 2011 at Lincoln Southeast Community College
Healthy Kids Challenge Nutrition Workshop: The Healthy Kids Challenge Nutrition program will utilize best practices and recommendations from leaders for kids' health, such as USDA, etc. This workshop will focus on increasing opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity for children in an effort to make healthy living a habit. A 6-8 Balance My Day curriculum will be provided to all participants.
If you have any questions, please contact Julane Hill, Coordinated School Health Director at the Nebraska Department of Education at julane.hill@nebraska.gov or (402) 471-4352.
CDC accepting proposals for 2012 Weight of the Nation conference through October 2nd
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will host the Weight of the Nation 2012 national obesity prevention and control conference May 7-9, 2012. The theme of this year's conference is "Moving Forward, Reversing the Trend," and will focus on how communities, early care and education facilities, medical care facilities, workplaces, states, territories, tribes, and schools can change nutrition and physical activity environments to impact obesity.
The CDC is currently accepting proposals for the conference from "persons and organizations engaged in developing, implementing, and evaluating policy systems and environmental strategies to address obesity." Those interested in submitting proposals may submit online beginning Monday, August 1, 2011 and ending at 3:00 PM EST on Sunday, October 2, 2011.
Click here for instructions on how to submit a proposal and more details.
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Look for the 2011-2016 Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan coming to the Partners N Health website in October! |
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