To submit comments, or to suggest items for this newsletter or First5LA.org, contact Katie Kurutz, public affairs officer, at kkurutz@first5la.org or (213) 482-5902.
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Click events below to view full listings.
Application Due: 2010 Social Innovation Fast Pitch
July 19, 2010
U.S. Department of Education Reading Institute
July 19-21, 2010
day long/half day
Information and Technology Planning Consultant RFP: Information Session
July 28, 2010
from 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Navigating the Maze: Finding Your Way to Successfully Opening a Child Care Center
July 28, 2010
from 8:30am - 12:00pm
South Bay Family Health Care OB Open House
July 28, 2010
from 9:00am - 11:00am
Becoming a Mom/Comenzando bien® Training
July 28-29, 2010
all day
Clinical Updates for Health Care Providers
August 3, 2010
from 9:00am - 4:00pm
All for the Love of Kids, 15th Annual Awards Dinner and Fundraiser
August 4, 2010
from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Unity Walk Supporting Miller Children's Journey to Becoming "Baby Friendly"
August 6, 2010
from 9:30am - 10:30am
Effective Observations of the Preschool Child
August 12, 2010
from 8:30am - 12:30pm or 1:00pm - 4:00pm
Women in Conversation: Celebrating Diversity
August 17, 2010
from 8:30am - 3:00pm
Open heARTS Tour: Free Arts for Abused Children
August 17, 2010
from 7:00pm - 8:00pm
15th International Conference on Violence, Abuse & Trauma
September 12-15, 2010
all day
Breastfeeding and Beyond
September 16, 2010
from 9:00am - 4:00pm
Save the Date for Strive to Thrive: Building Systems that Care for Birth to Fives
February 3-4, 2010
day long
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Sesame Street Healthy Habits for Life Resource Kit Shows Promising Results
As First 5 LA works to help reduce childhood obesity rates, one effort, the distribution of the Sesame Street Healthy Habits for Life Resource Kit, has shown positive results. Find out about our study. More »
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Moving Forward, Goal Areas: Children Maintain a Healthy Weight
In our Best Start communities as well as through countywide efforts, First 5 LA aims to help children maintain a healthy weight. Learn about some of our strategies and why this goal is important. More »
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First 5 LA-LAUP Collaboration to Strengthen Early Childhood Education Workforce in L.A. County
First 5 LA has agreed to allocate $3 million to allow Los Angeles Universal Preschool to continue funding its Early Childhood Education Workforce Initiative projects. More »
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Involvement Opportunities
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Information and Technology Planning Consultant RFP
First 5 LA is seeking a consultant to assess our information and data needs, and to write a technology plan for the whole organization. Learn more. More »
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Supporting Social Wellness for Kids
Wellness, as defined by Arizona State University Professor Charles Corbin, is a state of existence in which an individual's positive health is exemplified by quality of life and a sense of well-being. More »
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Federal Stimulus Dollars Begin To Dwindle As Budget Impasse Continues
As the state budget stalemate enters its third week, the impending end of federal stimulus dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has raised concerns. More »
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F as In Fat
When I walk into a daycare center and see one-third of the classroom's children overweight or obese, it is discouraging, but I am always hopeful that this is only an isolated incident. But when I read this year's version of F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future, I was reminded that, while not all are, a majority of childcare centers across the nation are likely to be filled with children who are overweight or obese.
The annual report, produced by the nonprofit Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, gives statistics on each state throughout the nation for both children and adults. And while California's adults are actually some of the least obese in the nation overall, ranking 41st, there are startling disparities along racial lines. According to the report, California's Latino population ranks 17th in the nation and our African-American population ranks 22nd.
Children 10-17 rank 25th in the nation, with 15.5 percent of California's children in that age range considered as obese, and this does not even count those kids who are simply overweight. To see more specific statistics, and to learn about what First 5 LA is doing to combat the epidemic, see today's article Moving Forward, Goal Areas: Children Maintain a Healthy Weight.
Fortunately the report was not all bad news. California is working to reduce the number of obese children through a number of policy changes, including:
- California set nutritional standards for school lunches, breakfasts, and snacks that are stricter than current United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requirements. Twenty states and D.C. have set such standards. Five years ago, only four states had legislation requiring stricter standards.
- California has nutritional standards for competitive foods sold in schools on á la carte lines, in vending machines, in school stores, or through school bake sales. Twenty-eight states and D.C. have nutritional standards for competitive foods. Five years ago, only six states had such standards.
- California has passed requirements for body mass index (BMI) screenings of children and adolescents or legislation requiring other forms of weight-related assessments in schools. Twenty states have passed such requirements for BMI screenings. Five years ago, only four states had passed screening requirements.
- California has passed Complete Streets legislation, which aims to ensure that all users -- pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages and abilities -- have safe access to a community's streets. Thirteen states have passed Complete Streets legislation.
I'm glad that First 5 LA has selected obesity as one of the needs of children to concentrate on in our new strategic plan.
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