Are you looking for new ways to promote and support active living, healthy eating or breastfeeding where you live, work or play? By following a few simple steps, you can create your own customized action plan built on the same goals, strategies and activities that form the foundation for the Nebraska Physical Activity and Nutrition State Plan.

Share Your Success on the Partners N Health Website

Partners can now share their successes with the Partnership by using the new "Share Your Success" function of the Partners N Health website. Partners can send a brief summary of their success story, along with contact information, to Partners N Health for a possible success story on the Partners N Health website. Click here to submit your success story.

 

 

Active Living Billboard Goes up in North Platte

The West Central District Health Department recently posted a "Be Active: Your Way, Every Day!" digital billboard in North Platte to promote physical activity to community members. The Department plans to post more billboards that support making healthy choices. Educational and promotional resources for the "Be Active" message and other wellness messages are available for use on the Nutrition and Activity for Health Program website, here.

 

 

Nebraska 15th in America's Health Rankings Report

The recently released 2012 America's Health Rankings report found that though cardiovascular and cancer deaths have declined since 1990, Americans are experiencing troubling levels of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and sedentary behavior. Nebraska ranks 15th out of all 50 states in overall health. To learn more, visit the America's Health Rankings website, or click here to view Nebraska's profile.

 

 

Report Examines Americans' Cardiovascular Health

New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention finds Americans' cardiovascular health varies greatly from state to state. Status of Cardiovascular Health among Adult Americans in 50 States and the District of Columbia provides information on the population of each state based on seven major heart health risk factors, including physical activity and vegetable consumption.   

 

 

Omaha Community Coalition Featured in CDC Publication

Saludable Omaha, an Omaha-based Latino youth advocacy program to encourage healthy choices, was recently featured in the monthly journal, Preventing Chronic Disease. Click here to read the article. 

 

 

Article Links Parks and Public Health

Parks and Recreation Magazine recently featured an article that highlights the benefits public health can garner from the public's use of parks. The article, "5 Key Trends in Parks and Public Health," provides examples of public interventions in parks that benefit health.

CDC Releases 2012 School Health Index

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released the 2012 School Health Index (SHI): Self-Assessment & Planning Guide, an online, interactive assessment tool to reflect new 2012 changes.

 

 

Community Health Needs Assessments Website Provides Free Online Measurement Tools

CHNA.org is a free web-based platform designed to assist hospitals, state and local health departments, and other organizations in collaborating to make measurable improvements in community health and well-being. To learn more and access the CHNA.org tools and data, click here.

Sandhills District Health Department and Clinic (SDHDC) is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) public health department located in Ogallala. SDHDC's mission statement is "Responding locally to the Health Needs of our Rural Communities." These rural-frontier Sandhills counties include: Keith, Arthur, Grant, Hooker, and Thomas and cover a widespread frontier region of 4,400 sq. miles. The SDHDC philosophy remains steadfast and focused on disease prevention and creating a culture of wellness for Sandhills communities over the past 37 years.

 

Read the full SDHD Partner Highlight here.

Learn more about SDHD by visiting their website, or follow them on Facebook.

New FTC Report on Food Marketing to Kids

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently issued A Review of Food Marketing to Children and Adolescents: Follow-Up Report, a study that found that while food and beverage companies spent 19.5 percent less advertising dollars on television food advertising to children, advertising budgets for digital media advertising increased by 50 percent. 

 

 

Farm to School Grant Application Webinar Archived

The recording from a recent webinar from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), "Trends in Successful USDA Farm to School Grant Applications," is now archived online. Click here to access the video on YouTube.

 

 

New Nutrition Resources Available for Parents

The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity recently updated its child nutrition website targeted toward parents, Rudd'RootsParents.org, with new resources, including a resource page on added sugar and links to a webinar series from Alliance for Healthy Kids on how to create a healthier school food culture.

 

 

School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study Findings Released

The School Nutrition Dietary Assessment Study reports on data collected on the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), School Breakfast Program (SBP), and competitive foods from a nationally representative sample of school districts and schools in school year 2009-2010. Click here to read a summary of the findings.

 

The 10th Annual Active Living Research Conference will be held February 26-28 in San Diego. The conference is an opportunity to hear the latest evidence on policy and environmental strategies to increase physical activity. Click here to learn more and to register.

 

 

Webinar Details Evidence-Based Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults

This archived webinar provides information about the importance of physical activity for older adults and details two widely implemented evidence-based physical activity programs for older adults: Enhance Fitness and Fit and Strong.

 

 

Active Living in Rural Communities Webinar Archive Available

The Rural Active Living Assessment (RALA) Tools assess community programs and policies that could potentially influence levels of physical activity among residents in rural communities. This webinar explored the applicability of active living interventions in rural communities and discussed the RALA tool.

 

 

New Report Examines Physical Education in America

"The Shape of the Nation," written by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education and the American Heart Association, reports on the state of physical education (PE) in the United States on a number of factors, including local school wellness policies and curriculum. Click here to read the report.