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Partners of the Plan News
Special Issue on Rural Initiatives |
More than 850 partners in communities, schools, worksites, healthcare, government, and many other settings have pledged to support Washington's Nutrition & Physical Activity Plan.
Rural settings are different from urban settings when it comes to healthy eating and active living. For example, transportation adds cost to healthy food in stores, and country roads may be unsafe for walking and other types of active transportation. While rural areas may face more challenges, sometimes health promoting improvements can take place quickly because people know how to work with each other.
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Partner Profile: James Kissee
Partner Profiles highlight the work of long-standing champions of nutrition and physical activity. James Kissee has spent eight years advancing the physical activity objectives of the Washington State Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan. During his tenure, Washington State has won recognition as a leader among states promoting physical activity through policy and environmental change, with more than 50 such changes adopted in the last 5 years. more |
Partners Advance Safe Routes to Rural Schools
Champions of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) can be found in public health, transportation, bicycle, pedestrian, and education organizations. In the town of White Salmon, Becky Williams reached out to community members to increase the number of children walking and biking to school. Meanwhile Lisa Quinn of Feet First is assembling a statewide SRTS Advisory Committee, whose intent is to explore policy and environmental changes needed to help children get safely to school by walking and biking. more |
 Ferry County Converts Railway to Biking/Hiking Asset
Ferry County Rail Trail Partners are working to preserve and improve nearly 25 miles of converted railroad right-of-way in the northeastern county, running from the trailhead close to Republic, Washington, to the Canadian border at Danville. The group improved many sections of the former rail corridor, and have plans for segments that run along beautiful Curlew Lake and connect two school complexes. more |
Spokane County Sets Policy for Active Transportation
The Spokane Regional Transportation Council adopted a policy to ensure that new roadway construction and transportation improvements take pedestrians, bicycle riders and transit users into account. It is the first policy of its kind that covers both the rural and urban regions of the county, and it is already considered as a model for other transportation planning councils in the state and in the nation. more
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WIC Fruit and Vegetable Community Partnership Projects
Recently 12 local WIC agencies from rural and urban areas throughout Washington State got the opportunity to connect with local food systems partners to promote fruits and vegetables in their communities. These 12 project sites were chosen following a competitive grant process funded by a larger grant to the Washington State Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program (WA WIC) from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). more
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USDA Funds Farm to School Expansion
Two rural school districts received significant grants from the US Department of Agriculture to expand their Farm to School initiatives. In addition, the Washington State Department of Agriculture received an award to continue their crucial technical assistance to other districts seeking to improve nutrition for students by purchasing locally grown produce. more |
Affordable Care Act Adds Breastfeeding Benefits
Breastfeeding benefits through the Affordable Care Act became available in August. The Act provides comprehensive benefits for pregnant and post-partum women including free or fully reimbursed breastfeeding equipment, as well as counseling from trained lactation consultants. A lactation consultant is a healthcare professional with specialized training and mentoring in lactation and breastfeeding. International Board-Certified Lactation Consultants have the initials IBCLC following their name, similar to MD for a medical doctor. more |
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Active Community Environments Toolkit
Developed by the Washington State Department of Health
Rural Obesity Prevention Toolkit
Developed by the Rural Assistance Center, part of the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Rural Initiative
Learn more |
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Muhammad Ali Center Peace Garden Grant
Application Deadline: January 2
Fuel Up to Play 60
Application Deadline: January 15
Tony Hawk Foundation for the Creation of Public Skateparks
Application Deadline: February 1
Learn more |
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Walk Talk: The Safe Routes to School Call-In Show Webinar
January 22 - 10 am Pacific
National Health Policy Conference
February 4-5 - Washington, DC
Fresh Food in Schools Summit
February 21 - Moses Lake, WA
Hunger Action Day
February 22 - Lynnwood, WA
More on these events and others |
