In This Edition...

Two Strategic Alliance Steering Committee members will be receiving awards from the American Public Health Association, Food and Nutrition Section!

Leslie Mikkelsen, Catherine Cowell Award

This esteemed award honors achievement in the areas of leadership, planning, administration, and mentoring in public health nutrition, with emphasis at the local level. 

Laurie True, Dietary Guidance Award

This distinction celebrates individuals who have made world-class contributions in dietary guidance formulation, research, education, implementation and/or policy change.

The awards will be presented at the APHA Annual meeting at the Food and Nutrition Section reception on Sunday, October 26th, 6:30 pm in San Diego.  

top

Governor Schwarzenegger signs landmark menu labeling legislation!

Last week, the Governor signed SB 1420 (Padilla) into law, making California the first state in the nation to require menu labeling in chain restaurants.  The landmark legislation requires some 17,000 California chain and fast-food restaurants to post calorie counts on menus and menu boards.  The new law will provide Californian’s with calorie and nutrition information that allows them to make informed food choices.  Menu labeling may also spur chain restaurants to re-formulate their products in order to respond to consumer demand for healthier options.  Read the Press Release and learn more about the new law.

 .....

In addition to menu labeling, Governor Schwarzenegger signed (and vetoed) a number of bills aimed at improving nutrition and physical activity environments throughout California.  Here are the highlights: 

Signed! 

AB 433 A new future for Food Stamps – AB 433 ensures that California Food Stamps will no longer have an asset limit for eligibility, which will make it possible for more needy families to receive benefits.  Previously, families that had an income low enough to qualify but savings of more than $2,000 were denied benefits.

AB 2300 Medi-Cal means more meals for California kids – With the passage of AB 2300, the California Department of Education can work towards automatic enrollment of children to receive free- and reduced-price school meals when they are already Medi-Cal participants.

AB 2726 Funding for the Healthy Purchase Pilot – In 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 2384 which established the Healthy Purchase Pilot program to make fresh fruits and vegetables more accessible and affordable in low-income communities.  Because the pilot program was specifically conditioned on an appropriation by the legislature, the pilot has not progressed.  With the signing of AB2726, rather than waiting for state funding, California’s Healthy Purchase Pilot Program may use any source of funding to move forward with the pilot, including federal or private dollars. 

AB 31 – Funding for parks in underserved and park-poor communities – AB 31 prioritizes $400 million of Proposition 84 park funds for underserved and park-poor communities throughout California.  It is the largest single investment in local parks in the nation’s history.

AB 1358 Complete streets act – AB 1358 prompts cities and counties to plan for the accommodation of all roadway users, including motorist, bicyclists, pedestrians, seniors, children, and the disabled prior to construction.

AB 2494 Funding for affordable housing-related parks – The Housing-Related Parks Program, set up by AB 2494, rewards cities and counties that build affordable housing units by distributing bond funds for creating, developing, or rehabilitating park or recreation facilities.

AB 375 Reduce greenhouse gas emissions through land-use – This landmark legislation provides emissions-reduction goals around which regions can plan, thus integrating disjointed planning activities.  AB 375 also provides incentives for local governments and developers to create attractive, walkable and sustainable communities and to revitalize existing communities.

AB 441 Healthy options in State vending machines – AB 441 requires that at least 35 percent of food and one-third of beverages offered in vending machines on State property meet specified nutritional guidelines.

 .....

Governor Schwarzenegger also vetoed a number of bills that would have supported water in schools, improved food stamp access, and supported bicycle and pedestrian safety. 

AB 2704 Removing barriers to water in schools – AB 2704 would have removed barriers to serving free tap water in schools in part by prohibiting schools to enter into contracts that restrict the availability of free tap water on school campuses. 

(veto message)

AB 2844 Cutting red tape in food stamps – This bill would have allowed California to join 48 other states in using a simplified reporting system for food stamps. 

(veto message)

AB 1996 Restoring food stamps benefits to drug felons – AB 1996 would have restored food stamp benefits to drug felons who have done their time for selling drugs.  (veto message)

AB 2971 Ensuring bicycle and pedestrian safety – This bill would have required the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) to establish guidance and criteria to ensure that the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians are addressed in the development of its safety programs. 

(veto message)

top

Little Improvement Seen in Nickelodeon’s Food Marketing Practices

Since 2005, Nickelodeon has not done much to improve the nutritional quality of the foods it markets, most of which are nutritionally poor.  A new study by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) found that 79 percent of foods marketed to children by Nickelodeon are too high in fats, salt, and/or sugars, such as sugary cereal, candy, sugary drinks with little or no fruit juice, and fast food.  This finding indicates that little has changed since 2005, when CSPI found that 88 percent of foods marketed to children were nutritionally poor.  As the number-one provider of entertainment for children, Nickelodeon's marketing undermines parental efforts to feed their children a healthful diet.  Read more about the results of CSPI’s study.

top

Upcoming Events

Prevention Connection Web Conference: Violence Prevention & and Creating Healthy Food and Activity Environments

Friday, October 10, 2008, 11-12:30 PT

Please join the Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments and Prevention Institute for a web conference to better understand the links between violence prevention and healthy eating and active living efforts.  Participants will learn about a primary prevention approach to violence, understand what is being learned from best practices and evidence base, and hear from communities implementing joint strategies that impact health and safety.  Space is limited and filling up fast!  Click here to register for this free event.

Public Health and Climate Change: Building an Agenda for Action

October 20, 2008, 9 a.m.– 5 p.m. -- Sacramento, CA

This convening will bring together—for the first time ever—a diverse group of public health professionals, climate change specialists, environmental justice advocates, and academicians to create an action plan leveraging public health strategies to address climate change challenges.  Please see the attached agenda for details of the day. 

To find out how to register for this event, please contact: Robin Salsburg, Senior Staff Attorney at Public Health Law & Policy (rsalsburg@phlpnet.org or 510-302-3376). 

Planning for Healthy Communities: Advocating for Equity in Planning Decisions

Multiple dates in October / November in various California locations

This workshop will focus on the impact of economic development, the general plan, and zoning regulations on community health, and how you can get involved. From increasing access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity to improving air and water quality, learn how to apply these strategies to create healthier environments.

Click here to learn more about the workshops and locations or to register for this event.

American Public Health Association --136th Annual Meeting and Expo

October 25-29, 2008 – San Diego, California

The APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition is the largest gathering of public health professionals in the world.  APHA’s meeting program addresses current and emerging health science, policy, and practices issues in an effort to prevent disease and promote health.  This year, Prevention Institute will participate in a number of sessions related to food and physical activity.  See a listing of Prevention Institute sessions below and visit our website soon for more information.  Session times are subject to change.

Sunday, October 26:

6:30-8:30pm

Food and Nutrition awards dinner honoring PI managing director, Leslie Mikkelsen, Catherine Cowell Award recipient and CA WIC Association executive director, Laurie True, Dietary Guidance Award recipient

Monday, October 27

10:30-12:00 pm

Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool: Improving access to healthy food by supporting a sustainable food system

(read abstract)

Tuesday, October 28:

8:30-10:00am

The Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool: Community strategies to address sustainable food systems

(read abstract)

10:30-12:00pm

Healthy and Active Before 5: Developing a Comprehensive Action Plan to Reduce Early Childhood Obesity

(read abstract)

12:30-2:00pm

Changing community nutrition and physical activity environments: What does it take? (read abstract)

Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool: Influencing healthy eating and physical activity through policy and organizational practice change

(read abstract)

Wednesday, October 29:

8:30-10:00am

Crosscutting strategies to engage non-traditional partners in producing healthy community environments

(read abstract)

10:30-12:00pm

Building a Community Initiative: The Healthy and Active Before 5 Action Plan to Prevent Early Childhood Obesity

(read abstract)

Back to the top

Thanks for reading!  The Strategic Alliance is currently engaged in building a broad and diverse statewide membership.  If you were forwarded this e-mail and want to receive your own copy in the future, please click here or e-mail sam@preventioninstitute.org.  And if you’re already a member, please forward this message to your colleagues so we can continue to strengthen our coalition.  Thank you!

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC ALLIANCE?

The Strategic Alliance is reframing the debate on nutrition and physical activity away from a focus solely on individual choice and lifestyle towards one of environmental influences and corporate and government responsibility. Current Steering Committee members are: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness Program (CANFit), California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA), California Food Policy Advocates (CFPA), California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, California Park and Recreation Society (CPRS), California Project LEAN, California WIC Association (CWA), Child Care Food Program Roundtable, Latino Health Access, Partnership for the Public’s Health, Prevention Institute, and Samuels & Associates.

Home | About Us | Our Approach