Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117436

Hope E. Wilson, MPH, RD, California Department of Health Services/Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, California Children's 5 a Day -- Power Play! Campaign, MS 7204, PO Box 997413, Sacramento, CA 95899, Matthew Marsom, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, California Department of Health Services, 1616 Capitol Avenue, Suite 74.516, P.O. Box 942732, MS 7204, Sacramento, CA 94234, (916) 449-5431, mmarsom@dhs.ca.gov, and S.B. Foerster, MPH, RD, California Department of Health Services, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section, 1616 Capitol Ave, P.O. box 997413, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413.

The mission of the California Nutrition Network is to create innovative partnerships so that low-income Californians are enabled to adopt healthy eating and physical activity patterns as part of a healthy lifestyle. The Joint Steering Committee of the Nutrition Network and the 5 a Day Campaign, convened six Policy Action Teams to bring together Network and 5 a Day funded programs, researchers, local advocates, state and federal agencies and partners, including policymakers, to recommend policy measures that would advance this mission. The PATs strategically connect the policy activities of the funded programs and local advocates with state and federal partners; provides leadership, advocacy, advice, and support for influencing and promoting behavioral and environmental change for improved nutrition, physical activity and food security in California.

One of these six PATs, the Children and Youth PAT, has the goal to increase access to healthy foods, including fruits and vegetables, and increase opportunities for physical activity for low-income children. The PAT voted to further their goal by identifying a policy priority for the 2005 legislative session: Ensure that Local School Wellness Policies, required for all schools that participate in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, include provisions that, at a minimum, implement and enforce nutrition and beverage standards, as stated in California statute, for all foods available on school campus, and promote nutrition education and physical activity. This session will discuss the development of the PAT, describe past successes and plans for achieving the latest policy priority.

Learning Objectives:

• Create a forum for local and state-level stakeholders to connect and work together toward a common goal to improve child nutrition and/or physical activity policy in their state.
• Identify successful strategies for developing and/or changing state or local policies to meet evidence-based nutrition and physical activity guidelines and standards.
• Define the components necessary for successful partnerships working on policy development and change regarding nutrition and physical activity.

Keywords: Food and Nutrition, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.