Back to Annual Meeting

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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Roberta R. Friedman, ScM, Massachusetts Public Health Association, 434 Jamaicaway, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130, 617-524-6696 x103, rfriedman@mphaweb.org and Vivien M. Morris, MS, RD, MPH, LDN, Department of Pediatrics/Nutrition and Fitness for Life Program, Boston Medical Center, 850 Harrison Avenue, Yawkey ACC Bldg., Rm 4S-21, Boston, MA 02118.

The Massachusetts Public Health Association is the lead advocate of a bill filed in the legislature that would ban the sale of sodas and foods of minimal nutritional value in school vending machines, stores, cafeteria a la carte lines and fundraisers. This session will describe the process of developing a strategy that can be used by other organizations for passage of state and local policy. This includes exerting “outside” influence on legislators through grassroots organizing, organizational coalition building, public education and the media. It also includes an “inside” strategy of working with rank and file members and legislators in leadership, anticipating and neutralizing the opposition's tactics, and negotiating last-minute compromises.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the components of a strategy to pass state legislation
• Recognize the importance of working both from within and outside the state house, with grassroots advocates, coalitions, and legislators, to pass legislation

Keywords: Nutrition, Obesity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation