Leadership for Healthy Communities A 10 Year Retrospective Dr. Kristen Welker-Hood November 15, 2014
About Us Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to support local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating and access to healthy foods. LHC provides support, technical assistance and educational resources to policymakers and leadership associations to advance healthy eating and active living (HEAL) policy adoption and implementation.
Policy-maker Associations AASA, the School Superintendents Association (AASA) Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) Council of State Governments (CSG) International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Local Government Commission (LGC) National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators (NAPACSL) National Association of Counties (NACo) National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund (NALEO) National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) National Caucus of Native American State Legislators National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA) National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators (NHCSL) National League of Cities Institute for Youth, Education & Families (NLCI) National Organization of Black County Officials (NOBCO) National School Boards Association (NSBA) U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Women in Government (WIG)
OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY TRENDS Trust for America s Health (2014). State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America 2014. Retrieved from http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/tfah-2014-obesityreport%20final.pdf Presentation Page: 4 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
DIFFERENCES IN OBESITY ACROSS RACE AND ETHNICITY Trust for America s Health (2014). State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America 2014. Retrieved from http://healthyamericans.org/assets/files/tfah-2014-obesityreport%20final.pdf Presentation Page: 5 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
CONSEQUENCES OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY Obese children have an increased risk of: Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular disease Asthma Sleep disordered breathing Depression and social isolation Increased hospitalization and illness Presentation Page: 6 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
Childhood Obesity Facts & Figures Nearly 1 in 3 children and adolescents in the U.S. is obese or overweight. Source: Overweight in Children, American Heart Association
Childhood Obesity Prevention: Signs of Progress Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, a national leader in childhood obesity prevention efforts California, Mississippi, New Mexico, U.S. Virgin Islands and other states have seen statewide declines in childhood obesity rates. Areas as diverse as Philadelphia; New York City; Kearney, NE; Anchorage, AK; and Vance and Granville, NC have reported declines.
Childhood Obesity Prevention: Signs of Progress
LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: BUILDING STATE AND LOCAL CAPACITY TO PROMOTE HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENTS Education and outreach to policy-makers nationwide Technical assistance on healthy food access and active living policies. Hosted three national childhood obesity summits Lead equity working group of philanthropic and advocacy partners Original publications and policy tools Grants management and support to 20 national associations Presentation Page: 10 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTIVE OF HEAL POLICIES GIVE POLICYMAKERS THE RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT HEAL POLICIES BRING POLICYMAKERS TO THE TABLE Presentation Page: 11 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
POLICY SOLUTIONS ACROSS MULTIPLE LEVELS Local / County Optimize use of parks and recreation Establish partnerships with schools Reshape the physical environment Address financial constraints placed upon schools State Reach high-risk populations Promote access to nutritious foods Coordinate systems and services and align policies School Address childhood obesity at all ages & grade levels Optimize out-of-school time Enfold into existing curricula or school models Standards-based Presentation Page: 12 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
The Policy Environment SCHOOLS Food Environment COMMUNITIES Built Environment Social Environment WORKPLACES
Active Living and the Built Environment
Active Transportation Make Roads and Paths Safer for Bicyclists and Pedestrians Develop long-term plans with explicit active transportation goals. Implement Complete Streets programs. Expand Bicycle Lane and Trail Connections Ensure sidewalk continuity and direct routes for pedestrians and bicyclists. Climate Co-Benefit: Fewer Cars = Decreased Carbon Emissions.
Land Use for Active Living Re-Evaluate Urban Design and Land-Use Plans Develop mixed-use retail and residential areas within walking distance of transit. Economic Co- Benefit: Pedestrians and bicyclists shop and spend more per customer than drivers. Photo Credit: Michael McIver
Land Use for Active Living (cont.) Improve Community Design Develop design guidelines to improve streetscapes. Make entrances to civic buildings accessible for pedestrians. Adopt building codes that make stairs more attractive and accessible.
Quality Physical Activity In and Near Schools Education Co-Benefit: 15 to 30 minutes of daily physical activity can improve academic focus and classroom behavior. Offer at Least 30 Minutes of Quality Physical Activity Daily Require 30 minutes of daily physical activity for all students in all grade levels. Integrate physical activity into educational settings and allow for recess breaks. Ensure funding to build and maintain gyms, playgrounds and fields.
Require Standards-Based Physical Education Classes Include P.E. as a core requirement in school curricula. Adopt certification standards for P.E. teachers. Increase funding to provide high-quality P.E. classes & teachers. Quality Physical Activity In and Near Schools (cont.)
Food and Beverage Marketing Regulate the Marketing of Unhealthy Food In or Near Schools and Other Youth Facilities Discourage the marketing and sale of unhealthy foods in vending machines in youth centers, school facilities and parks department facilities. Limit all advertisements, monitor all food and beverage advertisements or restrict the marketing of products that are not permitted to be sold on campus. Set nutrition standards for children s meals that include a toy. Photo Credit: Center for Science in the Public Interest
State and Local Action We are seeing a lot of progress at the state and local level in policies to prevent childhood obesity. Morestates are enacting laws 31 states in 2011 versus 29 states in 2010 But fewer are being passed than in previous years. 60 bills in 2011 versus 77 bills in 2010
State and Local Approaches to Childhood Obesity Prevention Built Environment Physical Activity and Education Pricing Strategies Food Marketing to Children Cycling, walking and Complete Streets Transit-oriented development School siting Pedestrian-friendly roadways and intersections In-school physical activity requirements and standards Shared use agreements Collection of BMI data and other health indicators Incentives for healthy food purchases Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages Incentives for active transit Limits on the marketing of unhealthy foods to kids, in or near schools, or within government buildings and agencies
Effective childhood obesity prevention initiatives Emphasize change in policy in addition to changes in social and physical environments to have maximum sustainable impact. Develop high leverage, community-wide, multi-level strategies designed to effect policy, systems and environmental change within government, schools, work sites, communities and places of worship. Incorporate a focus on vulnerable populations. Feature strong committed leadership among department heads, executives, elected officials and community leaders.
Effective childhood obesity prevention initiatives Use creative funding sources. Make healthy communities attractive. Include interagency and non-agency coordination and collaboration to improve access, opportunities and information related to healthy eating and active living. Involve innovative and supportive partnerships involving the academic, healthcare, business and civic sectors.
Program Impact: Women In Government in Action Representative Kim Norton (DFL-Rochester, MN ) State Senator Jackie Winters (R-Salem, OR), District 10 Presentation Page: 25 www.globalpolicysolutions.org
LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES Advancing Policies to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living 1300 L St. NW Suite 975 Washington, DC 20005 (202) 265-5112 phone (202) 265-5118 fax http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org