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March 2018 E-Newsletter:
News, Resources, and Upcoming Events
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Dear Friends,
Spring has sprung and the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO) is looking to the future! We hope you can join us for the upcoming coalition meeting via webinar (Tuesday, 4/10, 12:00-1:30pm), Looking Ahead: What's Next for Obesity Prevention?
Register here and read more below.
We are also preparing for a burst of legislative activity when the Illinois General Assembly reconvenes the second week of April. You will find
IAPO's policy and advocacy updates below and we will keep you posted regarding calls to action throughout the session. Also below is information on new events, resources, and funding opportunities.
In solidarity,
Elissa Bassler
Executive Director, Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity
CEO, Illinois Public Health Institute
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IAPO Coalition Meeting Via Webinar -
Looking Ahead: What's Next for Obesity Prevention?
Join this once-yearly webinar of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity on
Tuesday, April 10, 2018, 12:00 PM - 1:30 PM CST.
On this webinar, you will get a chance to:
HEAR from our keynote speaker,
Dr. Steven Gortmaker, Professor of the Practice of Health Sociology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
GET UPDATES on IAPO's strategic planning process and what's changed.
PROVIDE INPUT on revisions to the coalition's State Obesity Action Roadmap objectives.
This meeting is supported in part by The Chicago Community Trust.
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IAPO Policy & Advocacy Updates
Updates on IAPO's 2018 legislative priorities and current organizational action opportunities are below. We are preparing for a ramp up in activity when the Illinois General Assembly reconvenes the second week of April and we'll keep you posted on regarding calls to action throughout the session. You can also fill out this form to tell us specific ways you would be willing to engage.
- House Bill 4568 (Rep. Butler) & Senate Bill 2588 (Sen. Harmon) strike the end-date of the Healthy Local Foods Incentive Fund program (P.A. 99-0928). IAPO advocated for the passage of the Healthy Local Foods Incentive Fund, but the appropriation for the fund was not made in the Fiscal Year 2018 budget. Therefore, we are now advocating not only for the appropriation, but to strike the end-date of the program (currently set to expire June, 2019) to allow time for full implementation. You can help advocate for this bill in the following ways:
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Send an action alert out to your networks to get more letters to legislators.
Click
here
for sample language (with links to alert generator).
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Events, News & Resources, and Funding Opportunities
Events:
- Every Kid Healthy Week, April 23-27, 2018. Every Kid Healthy is not just a sentiment; it's an annual week-long recognition of wellness achievements in school communities across the country, launched by our partners at Action for Healthy Kids in 2013. Join in celebrating the sixth annual Every Kid Healthy Week from April 23-27 by helping schools host fun and interactive health-promoting events. For more information on how to get involved and additional resources to help you plan an event, go to EveryKidHealthWeek.org. #EveryKidHealthy
- Webinar: The Role of Physical Education in Enhancing Adolescent Mental Health, Thursday, May 3, 11:00am-12:00pm CST. Register here. In recognition of National Sports and Fitness Month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health's Region 5 Adolescent Health Network, in partnership with IAPO, will present a webinar on the impact of physical education (P.E.)/physical activity on adolescent mental health and well-being. Dr. John Ratey, Harvard Medical School, will present on his neuroscience research demonstrating a connection between physical activity and improved academic outcomes among students. The webinar will highlight P.E. policy in Region 5 states and also showcase Illinois' work to adopt enhanced P.E. policies. Paul Zientarski, retired P.E. Department Chairman, Naperville Central High School/Board member - DuPage FORWARD, and Dr. Jean H. Sophie, Superintendent of Schools, Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65, will share their experience implementing P.E. policy in schools. Intended audience: Individuals and organizations that work with young people, such as health and social service providers and educators, as well as others with an interest in learning about the impact of P.E. and physical activity on adolescent mental health. Download the webinar flyer here.
- Save the Date: The Illinois Bike Summit, Monday, May 7, 2018, will be held at University of Illinois at Chicago. Learn more here.
- National Physical Education and Sports Week, May 1-7. Visit SHAPE America for ways to participate.
- All Children Exercise Simultaneously (ACES), May 2. The world's largest exercise class! Learn more and sign up to participate here.
- 2018 Food Summit, May 8. Register here. Hosted by the Illinois Commission to End Hunger, this event will provide opportunities to network among colleagues from every corner of the state, as well as learn about innovations and challenges regarding anti-hunger policies and programs at the federal, state, and local levels. The featured speaker is Dr. Craig Gundersen, Department of Agriculture Economics, University of Illinois. Dr. Gunderson informs policymakers and program administrators who are seeking paths to reduce food insecurity and its consequences. He also evaluates food assistance programs, with a particular emphasis on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as the Food Stamp Program). Following the Hunger Summit, advocates will descend on the state Capitol to advocate for important legislation to protect access to nutritious food for people in need. You can choose to come to either or both events. The cost is free but space is limited.
- May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Learn more.
- Tools and Strategies for Optimal School Health Conference 2018, April 26, 7:30am-3:00pm CST. Register here. Please join the Cook County Department of Public Health and other public health, behavioral, nursing and school health experts for updates related to mental health resources, chronic and communicable disease prevention and control. This FREE meeting is for Suburban Cook County school staff involved in helping students and their families optimize physical, mental and social health outcomes. Registration, lunch and professional development hours will be provided at no cost.
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News & Resources:
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A new report from JAMA examining National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data shows pediatric obesity for 2-5 year-olds is on the rise again after a brief decline.
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From The New York Times: Adult obesity is also on the
rise.
- A new report out from the Bipartisan Policy Center concludes that states are in a unique position to promote health and good nutrition through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP - formerly known as food stamps). The report recommends pilot programs (like Illinois' Healthy Food Incentives Fund program - ensuring the full implementation of which is one of IAPO's 2018 legislative initiatives) as an effective way to encourage increased consumption of fruits and vegetables. Read more.
- The 2018 County Health Rankings were released. Check out your county's ranking here.
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For partners using the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC):
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, has created an online version of its very popular resource
. Childcare providers and supporters across an entire state can use the on-line version for one year after a license has been purchased for $18,000.
A group of childcare advocates and obesity prevention practitioners are working together to assess the needs in Illinois for this online version and to identify potential sources of financial support. Please complete this survey to help them identify challenges and opportunities for using NAP SACC in Illinois.
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Funding Opportunities:
- Illinois School Grants Now Available. IAPO partner, Action for Healthy Kids, is now accepting applications for school grants for the 2018-2019 school year. Schools may apply for School Breakfast grants to pilot or expand their school breakfast programs or Game On grants to fund physical activity and nutrition initiatives. Schools and parents can apply for Parents for Healthy Kids grants to bring health programs to their children's schools through parent engagement. The application deadline is April 6, so don't miss out. Visit ActionforHealthyKids.org/Grants for more information.
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About IAPO
The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO) is a multi-sector coalition that works for equitable and just opportunities for Illinoisans to eat healthy and be physically active to optimize their health and well-being. Through partnerships and collaboration, public awareness building, technical assistance and advocacy, IAPO: 1) develops, changes, and implements policies and systems to support nutrition and physical activity and eliminate social and institutional barriers to maintaining a healthy weight; 2) fosters communities and institutions that integrate healthy foods and beverages and physical activity choices into everyday activities.
This initiative was launched and is coordinated by the Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI). To learn more about IAPO, visit
www.preventobesityil.org
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Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity
Convened by the Illinois Public Health Institute
310 S. Peoria Street, 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 850-4744 voice
(312) 850-4040 fax
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Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity | Illinois Public Health Institute | 312-850-4744
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