A Season to Reflect and Embrace
Dear FORWARD Coalition Members,

As the days get shorter and the temperatures outside begin to cool, the start of a new season is visible. The falling leaves outside provide a wonderful metaphor for us all to think about changes and renewal. It’s a time to discover which parts of ourselves we’d like to embrace and expand upon, and which parts of our summer skin we’d like to shed.

During this season of change, FORWARD is expanding too. We are excited about our plans to evolve from a project of the DuPage County Health Department towards independence by asking the DuPage Foundation to serve as our fiduciary agent. We will make this transition official in early December to be affiliated under their 501(c)3 status but will remain independent to make decisions. 

FORWARD’s school and worksite strategies are also expanding. We have recently selected four new schools in DuPage County in partnership with Action for Healthy Kids. We will be working in partnership with these schools to implement school wellness policies and help improve the practices and environments for students. And while we have been working with the health systems serving DuPage residents for the past four years to improve their food and beverage environment, we are excited to report that they have selected five businesses in their catchment areas to help implement comprehensive employee wellness plans, including environment, policy and program support. If your school or business would like to work with FORWARD, please let us know.

Talk about expansion, FORWARD’s “Get in The Action” Day at the DuPage County Fair was a huge success! At the request of the fair organizers, FORWARD and our partners offered a variety of active and healthy stations for guests visiting the county fair on July 26th. It was refreshing to see so many kids and adults biting into apples and getting their heart rate up especially in a place where people like to indulge on deep fried foods and sweets. We estimate that more than 1700 children and families experienced these healthy games and nutritional experiences. We could not have done it without the passion and support from FORWARD Coalition partners and volunteers! Click here to check out our Facebook page for photos from our “Get in the Action” Day. We look forward to seeing you at the fair in 2018!  

If you are interested in getting more involved with FORWARD or one of our strategies-Healthy Schools, Worksite Wellness, Healthy Municipalities, and/or Healthy Early Childhood to improve the health for DuPage residents, please contact Tonia Batogowski at toniabato@gmail.com .

In the meantime, get out and take a walk to reflect and watch the leaves turn. Enjoy this magical season of change.

Ann Marchetti
Consulting Director
FORWARD Initiative
Community Spotlight
ProActive kids is a local (Lombard and Woodridge) health promotion and education program offered free of charge (no insurance required) to children ages 8-14 that are struggling with their weight (85th percentile and above in their BMI). The program is comprehensive and all-inclusive, and treats the whole child, physically, nutritionally and emotionally.

ProActive Kids is built around the stability and commitment of family. This is not a prevention program, but a data-driven, results-oriented intervention program. Seventy-one point six percent of participants lower their BMI, and 75% lower their body fat. Click here for outcomes data.

The program goals include:
-Increasing muscle mass and decrease body fat, weight and BMI.
-Creating healthier habits in food selection, cooking and eating through nutrition education.
-Building confidence, self-esteem and communication skills.
-Learning coping skills.

The next session begins January 23rd, 2018. Click here for more information.  
Legislative & Advocacy Updates
Physical Education (P.E.) in Illinois

A Sad Day for Illinois: We are disappointed that the P.E. requirement for Illinois schools was reduced to three days per week. With strong science linking enhanced physical education and physical fitness to improvements in health, academics and behavior, FORWARD's Coalition members will continue to advocate for strong, daily physical education in all Illinois schools. 
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Upcoming Opportunities
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Plan for the Future
District 5 - October 18 @ 7pm
District 4 - October 25 @ 7pm
District 3 - October 30 @ 7pm

The Forest Preserve District is hosting community meetings and invites DuPage County residents and forest preserve fans to help it determine which projects and initiatives to address over the next five years as part of a master plan. Join a meeting at convenient locations around the county, and help us to plan the future in your DuPage forest preserves! Click here for more information.
Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity
Annual Coalition Meeting

Wednesday, October 18
10am to 3pm
Elmhurst Hospital - Oak Room

Join us for our annual in-person coalition meeting. Registration deadline is October 16. Click here for more information and to register.
Illinois Public Health Institute
Pump Up P.E.

Thursday, October 26
8:30am to 3pm
IEA Professional Development Center

Professional development for teachers on implementing enhanced programming, aligning curricula and administering fitness tests. Register now.
Action for Health Kids
School Wellness Conference

Thursday, November 2
8am to 3pm
Holiday Inn Rock Island-Quad Cities

Conference sessions highlight successful school health, wellness related outreach in schools, innovative projects and emerging issues. Find out more.
Illinois Soil, Food, Water & Composting Summit

Friday, November 3
8am to 4pm
Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building

Join other leaders and practitioners to learn more about the connectivity between issues and explore opportunities for collaborative work. Register today.
Illinois Department of Public Health
Building a Successful Diabetes Education Program (2-Day Workshop)

November 28-29 in Mount Vernon
December 5-6 in Naperville

The workshop will cover information on evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines, CQI plans and tools for DSMES programs, marketing plans, Medicare Chronic Care Management benefits, E.MA. tools for successful behavior change, challenges and common problems in older adults and much more.  Register  today.
Illinois Public Health Institute
Midwest Forum on Hospitals, Health Systems and Population Health:Partnerships to Build a Culture of Health

November 29-December 1
Westin Michigan Avenue

Join several public health institutes for the first-ever Midwest Forum to explore how multiple sectors can work together to solve complex issues to improve community health. Find out more here .
The Resiliency Institute: 2018 Class Schedule
Edible Wild Plants Certificate Course

Saturdays, February 24 - November 17
9:30am to 3:30pm

Learn to identify over 200 edible wild plants that grow in our bioregion, eat wild foods, and take guided plant ID walks during every class.   Register early to save!
Permaculture Forest Gardener Series

Sundays, February 11 - October 14
9:00am to 12:00pm

Learn how to transform any landscape into a permaculture edible forest garden. Register  early to save!
Bioregional Herbalism Series

Saturdays, March 4 - November 3
9:00am - 4:00pm

Connect with nature and the plants that nurture your well-being. Learn the nourishing and healing benefits of bioregional plants for maintaining health and healing common ailments. Prepare herbal remedies. Learn about body systems. Register early to save!
Do you subscribe to the IMPACT DuPage Newsletter?
Impact DuPage is a county-wide initiative of partner organizations working to influence change in the areas of affordable housing, access to health treatment, behavioral health treatment, substance abuse and healthy lifestyles. FORWARD is Impact DuPage’s vehicle to help influence residents and partners to make positive choices regarding nutrition, physical activity, and the environment
to improve healthy lifestyles.
Impact DuPage is committed to creating a common understanding of community needs, gaps and priorities that will advance the well-being of the DuPage County community. For more details and to stay up to date on local progress, subscribe to their twice
a month newsletter.  
Help Market the FOWARD Initiative!
Help market the FORWARD Initiative! Do you know of an upcoming event or health fair in DuPage County? We have marketing materials available for our coalition members. Please contact us if you are interested in distributing health and wellness materials at an upcoming event.  Call us at 630.221.7550 or email healthpromotions@dupagehealth.org .