A Houston/Harris County Childhood Obesity Prevention Collaborative 
March 3,   2017  /  Issue No. 51     
Healthy Living Matters Engagement Survey 

Friends, 

As announced at our most recent collaborative meeting, Healthy Living Matters will be sending an engagement survey your way, allowing us to assess current participants and agencies that make up HLM. This survey will also allow us to identify the heartbeat of the collaborative,  while showcasing the current engagement levels of our members
 
Make sure to be on the lookout for the upcoming survey.  The survey is 12 short questions and should take no more than 4 minutes. Completing the survey will be of great assistance and will go a long way. 
 
Thank you for your continued dedication and engagement. 



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Healthy Living Matters Quarterly Collaborative MeetingArticle1 
 
On February 17, HLM hosted our first Collaborative Meeting of 2017 with the theme, "HLM Advocacy in the 2017 Legislative Session."

HLM was excited to host Representative Sarah Davis (District 134) as our keynote speaker. Rep. Davis informed the attendees of the legislative process and the process in which bills are submitted, passed and signed. Rep. Davis also touched on the best strategies to contact your representative or committee chairperson.
 
Representative Sarah Davis with HLM Executive Committee Chair, Christoper Browne, Rocaille Roberts, and Gwen Sims. 
  
HLM also hosted a knowledgeable panel who discussed legislative strategies and important policy priorities related to healthy living. Panelists included James Caruthers (Children at Risk), Ar'sheill Monsanto (Texas State Alliance of YMCAs), and Kaitlyn Murphy (Partnership for a Healthy Texas). Current bills that are being advocated for include:

Legislation: SB 355- Senator Watson
Summary: Relating to the adoption and implementation of a recess policy by public school districts.
 
Legislation: HB 168 & SB 757- Rep. Senator Lucio III & Senator  Menéndez
Summary: Relating to creating a voluntary program to recognize licensed before-school and after-school programs that promote healthy eating and physical activity.
 
In addition, Tim Schauer (Cornerstone Government Affairs) acted as the panel moderator and presented a general session which focused on how individuals can advocate for policies that interest them.


Panelist Ar'sheill Monsanto discusses policy priorities for the YCMA as moderator Tim Schuaer and panelists James Caruthers and Kaitlyn Murphy look on.
 
We would also like to give a special thank you to Playworks who energized the attendees throughout the meeting.  If you would like more information about the meeting or panelist's initiatives, please contact Frances Nguyen at  [email protected]

For more information about the meeting, make sure to check out the HLM collaborative meeting highlights
Greater Northside Health Collaborative  Article2

On February 8, 2017, stakeholders concerned about health in the Near Northside and Northline neighborhoods of Houston convened to re-form the Greater Northside Health Collaborative. The group of forty people - including nine residents and representatives of twenty organizations, health systems, and government agencies were convened by the following organizations: Avenue CDC, Healthy Living Matters, CAN DO Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center, MD Anderson YMCA, YES Prep and Baker Ripley's Leonel Castillo Community Center .
 
The highlight of the meeting was an energetic discussion around the four goals identified in the  Near Northside's 2015 Quality of Life Agreement (QLA) - Healthy Food, Healthy Minds, Active Living, and Healthy Bodies/Access to Care. Organizational representatives were given the opportunity to meet residents they serve and allies in their field of work. They identified existing resources, opportunities for collaboration to better serve the neighborhoods, and barriers to overcome in reaching QLA goals.
 
Executive Director of CAN DO Houston, Dr. Jasmine Opusunju leading the "Healthy Bodies/Access to Care" sector conversation. 
 
 
Two main themes emerged from these discussions:
1)      the need for better means of communication between residents and organizations to understand what resources are available in the community and how to access them.
2)      the huge overlaps between health and other areas that Greater Northside neighbors are actively working to improve. 
 
The Health Collaborative is an inclusive team within the GO Neighborhoods shared leadership model. It is open to all who are interested in health in the Near Northside and Northline communities. There will be monthly planning meetings and bi-annual community meetings for those who want to connect and stay informed but are unable to commit to regular participation. For more information or to get involved, contact Katy Atkiss at Avenue CDC at    [email protected]. 
City of Houston Bike Plan - Calling your Elected Official  Article3
 
Join BikeHouston and advocacy groups to promote the City of Houston Bike Plan. Expanding the city's bike plan supports HLM's P1 policy priority: supporting the development and adoption of "Safe Neighborhoods" policy, specifically the ongoing development of safe trails.   
   
Healthy Living Matters encourages advocates of active living to contact both your district and At-Large Council Members to express your opinion on the city's bike plan. T he proposed plan will add over 500 miles of bikeways in the city by 2026, and more than 1,400 new miles in the long-term vision will benefit the community in many important ways.  By providing safer, more accessible, more interconnected bikeways, the city will significantly increase the number of people riding bicycles in Houston as well as the opportunity for people to enjoy the health and wellness benefits biking delivers. 
 
If you plan on calling your Council Member then HLM recommends these simple guidelines: 
 
1. Create a small script of talking points, and make sure to cross of each point as the conversation develops.
2. Make sure the staffer takes your name and number giving you the opportunity to follow up at a later date. 
3. Always thank them for their time and never argue. 
 
Below is the list of Council Members and their office contact information-

Brenda Stardig, District A
832.393.3010
Robert Gallegos, District I
832.393.3011
Jerry Davis, District B
832.393.3009
Mike Laster, District J
832.393.3015
Ellen R. Cohen, District C
832.393.3004
Larry Green, District K
832.393.3016
Dwight Boykins, District D
832.393.3001
Mike Knox, At Large 1
832.393.3014
Dave Martin, District E
832.393.3008
David Robinson, At Large 2
832.393.3013
Steve Le, District F
832.393.3002
Michael Kubos, At Large 3
832.393.3005
Greg Travis, District G
832.393.3007
Amanda Edwards, At Large 4 
832.393.3012
Karla Cisneros, District E
832.393.3003
Jack Christie, At Large 5
832.393.3012
National Association for the Education of Young Children Childhood Obesity Prevention ResourcesArticle4
 
Childhood nutrition, physical development and obesity are serious health and development issues. NAEYC has standards for nutrition and health in early childhood program accreditation system and work with coalitions on child nutrition program quality and funding.  
 
 
 
 
In 2010, NAEYC was pleased to receive a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to elevate the issue of childhood obesity prevention and to work with a network of experts, as well as state and local affiliates, to provide resources to early childhood programs and advocates. NAEYC collects and provides the most recent information relating to the raising of childhood obesity awareness 
 
UPCOMING EVENTS UpcomingEvents
 
A Path Forward for Clean, Healthy Port Communities
Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM 
Magnolia Multi-Service Center 7037 Capital Street Houston, TX 77011

Bike Houston Learn to Ride Class
Saturday March 25, 2017, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM  
Bethany Methodist Church 3511 Linkwood Drive Houston TX 77025
More information 

Cigna Sunday Streets - Garden Oaks/Oak Forest 
Sunday, March 26, 2017 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM 
Location:  43rd between Ella Boulevard and Rosslyn Road

Children at Risk & Univision Houston 2017 Children's Summit
Thursday, March 30, 2017 from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM 
Univision's Uforia Lounge - 5100 Southwest Fwy, Houston, TX 77056

Houston Health Day 2017
Sunday, April 1, 2017 from 10:00 AM - 2:00PM 
Judson Robinson, Jr. Community Center  2020 Hermann Drive  Houston, TX 77004


To view more events, visit our Calendar of Events webpage