2020 - 2nd Quarter
Together We Can Make A Difference!
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all of our lives in profound ways. And with all that is
changing, one thing we know with certainty is that your health is more important than ever. In response to the unprecedented public health emergency that Illinois and the world is facing as a result of the spread of the virus, the top two prevention strategies you can do right now is to stay home and strengthen your immune system. Your immune system is your body's defense against infection. Stress, unhealthy foods and exposure to toxins can weaken your immune system. In light of this pandemic, it is increasingly crucial to maintain strong and healthy immunity. Support your body with these key strategies:

  • Avoid sugar.
  • Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
  • Exercise.
  • Get 7 1/2 hours or more of sleep.
  • Supplement with vitamin C, D and Zinc for additional support.
  • Keep calm with meditation, yoga or a walk in nature.

FORWARD is using Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter to make healthy connections and offer healthy immune strengthening practices for the DuPage community. We invite you to follow us, read our weekly tips and watch our videos. We invite you to share with us ways you are staying healthy. This is a time to use the power of our community to come together and support our well-being as a county. FORWARD is here to support you. Stay well. Together we can make a difference!
Share YOUR Accomplishments
Tell us how you are spreading healthy change here . Share information with us about your healthy activity and become eligible for a chance to win a $100 gift card.
Spread the Pledge
Do you promise to inspire change by spreading healthy habits and sharing information about FORWARD? Small changes make a big difference. Help Spread the Pledge here .
Webinar Series Launch
FORWARD DuPage launched our third webinar entitled "Love Can Break Your Heart" . If you weren’t able to join us, click here for the replay.  Heather Gavras, National Program Lead, Healthy for Life with the American Heart Association discussed how to live a longer, healthier life with tips and tools to maintain a healthy heart and manage a healthy weight.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, our fourth webinar entitled "Think Outside the Lu nchbox to Build a Healthy Immune System is scheduled for Wednesday, April 8 at 11:30am . Now more than ever a healthy immune system is so important. Join FORWARD DuPage and our special guest, Jyl Steinback from Shape Us Up, a personal trainer, health expert and educator. Known as America's Healthiest Mom, she will provide 10 tips to build a healthy immune system from the inside out. Click here to register for free.
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Resources, Resources, Resources!
View some of Action for Healthy Kids favorite at-home activities.
CATCH has provided at-home and distance learning resources for parents and educators.
April is Move More Month and April 20-24 is Every Kid Healthy Week. May is National Physical Fitness & Sport Month. June is Sports America Kids Month. FORWARD DuPage has great tools, resources and newsletter copy to help you educate your constituents and celebrate each month to the fullest.
Health and Nature Program Partnership Toolkit provides examples for building program that implement health in nature.
Healthy Lifestyle
Legislative & Advocacy Update
Strengthen SNAP in future COVID-19 legislation. Please click here to endorse a sign-on letter which supports a SNAP increase in any future COVID-19 response legislation. Thank you to the Alliance to End Hunger for leading this important letter. The deadline is today at 5:00pm.
FORWARD DuPage serves as a leadership member of the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO). We encourage partners to get involved in helping to advance policies to support healthy lifestyle choices across Illinois. The Illinois legislative session is currently on hold as the state responds to the COVID-19 pandemic but to learn more about IAPO and their priorities  click here .
Healthy Lifestyles in the News
Manage the uncertainty of the COVID-19 outbreak through walking.
Stay active while we practice social distancing.
Obesity, diabetes and COVID-19: What PCPs need to know.
Healthy Eating Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recently released new nutrition guidelines for the charitable food system.
As rural schools close, some hungry kids will get a box of food.
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Upcoming Opportunities
No Kid Hungry
COVID-19 Grant Request

Accepting Applications
NOW!

Emergency grants are offered to support efforts to ensure kids get the food they need. Click here to apply.
Action for Healthy Kids
School Grants

Applications Deadline
May 1

Schools can apply for Game On Grant to fund physical activity and nutrition initiatives. Click here for information.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)
Caring for Children While Social Distancing

Free Webinar
30 Minutes

The CACFP has developed information on hand washing from the CDC with ways to have children continue to help with making their own food, participating in activities, and getting physical activity. Click her e to watch.
American Association of Retired People (AARP)
Community Challenge

Applications Deadline
May 15 @ 11:59pm

AARP provides small grants to fund "quick action" projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are being accepted for projects that improve housing, transportation, public space, technology and more. Click here for more information.
Be an Agent of Change
The challenges facing children and families to support healthy lifestyles will take the combined passions, expertise and influence of many. If you're reading this message, you are one of those influencers. Join us in our mission:
  • Donate - Too many families don't have access to the services and resources they need to stay healthy. In honor of our 10th anniversary, we've set our sights on raising $200,000 for change. Every dollar will support FORWARD DuPage's work to build capacity in communities where the need is great and the resources are too few.
  • Sign-Up - Join our coalition of thousands of partners so we can drive change for children and families and improve healthy lifestyle outcomes together.
  • Share Our Message - Spread the word about our 10th Anniversary and the impact we have had on our website or on the social media links at the bottom of the page.
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 built environment
to improve health status improvement.

For more details and to stay up to date on local progress, click here and subscribe to their twice a month newsletter.  
Help Us Get the Word Out!
Do you know of an upcoming event or health fair in DuPage County?

5-4-3-2-1 Go! ® is a public education message with recommendations for children and families to promote a healthy lifestyle.
  • 5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day
  • 4 servings of water a day
  • 3 servings of low-fat dairy a day
  • 2 or less hours of screen time a day
  • 1 or more hours of physical activity a day
For helpful resources and ideas on how to incorporate this message in your DuPage County organization click here .

If you are interested in distributing health and wellness materials at an upcoming event call 630.221.7550 or email [email protected] or Tonia Batogowski at [email protected] . 
We would like to thank our funders!