|
|
  
A Houston/Harris County Childhood Obesity Prevention Collaborative
October 23, 2014 / Issue XXV
|
|
|
|
Contact us:
Phone:
713-439-6118
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
Healthy Changes at the Chinese Community Center!
In collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Houston Area, Healthy Living Matters (HLM) facilitated the Community Healthy Living Index (CHLI) assessment on various sites in Harris County. After developing action plans, these sites received seed grants to make progress on their plans.
The Chinese Community Center (CCC), a multi-ethnic organization serving a high-need immigrant community in Southwest Houston through educational, cultural and social service programs, was awarded funds to purchase physical education equipment for their after-school program.
The program's goal was to have at least 80% of the students in their Youth Program partake in vigorous activities at least twice per week. After purchasing equipment, weekly attendance tracking discovered that on average 88 of the students are now participating in vigorous activities, maximizing movements and increasing heart rate at least three days a week!
To learn more about the CHLI assessment process, click here.
|
HLM Champion Highlight: Rep. Alma Allen
On October 7 th, HLM met with the School Health Leadership Group of Harris County to talk about ways that policies supported by HLM could be implemented through the School Health Advisory Councils (SHACs). In keeping with the group's nautical theme, HLM representatives and school health leaders representing 15 school districts discussed mutually reinforcing efforts in terms of "ship types" and different kids of "fleet" when working on district-level policy change. HLM is very encouraged by how closely our goals and challenges align, and look forward to working with the group for the 2015 Texas Legislative Session!
Additionally, State Representative Alma Allen was on hand to talk about the complexities of the Texas Legislature and how best to get the groups' collective voices heard. Tim Schauer, the Policy and Advocacy Advisor to HLM, coached the group on overcoming frustrations in making policy changes from the bottom up.
 HLM will be working with Rep. Allen and many other Texas Legislators to implement the policy priorities going forward into the 84th Texas Legislature, and having the support of the members of the School Health Leadership Group really helps build momentum. Navigating difficult seas can be a challenge, but when we pull together a big fleet all working toward the same goal, nothing is impossible.
|
 Shape Up Houston Needs Your Support!
Shape Up Houston has been nominated for a 2014 Aetna Voices of Health award, as one of the nation's top 33 community health organizations working toward accessible health care for all. Please help them win a $30,000 grant by casting your vote today and every day until November 9th. This award will be used fund a 2015 program to provide school children in the Greater Houston area with tools to track their health. Click here to cast your vote! Shape Up Houston is a 501c3 nonprofit aimed at getting Houston healthy and reducing obesity. They offer low cost employee wellness programs to companies and free online health trackers to the community.
|
Quick Commute Survey - Spread the Word!
The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC), in collaboration with the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, is surveying Houston-area employers and commuters about their commuting experiences in the greater Houston region. Results from the survey will help H-GAC and its partners improve travel demand-management strategies in the region. To take the survey for yourself or your company, click here. Once completed, please invite others in the Houston region to participate.
|
|
Featured Resources
 National Eating Healthy Day Toolkit
Join the American Heart Association (AHA) on Wednesday, November 5th and throughout November to celebrate healthier eating. Participating in National Eating Healthy Day is fun and easy! The AHA provides a complete toolkit of materials and how-to information for workplaces, schools, individuals and community organizations AT NO COST! Click here to download the toolkit.  Farm to School Toolkit If you're interested in more in-depth information and guidance on getting a farm to school program started, check out the USDA's new Farm to School Planning Toolkit! The toolkit guides users through 11 different farm to school topics with helpful questions to consider and resources to reference when digging into farm to school planning. The toolkit is designed for use by schools, school districts, and community partners, and is filled with tips and examples, insights from practitioners, and lots of links for further research. Each school district is unique, so browse the topics to find the resources most relevant to you!
|
|
|
|
TEXAS OBESITY NEWS
|
NATIONAL OBESITY NEWS
|
RESEARCH & REPORTS
Healthy Initiatives Pilot Full Report
Neighborhood Influences on Girls' Obesity Risk Across the Transition to Adolescence Full Article
The O Word: Why the Focus on Obesity is Harmful on Community Health Full Report
|
UPCOMING EVENTS
Webinar: Let's Move! Active Schools
Tuesday, October 28, 2014 from 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Webinar: Integrating Safe Routes to School into the Fabric of Your Community
Wednesday, October 29, 2014 from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
More InformationWebinar: The State of Obesity and Health DisparitiesWednesday, October 29, 2014 from 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM More InformationCAN DO Houston Partnership MeetingThursday, October 30, 2014 from 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77007 More InformationSunday Streets HTX: Third Ward/Museum ParkSunday, November 2, 2014 from 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM More Information2015 Texas Legislative Session: A Time for ChildrenWednesday, November 5, 2014 from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM United Way of Greater Houston, 50 Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77007 More Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
