Nutrition Action Alert
January 29, 2014
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Mobile Vending Advocacy Tools Support Healthy School Environments
Parents and health advocates across the nation have been celebrating the recent federal "Smart Snack in Schools" policy, which greatly improves the nutritional quality of foods sold at schools. Selling junk food in schools is a disservice to student health and achievement, and we applaud these recent changes.

Unfortunately, efforts to improve student health are often undermined right outside the school door. In many California communities, mobile food vendors near schools sell chips, soda, and similar items to children before, during, and after the school day. Mobile food vending so close to schools introduces unnecessary risks to children's safety, such as, traffic, strangers, and more.

School communities are fighting to improve children's health by limiting the sale of unhealthy foods. CFPA is committed to promoting and protecting child nutrition at school. In order to support these efforts and document the challenges and successes communities have had in reducing mobile vending near schools, CFPA has launched a new web page with a series of videos and advocacy resources. Additional tools will be added to this page in the future.

Learn more about mobile food vending near schools. link
Watch how Californians are fighting for healthy school environments. link

Questions? Contact Tracey Patterson at 510.433.1122 ext. 101
Start Advocating for Early Childhood Education Nutrition Investments Today!
The Senate and Assembly Budget Committees are just starting to meet, which means it's time to start advocating for early childhood education (ECE) nutrition investments! In brief, CFPA is asking that the State reimburse all ECE programs enrolled in the USDA's Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) $0.2229 for each free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch served. This proposal is analogous to California's long-standing, state-funded contribution to K-12 meals, wherein school districts are reimbursed $0.2229 for each meal served. To ensure this budget request is included in the Senate and Assembly budget discussion and proposals, CFPA encourages you to talk with your Legislators immediately, particularly if your Assembly Member of Senator serves on the Education Finance Subcommittee.

Read more about how you can advocate for ECE nutrition investments. link
ECE nutrition investment background document. PDF

Find more resources and updates. link

Questions? Contact Elyse Homel-Vitale at 510.433.1122 ext. 206 
CFPA Farm Bill Statement
CFPA urges the California Congressional delegation to vote "no" on H.R. 2642, which includes a significant  cut to SNAP (known as CalFresh in California) of $8.6 billion over ten years. H.R. 2642 would restrict a provision, known in Californian as the "Heat and Eat" initiative, that aligns and coordinates utility and food assistance benefits among low-income households. In January 2013, California implemented Heat and Eat. If H.R. 2642 passes, an estimated 300,000 SNAP households in Californian would lose an average of $62 in monthly benefits. In addition to negatively impacting low-income families, the state economy would lose out on an estimated $275 million in CalFresh benefits during FY 2013-2014 that would have flowed into California as a result of Heat and Eat.

CFPA opposes any Farm Bill that includes cuts to SNAP benefits. Particularly at a time when the economy is still recovering, when income inequality continues to grow and when Californians continue to struggle making ends meet.

Questions? Contact Kerry Birnbach at 510.433.1122 ext. 110
Open Position: 2014 Summer Fellow
CFPA is currently accepting applications for the Sarah Samuels Public Health Fellowship for Summer 2014. This paid internship was established in honor of CFPA's long-time board member, Sarah Samuels, who was a leader in conducting and applying research to shape sound nutrition policies. She was also a supportive mentor of new public health professionals. This internship is open to graduate-level students with a demonstrated interest in public health, advocacy and public policy.

The deadline for applications is February 17, 2014.

Learn more about the 2014 Sarah Samuels Fellowship. link

Questions? Contact Tracey Patterson at 510.433.1122 ext. 101
CalFresh Forum Update
The CalFresh Forum is less than a month away, but there is still time to register and vote for your favorite Freshy Award nominees!

Register for the CalFresh Forum. link

Learn more about the Freshy Award nominees. PDF
Vote for the Freshy Awards. link

Learn more about the event. link

Questions? Contact CalFreshForum@cfpa.net
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