HomeMy WebLinkAbout102-Attachment A: Let's Move Cities and Towns - Toolkit for Local Officials.pdfMARCH 2011
LET’S MOVE
CITIES AND TOWNS
Toolkit for Local Officials
Table of Contents
Welcome To Let’s Move Cities And Towns 1
Launching Your Community’s Let’s Move! Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Creating Your Own Childhood Obesity Task Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Four Strategic Focuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Identify A Let’s Move! “Community Leader” In Your Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Include Young People In Your Planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Learn From Municipal Leaders Who Are Succeeding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Publicly Launch Your Let’s Move! Initiative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Important Contact Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Policy Changes And Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pillar 1: Giving parents and caregivers the tools they need to make healthy choices in early
childhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Pillar 2: Improving Nutrition in Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Pillar 3: Increasing Physical Activity Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Pillar 4: Making Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Webinars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Private Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Federal Grant Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Empowering Parents & Caregivers in Early Childhood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Improving Nutrition in Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Access to Healthy, Affordable Food . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Increasing Physical Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
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Welcome To Let’s Move Cities And Towns
Congratulations! Now that you have signed up your community as part of the Let’s Move Cities and Towns
network, we are ready to help you take the steps necessary to create a healthier community .
Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled . Today, nearly one in three
children in the United States is overweight or obese, which puts them at greater risk for health problems
like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma . Obesity costs Americans $150 bil-
lion in added health care expenses every year . As you know, this epidemic affects every community in
our country and every sector of our society, but there’s good news—the solutions are within our grasp .
The First Lady launched Let’s Move! with one overarching goal: to solve the problem of childhood obesity
within a generation, so that kids born today reach adulthood at a healthy weight . It’s fair to say that this
goal is ambitious, but when our children’s health is at stake, we need to reach high . And as a municipal
leader, you already understand how important your role is in helping your community implement
sustainable change . You can provide the critical leadership to bring your community together to spur
action, and to choose strategies that make sense for your community .
In this toolkit, you will find:
•Ideas for launching your own Let’s Move! campaign in your city, town or county
•Contact information for federal government officials who are available to help
•Detailed suggestions for changes you can implement in your community
•Information about regularly scheduled webinars your team can join to learn about new
opportunities and resources
•Information about resources available to you to help you meet your Let’s Move! goals
These resources are provided as a first step, to help you and other key stakeholders begin to envision
how to address this issue in your community . The next step is for you to publicly commit to making at
least one change in each of the four pillars of the Let’s Move! Initiative that call for action at the local level:
1. Giving parents and caregivers the tools they need to make healthy choices in early childhood;
2. Improving nutrition in schools;
3. Increasing physical activity opportunities;
4. Making healthy food affordable and accessible .
Suggested policy changes are provided here in this toolkit, beginning on page 11.
You can make this commitment on your city’s website, in a speech or an interview, or in a press release .
We are asking you to let us know what commitments you make in a simple web form . Once you have
made this commitment, you will receive a certificate officially welcoming you to the network of Let’s
Move Cities and Towns, and the federal government will work with you to support your efforts . When
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you’re ready to make your commitments and officially join Let’s Move!, log onto http://www .hhs .gov/
intergovernmental/letsmove/cities_towns .html and click the designated link to sign up your community .
It should only take you about seven minutes to complete .
Our goal is to be a resource to you as you embark on the challenge to make your community healthier .
You have likely already been in contact with an administration official (such as a Regional Director at the
Department of Health and Human Services) and we encourage you to continue these conversations and
exchanges . In addition, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Let’s Move office at the White House
by e-mail at letsmove@who .eop .gov with any questions, success stories, or challenges you have . We’re
here to help .
Sincerely,
Robin Schepper
Executive Director, Let’s Move! Initiative
Office of the First Lady
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Launching Your Community’s
Let’s Move! initiative
So, you have decided to sign up your city, town or county as a Let’s Move! community . Now what? This
section will outline some suggested steps you can take to begin the process of helping your community
become healthier!
Creating Your Own Childhood Obesity Task Force
In 2010, President Barack Obama established the first-ever Task Force on Childhood Obesity at the federal
level . The Task Force was charged with developing and implementing an inter-agency plan that details
a coordinated strategy, identifies key benchmarks, and outlines an action plan to end the problem of
childhood obesity within a generation . The goal of the action plan is to reduce the childhood obesity rate
to just five percent by 2030—the same rate before childhood obesity first began to rise in the late 1970s .
The report presents a series of 70 specific recommendations, many of which can be implemented right
away . You can obtain a copy of the full report, relevant pieces, or a summary of the recommendations
at www .letsmove .gov/obesitytaskforce .php .
Consider forming a childhood obesity task force in your own community . Feel free to use the federal
task force as a model for your community’s efforts . Consider convening the relevant city agencies such
as (but not limited to):
•School Department
•Department of Health
•Department of Public Safety
•Department of Parks and Recreation
•Department of Transportation
•Department of Housing
•Zoning Department
Also consider convening community stakeholders that can play a central role in tackling childhood
obesity in your community . While mayors and elected officials have developed many of the ideas recom-
mended in this toolkit, some of these ideas have come from community members . If you engage resi-
dents and solicit ideas to make your process inclusive and collaborative, you increase your likelihood of
success . Some mayors have found groups such as their local chapter of the American Heart Association,
Boys and Girls Clubs, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, YMCA/YWCA to be helpful, to name just a few . In addi-
tion to organizations, reach out to individuals who are working in this space, such as pediatricians, chefs,
PTA leaders, teachers, intramural coaches, after school program leaders, personal trainers, dieticians,
social workers, green space advocates, and anyone else in your community who you feel can help you
identify challenges and potential solutions that your city, town or county can take .
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Four Strategic Focuses
If you decide to organize your own childhood obesity task force, you may choose to focus your policy
recommendations around the same pillars as the national Let’s Move! initiative: early childhood, empow-
ering parents and caregivers, improving nutrition in schools, increasing access to fresh and affordable
food, and increasing opportunities for physical activity . (www .letsmove .gov/obesitytaskforce .php) While
the policy changes are what will make you a member of the Let’s Move Cities and Towns network, your
initiative does not have to end there .
The national Let’s Move! initiative is organized around four strategic focuses . Consider including some
or all of them in your local initiative .
Policy
Systemic policy changes are at the heart of Let’s Move! While one-time events might attract publicity
for the cause, only with structural changes to our communities will we expect to see an actual decrease
in the rate of childhood obesity . This toolkit provides you with many ideas for systemic policy changes
that will have an impact in your city, town or county .
Communications
Consider including a communications strategy in your local Let’s Move! initiative . The White House Let’s
Move! team can provide you with some general fact sheets about the epidemic of childhood obesity
that you can use to craft messages that will help your community make choices that will give young
people a better chance at a healthier life . E-mail letsmove@who .eop .gov to request these fact sheets,
or just download them at www .letsmove .gov/stakeholders .php . You may want to enlist local celebrities
(sports stars, community leaders, entertainers) in a public awareness campaign . Your communications
initiative might include information about how to make healthy choices, details about the changes
your community is making to combat childhood obesity, and ways parents and caregivers can access
tools and resources .
Public—Private Partnerships
Many business leaders are eager to do their part to help their community take on childhood obesity .
Restaurant owners might be willing to create more healthy menu options . Health club owners might
be willing to consider joint-use agreements that allow young people easier access to their facilities .
Community businesses might be willing to fund community based projects like community gardens
and playgrounds . Consider reaching out to business leaders in your community and enlist them in your
Let’s Move! initiative .
Community Engagement
While the policy changes you enact will make an impact on childhood obesity rates in your community,
you might see your efforts multiply if your community gets behind your initiative and commits to get-
ting involved . For example, you might establish a walking school bus program (see details in the policy
ideas section of this toolkit), but if you only recruit a few adult volunteers, you won’t have the breadth
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of impact that is possible if you recruit a large team . You might make it easier for community members
to participate in community gardens, but without large-scale buy-in, your effort won’t have the same
impact .
Two non-profit organizations have launched efforts in support of Let’s Move! You might find them helpful
in engaging your community:
ServiceNation is a national organization committed to increasing volunteer service opportunities across
America . They are a leader in creating community-based solutions to many of the problems facing
municipalities . ServiceNation has launched several grassroots blueprints that support Let’s Move! that
give community members ways to organize each other to make real change in their community . You
can find these blueprints at www .servicenation .org
PreventObesity .net is a social networking website launched by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation .
On this site, individuals can create profiles and connect with others in a community who are interested
in getting involved in projects targeting childhood obesity . Consider encouraging community members
to log on and connect with each other to join with you, or create new projects that reinforce the goals
of your local Let’s Move! initiative .
Identify A Let’s Move! “Community Leader” In Your Community
Many municipal leaders find it helpful to identify a city official or community stakeholder to be the
main point of contact as your organize your Let’s Move! initiative . This individual might be a member of
your staff, or an official in your municipal health department or school department, or they might be
an engaged and trusted member of your community . It is helpful for you to identify someone you trust
who can arrange meetings, facilitate discussions, organize your community, and help you decide which
systemic policy changes will make the most sense in your city, town or county .
If you have appointed a Let’s Move! community leader in your community and want this individual to
receive the same updates and information from the federal government that we will send to you, include
their name and contact information in the space provided on the web form where you report to us the
commitments you are making in your community . We will make sure they receive information about
webinars, networking opportunities, and other resources throughout the year .
Include Young People In Your Planning
As you determine what steps your community will take to combat childhood obesity, it is important
to hear from the constituents you are actually trying to help: young people themselves . Find out from
young people themselves what after-school programs they would use, what changes they might
embrace at their school, and what changes would lead them to take better advantage of physical activity
opportunities in your community .
Some mayors across the country already have youth advisory councils, student cabinets, or other meth-
ods of soliciting input from young residents . If your community has an existing mechanism, consider
asking one or two members of that panel to co-chair a subcommittee that provides recommendations
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for addressing childhood obesity in your community . If you don’t have an existing panel, consider reach-
ing out to schools, after school programs, faith-based and neighborhood associations, student sports
leagues, and other relevant associations of young people to find engaged youth who would advise
you as you build your initiative . Youth Service America (www .ysa .org) has developed more ideas about
forming youth advisory panels and some have found them a helpful group to consult .
Learn From Municipal Leaders Who Are Succeeding
When you sign your city, town or county up with Let’s Move!, you are immediately connected to staff
in your regional office of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) . Your HHS Regional
Director is a key contact person for you as you develop your Let’s Move! initiative . One of the first steps
the Regional Director can do is connect you with another mayor or municipal leader in your region
who has successfully launched an initiative like yours . Mayors across the country are ready and willing
to share their experiences and their lessons learned . Let us connect you with leaders who have already
made progress .
Publicly Launch Your Let’s Move! Initiative
Many municipal leaders are launching their efforts with a kick-off event . Below are just a few ideas of
what you can do to launch your initiative . These suggestions refer to some of the policy changes you
will learn about in the Policy Changes and Programs section of this toolkit, beginning on page 11 . Feel
free to combine parts of different ideas, or come up with something completely different . Contact your
HHS Regional Director for help setting up your event, reaching out to stakeholders, and amplifying it
through your local media .
•Host an event at a school
You can hold a school assembly, or a press conference at the school, where (for example) you
announce that the school, or several schools in your district, is starting the process of joining
the US Healthier School Challenge . (Find out more information about the Challenge on page
14 .) Have a well-known speaker join you to talk about the importance of staying healthy and
preventing childhood obesity . If you are holding an assembly, you can lead some games and
other physical activities with students .
•Host an event at a recreation center, park, or private health facility
If one of the policy changes you are pursuing is the creation of joint-use agreements so that
children can use open spaces or recreation centers (or even health clubs) for physical activity,
hold an event at the location where children utilize the space . You can announce the agreement
(or the start of a program where you will have these kinds of agreements), and you can sign up
volunteers to help with whatever programs will be utilizing the space .
•Host an event at a child care center
Many communities are working with child care centers to set new standards for limiting screen
time, improving nutrition and increasing physical activity . You can launch your Let’s Move! initia-
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tive at a child care center that is adopting new standards . Hold a press conference highlighting
the effort of the centers in your community, and announce the other steps you are taking as
part of your initiative .
•Host an event at a playground
If playgrounds are part of your Let’s Move! initiative (more organized activity at playgrounds,
more playgrounds being built, new transportation to existing playgrounds, etc), hold an event
at an existing playground or at a groundbreaking of a new playground . Have a speaker talk
about the importance of sixty minutes of active play each day, host some organized activities
with children, and announce the changes you are making as part of your Let’s Move! effort in
your community .
•Host an event with a chef
The Chefs Move to School program matches chefs with local schools . You can launch your Let’s
Move! initiative at an event where a chef (or chefs) is paired with a local school (or schools) . Have
the chef talk about nutrition and demonstrate preparing healthy snacks or a healthy meal, have a
speaker talk about the importance of physical fitness, and present opportunities for community
members to join your effort .
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important Contact information
The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Regional Directors can be your first point of
contact with any question regarding your Let’s Move! initiative . They are ready to help you create your
plan, connect you with other municipal leaders who are engaged in this issue, help you amplify your
messages, and connect you to federal and private resources that can augment your efforts .
Region I—Boston, MA
CT / ME / MA / NH / RI / VT
Region I Director: Chris Hager
christie .hager@hhs .gov
Office: 617 .565 .1501
Region II—New York, NY
NJ/NY/PR/VI
Region II Director: Jaime Torres
jaime .torres@hhs .gov
Office: 212 .264 .3618
Region III—Philadelphia, PA
DE / DC / MD / PA / VA / WV
Region III Director: Joanne Grossi
joanne .grossi@hhs .gov
Office: 215 .861 .4648
Region IV—Atlanta, GA
AL / FL / GA / KY / MS / NC / SC / TN
Region IV Director: Anton Gunn
Anton .Gunn@hhs .gov
Office: 404 .562 .7888
Region V—Chicago, IL
IL / IN / MI / MN / OH / WI
Region V Acting Director: Jim
Galloway
James .Galloway@hhs .gov
Office: 312 .353 .5160
Region VI—Dallas, TX
AR / LA / NM / OK / TX
Region VI Director: Marge Petty
Marjorie .Petty@hhs .gov
Office: 214 .767 .5467
Region VII—Kansas City, MO
IA / KS / MO / NE
Region VII Director: Judy Baker
Judy .Baker@hhs .gov
Office: 816 .426 .6782
Region VIII—Denver, CO
CO / MT / ND / SD / UT / WY
Region VIII Director: Marguerite
Salazar
marguerite .salazar@hhs .gov
Office: 303 .844 .7299
Region IX—San Francisco, CA
AZ / CA / HI / NV / Guam / Pacific
Islands / American Samoa
Region IX Director: Herb Schultz
herb .schultz@hhs .gov
Office: 415 .437 .8502
Region X—Seattle, WA
AK / ID / OR / WA
Region X Director: Susan Johnson
Susan .Johnson@hhs .gov
Office: 206 .615 .2012
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Policy Changes and Programs
Let’s Move Cities and Towns are communities that are making at least one lasting, systemic change in each
of the four Let’s Move! pillars that call for local action . Some suggested policy changes and permanent
programs that meet the Let’s Move! standard are included here . By no means are these the only policy
changes or programs you can launch as a Let’s Move city or town . Many of the best ideas have come
from innovative mayors and municipal leaders, and as the leader of your community, you are the best
person to determine what changes will work best in your community .
As you develop your ideas, consult your legal counsel as appropriate and ensure programs are consistent
with relevant laws and regulations or make changes pursuant to local procedures as necessary .
If you have any questions about implementing any of these ideas, or about any ideas of your own, please
don’t hesitate to contact your HHS Regional Director .
Pillar 1: Giving parents and caregivers the tools they need to make healthy
choices in early childhood
Parents and caregivers play a key role in making healthy choices and shaping lifelong healthy habits .
Young people learn about healthy eating from the family and from what is served at home and in their
community . Parents and community members can model healthy decisions about physical activity and
nutrition . But in today’s busy world, figuring out the healthiest choices isn’t always easy . Parents and
caregivers need a community of support . Here are some ways cities and towns can enact changes that
give parents the tools they need to make healthy choices:
5 Work with local childcare providers and after-school programs to implement
evidence-based standards for nutrition, physical activity and screen time within
childcare settings
Ask your local child care programs to complete a self-assessment and aggregate the data to identify
areas for improvement . Self-assessment tools are available for your use (see below) .
Work with local childcare providers to adopt standards including:
•60 minutes physical activity/day, outside play is preferable;
•No screen time for children less than 2 years of age and limit screen time for older children to
1-2 hours per day of educational programming or programming that fosters physical activity;
•No sugar sweetened beverages;
•Low fat or no fat milk for children older than 2 years
•Provide water throughout the day and at all meals
•Offer a fruit or vegetable at meal or snack time
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Organize workshops and trainings for child care providers to learn, share best practices and support
one another in making changes . And, include parents and other caregivers in educational outreach
and programming .
Resources and tools to help you get started:
•Caring for Our Children National Health and Safety Performance Standards: http://nrckids .
org/CFOC/index .html
•Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Childcare Programs: http://www .center-
trt .org/index .cfm?fa=opinterventions .intervention&intervention=napsacc&page=materials
•Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Promoting Good Nutrition and Physical Activity in Child
Care Settings: http://www .healthyeatingresearch .org/images/stories/her_research_briefs/
her%20child%20care%20setting%20research%20brief .pdf
5 Improve food choices for children in public venues in your city
There are many ways your community can improve food choices for children . Start by identifying the
public service venues in your city where children are consuming food and beverages . Develop a healthy
vending policy requiring that food and beverages sold in vending machines in public venues in your
city meet nutrition standards . Increase availability of water in schools, parks, and all other venues serv-
ing children . Utilize pricing strategies to incentivize the purchase and consumption of healthier foods
and beverages . Work with local retailers to improve product placement of healthier food and beverage
choices . Any of these ideas will create needed change, as well as meet the criteria of a systemic Let’s
Move policy change .
Resources and Tools to Help You Get Started:
•CDC, Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the
United States: http://cdc .gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5807a1 .htm .
•National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity Model
Healthy Vending Program: http://www .nplanonline .org/nplan/products/
district-policy-establishing-healthy-vending-program .
•US Conference of Mayors, Mayor’s Guide to Fighting Childhood Obesity: http://www .usmay-
ors .org/chhs/healthycities/documents/guide-200908 .pdf .
5 Improve restaurant meals for children in your city
Meet with local restaurant owners to discuss portion size and request reductions or alternate smaller
sized options . Ask restaurants to make changes such as using whole grain breads and pastas, eliminat-
ing trans-fats, limiting saturated fat, only serving 1% or no fat milk and limiting free refills on sugary
beverages . For “combo” meals, ask restaurants to make the healthy option—such as a low fat or no fat
milk or a side order of fruit—the default choice whenever possible .
Establish voluntary agreements with restaurants who agree to serve healthier children’s meals .
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Develop a healthy food campaign to help restaurants promote their children’s healthier options at a
reasonable portion size . For example, offer a healthy eating designation for restaurants to use to support
parents in making healthy choices . Acknowledge and promote participating restaurants through your
community events, web sites, etc .
Resources and Tools to Help You Get Started:
•Working with Restaurants: Tips, Examples, Resources and Research: http://www .astphnd .org/
resource_files/59/59_resource_file1 .pdf
•Howard County’s Model for Implementing a Healthy Restaurant Program: http://www .how-
ardcountymd .gov/Health/docs/HealthyResToolkit .pdf
•Advancing Policies to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living from Robert Wood Johnson:
http://www .rwjf .org/files/research/20090508lhcactionstrategiestoolkit .pdf
5 Encourage hospitals in your community to become Baby-Friendly Hospitals
The Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative is a program sponsored by the World Health Organization and the
United Nations Children’s Fund . It encourages and recognizes hospitals that offer excellent levels of
care for infant feeding . The Initiative assists hospitals in giving mothers the information, confidence and
skills needed to initiate and continue breastfeeding . You can learn more at www .babyfriendlyusa .org .
5 Form a community coalition tasked with identifying local barriers to healthy living
5 Promote local community organizations that provide access to healthy activities
5 Launch a city website with information for parents on healthy living
Pillar 2: Improving Nutrition in Schools
Many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school . As families work to ensure that their
children and teenagers eat right and have active play at home, we also need to ensure that young people
have access to healthy food and opportunities to be physically active in their schools . With more than
95% of young people enrolled in schools, the school setting can offer multiple opportunities for students
to engage in physical activity such as physical education classes, recess periods for unstructured play
in elementary schools, after-school programs, intramural sports programs, and physical activity clubs .
These opportunities are particularly important because they are accessible to all students, including
those who are not athletically gifted and those with special health care needs .
With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than
11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more
important than ever . It is our nation’s largest program for providing regular meals .
Cities and towns can help students adopt healthy lifestyles by providing information and practical
strategies . Here are some action step suggestions:
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5 Encourage local schools to participate in the Healthier US School Challenge
Call on your local schools to take the Healthier US School Challenge . The Challenge is a certification pro-
gram that recognizes schools that take specific steps to improve their school environment by providing
physical education classes, serving healthy foods, and teaching nutrition . For more information on the
Challenge, visit http://fns .usda .gov/tn/healthierus/index .html or call 866-348-6479 .
5 Support the development of a summer food service program
One option is to create a BackPack Program . Partner with your local food banks to support a local
BackPack Program to provide children with healthy food options when they are not at school . The
BackPack Program gives hungry children food to take home on the weekends or during school vaca-
tions . For information on the BackPack Program, visit http://feedingamerica .org/our-network/network-
programs/backpack-program .aspx
5 Maximize participation in the national school lunch and breakfast programs
Streamline or provide online application processes for school lunch and breakfast programs . Consider
direct certification or greater use of broad-based categorical eligibility . Under direct certification, school
districts could use information from other state assistance programs offices to certify children to receive
free meals .
Improve the marketing and quality of school meals . School lunches that look and taste good will increase
customers—as well as more money for your program . Consider pricing; make the school lunch cost less
than à la carte snacks .
Make sure your local schools have a breakfast program to meet the nutritional needs of students, but
also to help your schools receive maximum reimbursement .
Resources and Tools to Help You Get Started from the Community Food Security Coalition:
•Improving the School Nutrition Environment: http://teamnutrition .usda .gov/Resources/
changing .html
•Discover School Breakfast Toolkit: http://www .fns .usda .gov/cnd/Breakfast/toolkit/Default .
htm
•USDA fact sheet for Afterchool snack programs: http://www .fns .usda .gov/cnd/afterschool/
5 Engage local chefs in the Chefs Move to Schools program
Good nutrition at school is more important than ever . Chefs Move to Schools, run through the U .S .
Department of Agriculture (USDA), matches chefs with school districts to help schools improve health
and nutrition .
As a municipal leader, you can encourage chefs in your community to help your effort to curb childhood
obesity by launching a Chefs Move to Schools program in your community . In the program, chefs adopt
a school and work closely with teachers, parents, school nutritionists and administrators . They teach
new techniques and recipes for healthier meals that meet the schools’ dietary guidelines and budgets .
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And, they engage young people about nutrition and making balanced and healthy choices . By creat-
ing healthy meals that are also delicious, chefs have a unique ability to make good nutrition fun and
appealing . So far, 1800 chefs and 1400 schools are participating .
To get involved or learn more, visit http://www .letsmove .gov/chefs-step-1 .php .
5 Support upgrades or exchanges of school cafeteria equipment. For example, swap
out a deep fryer for a salad bar
Apply for your schools to receive new salad bars at http://saladbars2schools .org .
5 Encourage all schools to provide a school breakfast program
5 Promote the expansion or improvement of nutrition education in schools
5 Work to ensure that school cafeterias and vending machines are designed to
encourage children to choose healthier snacks and meals, including a free or reduced
price lunch or breakfast
5 Promote school gardens
5 Promote farm-to-school programs and the incorporation of fresh food into school
meals
Pillar 3: Increasing Physical Activity Opportunities
Being physically active is just as important to health as eating right . Children need 60 minutes of active
play every day to grow up to a healthy weight . If this sounds like a lot, consider that 8- to 18-year-olds
devote an average of seven-and-a-half hours to using entertainment media including TV, computers,
video games, cell phones, and movies in a typical day . Only one-third of high school students get the
recommended levels of physical activity .
To increase physical activity, children need physical education, safe routes to walk and ride their bikes
to school, parks, and access to playgrounds and community centers . Children need access to sports
leagues and dance or fitness programs that are exciting and challenging to keep them engaged . Let’s
Move! to increase opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in school and in communities and
to create new opportunities for families to be physically active together .
In addition to being fun, regular physical activity strengthens bones and muscles, increases self-esteem,
and provides many other health benefits . Physical activity, along with eating healthy foods, can help
children live healthier lives and perform better in school .
Cities and towns can help our nation’s children and youth get the physical activity they need in many
ways . Here are some ideas:
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5 Implement Let’s Move Outside! programs in your community
Regular exercise in nature is proven to improve children’s physical and mental health . Outdoor activity
helps kids maintain a healthy weight, boosts their immunity and bone health and lowers stress . Let’s
Move Outside, administered by the Department of Interior, was created to get kids and families to take
advantage of America’s great outdoors—which can be found in every city, town and community . And
together, these agencies oversee more than one-fifth of the nation’s land—including millions of acres
of national forests, parks and trails .
Young people need at least 60 minutes of active and vigorous play each day to stay healthy, and one of
the easiest and most enjoyable ways to meet this goal is by playing outside . By linking parents to nearby
parks, trails and waters—and providing tips and ideas—Let’s Move Outside can help families develop a
more active lifestyle .
Find out everything you need to know about the resources available to you through Let’s Move Outside
at http://www .letsmove .gov/letsmoveoutside .php .
5 Participate, and encourage other groups and organizations to participate, in the
President’s Active Lifestyle Award Program (PALA).
The President’s Active Lifestyle Award program is part of the President’s Physical Fitness Challenge . It
is a challenge for both children and adults to build healthy habits by committing to regular physical
activity five days a week, for six weeks . Everyone can participate and you don’t need to be an Olympic
athlete . You can walk, bike, run or garden . As long as children are active 60 minutes a day and adults 30
minutes a day, they are eligible to receive the award .
Find out more information about the President’s Active Lifestyle Award program (and sign up yourself!)
at http://www .presidentschallenge .org/celebrate/active-lifestyle .shtml .
5 Break down barriers to children’s physical activity through innovative joint-use
agreements
Assess community needs to identify unmet recreation needs and locations in the community where
recreation needs can be met . Create a dialogue among parties to agree upon issues including which
facilities to include in the agreement; whether to allow third parties to operate programs on the facilities;
whether to open city properties to school use; and whether to consolidate scheduling of properties .
Covering the facilities’ extended hours of operation will likely require some employees to work additional
time . Resolve any employment-related issues and determine whether volunteers could be used to help .
Consult with risk management professionals and legal counsel to determine insurance requirements,
allocate risk, and ensure agreement is consistent with state and local laws and regulations . Determine
the duration of the agreement, and the bases for cancelling or terminating the agreement before the
term ends .
Resources and Tools to Help You Get Started:
•Although you will want to work with your own legal counsel on the appropriate frame-
work for your community, the National Policy and Legal Analysis Network to Prevent
PoLiCY Changes and PrograMs
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Childhood Obesity has developed some model resources for developing a joint use
agreement that some have found helpful: http://www .nplanonline .org/nplan/products/
checklist-developing-joint-use-agreements
•Model Joint Use Agreements: http://www .nplanonline .org/childhood-obesity/products/
nplan-joint-use-agreements
5 Promote Safe Routes to Schools
Convene a local working group of community partners interested in developing a Safe Routes to Schools
program (find more details in the Action Ideas Appendix), knowledgeable about the key issues in your
city, and willing to assist and secure appropriate partnerships . Gather the information and identify issues
unique to your community: survey parents and students about transport patterns and concerns and
complete traffic counts .
Map the routes for walking and biking to schools . Identify and address safety issues in the routes .
Promote safety awareness and develop a plan for safety enforcement; develop and implement an
Escort Program .
Plan and host “Walk and Bike to School” days to encourage students and their parents to walk to school .
Recruit volunteers, parents or seniors in the community to escort students to schools to create a “walking
school bus” or “rolling bike train” .
Resources and Tools to Help You Get Started:
•National Center for Safe Routes to Schools Toolkit: http://www .nhtsa .gov/people/injury/ped-
bimot/bike/Safe-Routes-2002/index .html .
•Getting Started: Steps to Safe Routes to Schools: http://www .saferoutesinfo .org/
getting_started/ .
•CDC Kids-Walk-to-School Resources: http://www .cdc .gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk/ .
5 Establish a local fitness challenge that sets goals for physical activity
5 Encourage daily, high-quality physical education for students in kindergarten
through grade 12 (150 minutes per week for elementary students and 225 minutes
per week for secondary students)
5 Build physical activity into classroom lessons
5 Increase options for affordable transportation to parks and open spaces by
discounting public transit, altering or expanding school bus routes, and incentivizing
ride sharing
5 Incorporate physical activity into the planning and design of every physical
improvement to the city—from municipal buildings and new parks to streets and
sidewalks
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5 Incorporate pedestrian and bicycle lanes into street development
5 Enhance public safety near parks and other public spaces
5 Develop a “park deserts map” that indicates the distance from population centers to
parks and green spaces
5 Offer physically active intramural sports for students of all skill levels and make sure
that it is free and accessible for all children
Pillar 4: Making Healthy Food Affordable and Accessible
More than 23 million Americans, including 6 .5 million children, live in low-income urban and rural
neighborhoods that are more than one mile from the closest supermarket . These communities, where
access to affordable, quality, and nutritious foods is limited, are known as “food deserts .” In these com-
munities, people either don’t have regular access to grocery stores that sell healthy foods such as fresh
fruit and vegetables, or if they do, these items are too expensive .
Lack of access to proper nutrition is one reason many people, including children, do not get recom-
mended levels of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains . Food insecurity and hunger among our children
is even more widespread . Let’s Move! to ensure that all families have access to healthy, affordable food
in their communities .
In our effort to fight obesity in children and adolescents, it is important that we focus on increasing
access to healthy and affordable foods . Here are some ways that cities and towns can play an important
role in providing access to affordable and healthy food options through activities such as the following:
5 Establish a Food Policy Council
Food policy councils are organizations made up of many agencies and community organizations that
look at the availability of affordable healthier food choices at the community level .
Prepare a city or county resolution establishing a Food Policy Council . Develop a mission and charter for
the food policy Council and identify appropriate membership, and charge the Council with complet-
ing an assessment of your city’s food system . Using the findings from the assessment, ask the Council
to develop a Food Policy Action Plan to explore opportunities to increase access to and promotion of
healthy food options . The Council’s Action plan should explore:
•Locations and infrastructure for farmers markets, community gardens, etc .;
•Public-private partnerships to support farmers markets, community gardens, etc .;
•Farm-to-institution and/or farm-to-school programs; and
•Marketing strategies to promote consumption of healthier foods including fruits and
vegetables .
Create opportunities for residents to provide public input and comments into the work of the Council .
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Resources and Tools to Help You Get Started from the Community Food Security Coalition:
•What’s Cooking in Your Food System? An Assessment Guide : http://foodsecurity .org/pub/
whats_cooking .pdf
•Food Policy Councils, Lessons Learned: http://foodsecurity .org/pub/Food_Policy_Councils_
Report .pdf
•Healthy Food, Healthy Communities: http://www .foodsecurity .org/CFPdecadereport .pdf
•Healthy Farms, Healthy Kids; Barriers and Opportunities to Farm-to-School Programs: http://
foodsecurity .org/pub/HealthyFarmsHealthyKids .pdf
5 Increase enrollment in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP helps low-income people and families buy the food they need for good health .You can apply
for benefits by completing a State application form at http://www .fns .usda .gov/snap/applicant_
recipients/10steps .htm or get more information by calling the SNAP Hotline at 1-800-221-5689 .Benefits
are provided on an electronic benefits card (known as an EBT card) that is used like an ATM card and
accepted at most grocery stores . Consider displaying SNAP posters, flyers, magnets, and other materials
throughout your community . You can order these free materials from the U .S . Department of Agriculture
(USDA) at http://snap .ntis .gov/ .
5 Support the sale of local foods across the community by offering incentives and
encouraging the establishment of farmers’ markets
Encourage local food retailers and farmers markets to accept SNAP benefits (food stamps) and WIC
Program benefits . Encourage local foundations to sponsor Electronic Benefit Transfer matching programs
at farmers’ markets .
5 Promote policies that support and protect community gardens
Municipal leaders can work with local neighborhoods to convert blighted areas into green spaces that
can be used for community gardens .
5 Adopt food policies that require food and beverages purchased with government
funds to meet certain nutrition standards
5 Require access to free and safe drinking water in public places
5 Ensure that residents can access healthy and affordable food through public
transportation—by realigning bus routes, providing free shuttles or other means
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Webinars
To help you implement policy changes and launch new programs as a Let’s Move City or Town, the Let’s
Move team is hosting monthly webinars where members of your team can log on, learn about specific
Let’s Move programs, ask questions, and be provided with new resources . The webinars occur monthly,
on the first Friday of every month . They are hosted by the US Department of Health and Human Services,
and are live broadcasts filmed at HHS studios in Washington, DC . They are available for download, so
members of your team can watch at their convenience if unable to log on live . Webinars cover topics
such as:
•The Healthier US School Challenge
•Creating Joint-Use Agreements in your community
•Service Initiatives that you can launch
•Chefs Move to Schools
•Baby Friendly Hospitals
•Let’s Move Outside
The contact person you have designated to receive Let’s Move information will receive monthly invita-
tions to these webinars . To learn more, or to request that a specific topic be covered, e-mail letsmove@
hhs .gov .
23★★
Private resources
Opportunities for funding for healthy communities initiatives broadly, and obesity prevention more
specifically, are becoming more available as both the public and private sectors realize the epidemic’s
significant impact on productivity and quality of life . The following organizations have offered potential
funding opportunities for communities interested in improving health and well-being of all residents
through policy and environmental change strategies . This is by no means an exhaustive list of resources,
but a starting point for your outreach .
•The California Endowment—Building Healthy Communities in the State of California will
select a limited number of communities for deep and comprehensive investments in preven-
tion-oriented partnerships connecting leaders and residents of these communities as they
strive to achieve healthier neighborhoods and school environments through community
development . http://www .calendow .org/grant_guide/
•Convergence Partnership—The Convergence Partnership engages in limited targeted
grant making, however the six philanthropies that comprise the partnership individually fund
a variety of healthy eating, active living initiatives . http://www .convergencepartnership .org/
site/c .fhLOK6PELmF/b .6136243/k .2435/Who_We_Are .htm
•Michael and Susan Dell Foundation—The foundation’s giving reflects a commitment to
transforming the lives of children living in urban poverty through better health and educa-
tion . http://www .msdf .org/Grants/default .aspx
•The Foundation Center’s Requests for Proposals (RFP) Bulletin—The Foundation Center
is a national nonprofit service organization recognized as a leading authority on organized
philanthropy, connecting nonprofits and grant makers, supporting them with tools they
can use and information they can trust . Its audiences include grant seekers, grant makers,
researchers, policymakers, the media, and the general public . This listing of RFPs, which is
published every Friday, provides a brief overview of current funding opportunities offered by
foundations or other grant making organizations . http://foundationcenter .org/pnd/rfp/
•Robert Wood Johnson Foundation—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation provides
grants for projects in the United States and U .S . territories that advance their mission to
improve the health and health care of all Americans . Childhood obesity is one of seven
program areas of focus . http://www .rwjf .org/grants/
•Kaiser Permanente—Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to proactively helping people get
and stay healthy . They take long-term, comprehensive programs into schools, worksites, and
neighborhoods, while at the same time working to change policy and community conditions
that affect people’s heath . Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) is a multifaceted approach
to addressing obesity and related health conditions . Bringing fresh, locally grown food into
low-income neighborhoods and improving public parks so that residents will have safe and
healthy recreational spaces to play in are just two examples of HEAL at work . http://info .
kp .org/communitybenefit/html/index .html
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•W.K. Kellogg Foundation—The Kellogg Foundation helps children access nutrition, stimula-
tion, healthy living conditions and quality health care by funding organizations that improve
birth outcomes and first food experiences, creating access to healthy foods, improving health
services, and educating families and communities about the inter-related factors that deter-
mine well-being . http://www .wkkf .org/what-we-support/what-we-support .aspx
•Kresge Foundation—Kresge seeks to promote the physical health and well-being of low-
income and vulnerable populations by improving the environmental and social conditions
affecting them and their communities . They also work to increase both access and quality of
health-care services . http://www .kresge .org/index .php/what/health_program/
•Nemours Health and Prevention Services—Nemours is taking a leading role to help
people understand the causes and health implications of obesity and to promote healthier
lifestyles among children and families . http://www .nemours .org/service/preventive/nhps .
html
•Shaping America’s Youth (SAY)—Shaping America’s Youth is a nonprofit organization
steering a nationwide initiative to identify and centralize information on the widespread
efforts underway throughout all sectors of American society to reverse the rapidly increasing
prevalence of overweight and inactivity among children and adolescents . SAY’s mission is
to assure that the voices of families and communities are integrated into local and national
policy to improve the nutrition, physical activity, and health of children and youth . http://
www .shapingamericasyouth .com/Page .aspx?nid=23
In addition to grant making institutions, there are many organizations committed to ending childhood
obesity that can provide technical assistance to your community as you launch your Let’s Move! initiative .
While we encourage you to reach out to your HHS Regional Director, we also encourage you to utilize
these organizations to help you reach your goals . Your HHS Regional Director can also connect you to
appropriate contacts .
American Academy of Pediatrics
www .aap .org
American Association of School Administrators
www .aasa .org
Council of Great City Schools
www .cgcs .org
National Association of Counties
www .naco .org
National Association of County and City Health Officials
www .naccho .org
National Association of State Boards of Education
www .nasbe .org
National League of Cities
PrivaTe resourCes
25★★
www .nlc .org
National Parent Teacher Association
www .pta .org
National Policy and Legal Analysis Network
www .nplanonline .org
National School Boards Association
www .nsba .org
Policy Link
www .policylink .org
Prevention Institute
www .preventioninstitute .org
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity
www .reversechildhoodobesity .org
School Nutrition Association
www .schoolnutrition .org
United States Conference of Mayors
www .usmayors .org
27★★
Federal grant resources
One of the goals of Let’s Move! is to streamline the processes for municipal leaders to access federal grants
available to help combat childhood obesity . This section of the toolkit is a collection of the grants across
the different agencies of the federal government that relate to childhood obesity .
Federal grants have different deadlines, and some are renewed year-to-year while some are not . This
list is inclusive of the grants that are available in FY2010 . Use this list to start your research into potential
funding opportunities for your city, town or county . Connect with your HHS Regional Director for more
information about any of these programs . Check back with Let’s Move for updated information in future
fiscal years .
The grants below are organized according to the four pillars of the Let’s Move! initiative that call for local
action .
Empowering Parents & Caregivers in Early Childhood
To promote increased physical activities and healthy food choices during the early years of childhood,
the Head Start and Early Head Start programs include an “I am Moving, I am Learning” Initiative .
The Department of Health and Human Services provides IMIL curriculum and program materials to all
Head Start and Early Head Start grantees . Mayors and local officials can encourage State Head Start
Collaboration Offices as well as local Head Start and Early Head Start providers to share IMIL resources
with other local early learning centers and family daycare providers in their areas .
•General information about IMIL is available at http://eclkc .ohs .acf .hhs .gov/hslc/ecdh/Health/
Nutrition/Nutrition%20Program%20Staff/IamMovingIam .htm .
•Mayors and local officials can find their State Head Start Collaboration Office at http://eclkc .
ohs .acf .hhs .gov/hslc/hsd/SCO/state_collaboration .html and a listing of their local Head Start
providers at http://eclkc .ohs .acf .hhs .gov/hslc/HeadStartOffices .
To ensure that more children in your city or town have access to nutritious foods during their early years,
local leaders can work with public, private, and non-profit organizations to participate in the Child
and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) . Funds are distributed by the US Department of Agriculture
to States who then reimburse participating child care providers for the nutritious meals and snacks
they provide to young children and adults in day care homes and non-residential centers as well as to
teenagers in afterschool programs in low income areas . Local sponsoring organizations often provide
administrative and technical assistance functions and can encourage more local child care providers to
participate in the program . Tribes should work with state agencies to access benefits . Local officials can
also work with their State officials to ensure that state policies comply with USDA requirements without
creating additional barriers to participation such as added requirements and complicated applications .
•Mayors and local officials can find the state agency that manages CACFP for their state at
http://www .fns .usda .gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory .htm .
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•Further information about managing and planning a CACFP program is available at http://
www .fns .usda .gov/cnd/care/ .
To ensure that nutrients are available to children from the earliest stages of development and that
pregnant women can maintain healthy bodies at a healthy weight, the Women, Infants, and Child
Program (WIC) provides nutritious supplemental foods, nutrition education, and health referrals at no
cost to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, to infants, and to children up to
age 5, who are determined to be at nutritional risk . Additionally, within WIC totals, specific funds are
available to support the implementation and expansion of breastfeeding peer counseling programs .
States then distribute these funds to participating local health agencies . Mayors and local leaders can
work with their local health agencies to influence how these funds are directed at a ground level .
•Mayors and local officials can find their state WIC agency at http://www .fns .usda .gov/wic/
Contacts/statealpha .HTM
•Contact information for the state and tribal nutrition and breastfeeding coordinators at
http://www .fns .usda .gov/wic/Contacts/cooralpha .htm .
To ensure that children in your community get a healthy start to life, Healthy Start grants support
community-designed interventions to improve the health of pregnant women and young children .
Healthy Start supports systemic and individual programs to improve quality of and access to health
care and support services that impact perinatal and early childhood outcomes . Healthy Start grants are
to local health departments, as well as to non-profit organizations and to States and Tribes . Supported
projects involve both individual and community-based programs, including case management, home
visitation, classes, and outreach to improve child health outcomes . Availability of the Healthy Start grants
varies each year, depending on the nature of prior years’ grants .
•Information about the Healthy Start program is available at http://mchb .hrsa .gov/healthys-
tart/phase1report/profile .htm
•Available HRSA grants can be found at http://www .hrsa .gov/grants/#Maternal .
Additionally, communities interested in perinatal interventions should inquire with their state health
officials about state participation in the Affordable Care Act Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood
Home Visiting Program .
To support nutrition education for families and youth eligible for SNAP, local officials can partner with
state agencies that participate in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Nutrition Education
(SNAP-Ed). The goal of SNAP-Ed is to improve the likelihood that persons eligible for SNAP will make
healthy food choices within a limited budget and choose physically active lifestyles consistent with
the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and My Pyramid . SNAP-Ed is implemented through partnerships
with state agencies, land grant institutions, state and local public health departments, food banks, and
tribal programs . Information about healthy food choices and physically active lifestyles is delivered
through individual and group interactive education and through broader social marketing campaigns .
Land-grant institutions often contract with SNAP agencies to deliver SNAP-Ed . Through the Healthy,
Hunger-Free Kids Act, Congress has also broadened the focus of SNAP-Ed to include obesity prevention .
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•Local officials can find the state SNAP office or implementing agency for their state at http://
snap .nal .usda .gov/nal_display/index .php?tax_level=1&info_center=15&tax_subject=266 .
•Additionally, the SNAP-Ed online resource center for state and local providers is available at
http://snap .nal .usda .gov/nal_display/index .php?tax_level=1&info_center=15 and list of land
grant institutions by State is available at http://www .csrees .usda .gov/qlinks/partners/state-
text .html .
Improving Nutrition in Schools
To provide school-age children greater access to healthy meals and snacks, mayors and local officials can
work through their state education agency to encourage schools to participate in the National School
Breakfast Program . The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) and School Breakfast Program (SBP)
provide nutritious meals in public and private elementary, middle and secondary schools . Additionally,
schools with more than 50% of students receiving free or reduced price lunches can compete for Fresh
Fruit and Vegetable Program grants from their State to fund the provision of fresh fruit and vegetable
snacks . USDA provides funds to States to reimburse school food authorities for meals and snacks pro-
vided to children in participating schools . To maximize the purchasing power of your local school’s food
budget while ensuring that students have access to fruits and vegetables, local officials can encourage
their schools to participate in the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program . Either
states or schools, through their school lunch program, can place orders directly with the Department of
Defense, Defense Logistics Agency . Tribal schools are also eligible to participate and should work with
State education agencies to implement the programs . Local officials can also encourage local schools
or school districts to compete in the Healthier US School Challenge .
•Information and resources on the HealthierUS School Challenge is available online at http://
www .fns .usda .gov/tn/healthierus/index .html .
•Local officials can find the agency managing the Child Nutrition Programs in their state at
http://www .fns .usda .gov/cnd/Contacts/StateDirectory .htm .
•Resources on expanding existing school breakfast programs are available at http://www .fns .
usda .gov/cnd/breakfast/expansion/default .htm .
•Detailed information about the Department of Defense Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is
available at http://www .dscp .dla .mil/subs/produce/school/index .asp .
To better link local farmers with school meals, USDA has established a Farm to School Tactical Team . The
team is conducting field work, identifying trends and best practices, and providing technical assistance
to schools and producers .
•Information about the Farm to School Team is available at http://www .fns .usda .gov/cnd/F2S/
f2stacticalteam .htm .
To help children develop good nutrition and physical activity habits for healthier lifestyles, USDA pro-
vides Team Nutrition training grants to states . States use the funds to provide schools with nutrition
education materials and resources for students and parents as well as technical assistance and training
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for food service providers and communities to make healthier school meals . Mayors and local officials
should encourage their State to apply for the competitive program . Many grantees are using the money
to support efforts to help their elementary and secondary schools apply for the Healthier US School
Challenge .
•More information on the HealthierUS Schools Challenge is available at http://www .fns .usda .
gov/tn/HealthierUS/index .html .
•Details on 2010 grantees are available at http://www .fns .usda .gov/tn/Grants/tnt10 .html .
To promote school-based or community-based gardening for students in low income schools, local
officials can encourage local schools and organizations to develop a school garden . The federal govern-
ment is supporting this effort through the School Garden Initiatives Pilot Program . This is a $1 million
pilot program to test the impact of school and community gardens on student dietary and educational
outcomes . There may be opportunities for mayors and local officials to participate .
•Information about the pilot program is available at http://www .fns .usda .gov/fns/outreach/
grants/garden .htm .
•Information on starting a school garden in your community is available at http://www .fns .
usda .gov/fns/outreach/grants/Checklist_for_Starting_a_School_Garden .pdf .
To improve the capacity of local schools to store, prepare, and serve healthy and nutritious schools,
local leaders can apply for grants and financing through the USDA Rural Development Community
Facilities Program . The Rural Development Community Facilities Program provides financing for rural
communities with a population of up to 20,000 . Financing is available in the form of grants, loans, and
loan guarantees .
•Information about the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Program is available at
http://www .rurdev .usda .gov/HCF_CF .html .
Access to Healthy, Affordable Food
To eliminate food deserts in your community and enable residents to access healthy foods, mayors and
local officials can collaborate with public and private sector partners to bring supermarkets to neigh-
borhoods and towns without access to grocery stores . Funds through the Healthy Food Financing
Initiative will be distributed in the form of grants, loan guarantees, and tax credits .
•To find the food deserts check: http://www .ers .usda .gov/FoodAtlas/
•Information about the overall Healthy Food Financing Initiative is available at http://apps .
ams .usda .gov/fooddeserts/
To promote the production and consumption of healthy foods and increase opportunities for direct
producer-to-consumer markets, local officials can apply for grants from the USDA Farmers Market
Promotion Program . The Farmers Market Promotion Program provides grants targeted to improve and
expand farmers’ markets, roadside stands, community-supported agriculture programs, agri-tourism
activities, and other direct producer-to-consumer market opportunities .
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•More information about the Farmers Market Promotion Program, including grant application
resources, is available at http://www .ams .usda .gov/FMPP .
To support science and research on improving nutrition and ending the epidemic of childhood obesity,
the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative funds scientific research at a variety of institutions,
including Tribal organizations and grants to individuals . Mayors and local officials can work with local
institutions such as Land Grant Institutions, small businesses, and 501(c)(3) organizations to apply for
this funding .
•The request for applications, including for the childhood obesity prevention program, is avail-
able at http://www .nifa .usda .gov/funding/rfas/afri_rfa .html .
•Eligibility and further information about the Childhood Obesity Prevention program is avail-
able at http://nifa .usda .gov/fo/africhildhoodobesityprevention .cfm .
To increase access to fresh foods and improve the overall food system in low-income communities, local
officials can encourage community organizations to apply for grants through the Community Food
Systems program . The program provides for infrastructure improvement and innovative marketing
activities that benefit food suppliers and low-income consumers . Funds are provided as one-time grants
to private non-profit organizations and require a dollar-for-dollar match in resources . Awards range from
$10,000 to $300,000 . Examples of funded projects include community gardening initiatives, supermarket
development, and promotion of buying local produce .
•Local officials can find more information about the program at http://www .csrees .usda .gov/
nea/food/in_focus/hunger_if_competitive .html .
To improve access to healthy and local produce by SNAP recipients in your community, local officials
can promote SNAP benefit redemption at farmer’s markets . Markets that conduct $100 or more in
SNAP business per month are eligible for a free POS device for EBT transactions . The market must have
a central location with electricity and a phone line to be able to utilize the free equipment . To accept
SNAP benefits, the market must be licensed with the Food and Nutrition Service . The federal government
estimates that only 20 percent of farmer’s markets currently have an EBT machine . The goal of the EBT
Equipment for Farmer’s Markets program is to enable all Farmer’s Markets to accept SNAP benefits .
•More information about accepting SNAP benefits at farmer’s markets is available at http://
www .fns .usda .gov/snap/ebt/fm .htm .
•A handbook for facilitating the use of SNAP benefits at your community’s farmer’s markets is
available at http://www .ams .usda .gov/AMSv1 .0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5085298&acc
t=wdmgeninfo .
•Information on obtaining EBT equipment for your local farmer’s market is available at http://
www .fns .usda .gov/snap/ebt/fm-scrip-EBT_Equipment .htm .
To ensure that mothers and young children have access to nutritious fruits and vegetables, local officials
can work with their local farmers, farmer’s markets, and produce stands to promote participation in the
Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program . Participating states receive funding from USDA along with the
regular WIC funding . Special coupons are then issued to program participants along with their regular
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benefits . The program operates on a state-by-state basis and in some cases, private organizations
work with the state to match the value of the WIC coupon . Currently, 45 states and tribal governments
participate in the FMNP .
•Information on participation and detailed information about the program is available at
http://www .fns .usda .gov/wic/fmnp/fmnpfaqs .htm .
Increasing Physical Activity
To increase physical activity in schools, mayors and local officials can work with their local education
agencies and/or community-based organizations to apply for the competitive Carol White Physical
Education Program . The PEP program provides grants to initiate, expand, and improve physical educa-
tion for students in grades K–12 . Grant recipients must implement programs that help students make
progress toward meeting State standards; preference is given to those organizations that provide BMI
screening . LEAs and CBOs are expected to partner together to tie increased physical activity to other
outcomes . Tribes can apply for grants as a local education agency . The average 3 year grant is $427,000
and grantees are required to match 10% in the first year and 25% in years 2 and 3 .
•Further information about the Carol White Physical Education Program is available at http://
www2 .ed .gov/programs/whitephysed/index .html .
Note: For Future years, the Administration has proposed consolidating the PEP program and other
programs into a Safe, Successful and Healthy Students program which will focus on improving
school climate, reducing and preventing drug use, violence, or harassment; and supporting the health,
fitness, and mental well-being of students so that schools and students can succeed . The program
would increase the capacity of States, districts, schools, and their partners to provide the resources and
supports necessary for safe, healthy, and successful students, including programs designed to improve
student physical health and well-being .
To increase opportunities for physical activity by making bicycling and walking to school a safer and
more appealing transportation alternative, the US Department of Transportation provides funds to
State Departments of Transportation to fund Safe Routes to Schools projects . These funds can be used
to build sidewalks, create pedestrian/bicycle crossings, and implement traffic calming and diversion
methods within 2 miles of schools . Funds can also be used for public awareness, traffic education and
enforcement, student information andthe administration of safe routes programs . Mayors and local
officials can work with local schools and parents groups to assess the need for such programs in their
neighborhoods and contact their State DOT SRTS Coordinator to learn more about the Safe Routes to
School program in their state . Other transportation funding streams that flow through State DOTs may
also be used to support such efforts as building sidewalks or bike trails and paths .
•Each State has a designated SRTS Coordinator: http://www .saferoutesinfo .org/contacts/
index .cfm
•The National Center for Safe Routes to Schools is a federally funded resource providing
technical assistance to communities looking to build safe routes to school: http://www .
saferoutesinfo .org/ .
FederaL granT resourCes
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•The federally funded Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center provides information and
resources to help realize opportunities for increased walking and biking in communities:
http://www .pedbikeinfo .org/ .
To improve infrastructure that encourages physical activity and active transportation, local officials
can work with their State Departments of Transportation to identify projects for Transportation
Enhancement funding . Funds are apportioned to State DOTs, and generally must be matched 80%/20% .
Mayors and local officials should contact their State TE programs to apply for funds .
•Eligibility requirements for Transportation Enhancement projects are available here: http://
www .fhwa .dot .gov/environment/te/eligibility .htm .
•Guiding principles for the program are available here: http://www .fhwa .dot .gov/environ-
ment/te/principles_pt1 .htm .
•State contacts and project examples are listed here: http://www .enhancements .org/ .
To increase opportunities for physical activity outdoors through the use of recreational trails, the US
Department of Transportation provides funds through the Recreational Trails Program to State agen-
cies (usually State resource agencies) to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities
for both motorized and non-motorized use . Funds are apportioned to the States, and generally must be
matched 80%/20% . Mayors and local officials should contact their State trail programs to apply for funds .
•Eligibility requirements for Recreational Trails Program projects are available here: http://
www .fhwa .dot .gov/environment/rectrails/ .
•Each State has a designated RTP administrator listed here: http://www .fhwa .dot .gov/environ-
ment/rectrails/rtpstate .htm
To increase opportunities for outdoor physical activity, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF)
State Assistance Program provides matching grants to States and local governments for the acquisition
and development of public outdoor recreation areas . The formula grant is distributed to states; local and
Tribal governments can then work with states to identify projects and receive funds .
•Complete information about the LWCF State Assistance Program is available at http://www .
nps .gov/lwcf/manual/lwcf .pdf