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January 15, 2013
Originally published in The Daily Journal The YMCA is trying to help local residents keep their New Year’s resolutions to remain fit all year long. While many people make a resolution to exercise, the Y is promoting a resolution to “Live Healthy,” according to Lisa Scheetz, director of operations at the Cumberland Cape Atlantic YMCA on Landis Avenue. Living Healthy has three components, including healthy living, youth development and social responsibility. “In healthy living we talk about how people can fight chronic disease and how kids can fight childhood obesity,” Scheetz said of the new program for 2013. Read more SHARE:
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December 12, 2012
New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton debuts video at State of the State of Obesity Conference in East Brunswick, NJ. SHARE:
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December 11, 2012
More than 350 individuals, including community leaders, health educators, teachers, health care providers, school nurses, food service providers, PE teachers, dietitians, and parents attended the Obesity Prevention Summit in New Jersey, “The State of the State: Important Next Steps.” Held on December 11, 2012, the one-day educational event was co-sponsored by the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids (NJPHK), the Office of Nutrition and Fitness, The NJ Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health and Family and Community Health Sciences at the Rutgers Cooperative Extension. Conference speakers discussed recommendations, strategies, and actions that should be implemented in the short term to accelerate progress in obesity prevention over the next 10 years. Dr. Terry T-K Huang, senior advisor for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Obesity Research Task Force, served as the keynote speaker for the morning events and discussed how to apply systems thinking to obesity prevention. In addition to his […]
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December 3, 2012
The Parkside United Methodist Church is the first faith-based organization in the city of Camden to adopt a formal wellness policy integral to its ministry. The church is committed to “model, teach and encourage healthy eating habits, combat obesity, and ultimately promote improved health and wellness.” The wellness policy will influence the foods purchased and food donations accepted for all ministry programs, including snacks served to children and meals provided at church functions and through their food ministry that prepares and serves meals to the community. The policy specifies the types of food the church will strive to serve, provides direction on portion control and commits to integrating exercise into all children’s meetings. Merdis Hill, chair of the Church’s Health & Welfare Ministry, worked with her committee on the positioning of the policy and Valeria Galarza, NJPHK-Camden project manager, provided technical assistance to the committee. “The policy at Parkside United […]
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December 3, 2012
When Marissa Davis drives by the new playground at Trenton’s Monument Elementary School she sees the power of community—a community that she has helped bring together as project manager for NJPHK-Trenton. “So many partners and organizations became involved and collectively made a significant impact on the community. I value the opportunity to be a part of that and finding the strings that connect us,” Davis said. As a graduate of the University of Delaware, Davis majored in Women’s Studies and Black American Studies. She worked with the Red Clay Consolidated School District, providing strategic planning and curriculum assessments for local implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act. Davis joined AmeriCorps as volunteer coordinator for Habitat for Humanity, where she was successful in advancing their mission by securing a home sponsorship and cultivating thousands of volunteers. That assignment brought her back to her Trenton roots. In July 2011, Marissa Davis […]
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December 3, 2012
From more farmers markets to healthier snacks and food choices at the local zoo, many New Jersey children and their families can now take advantage of environmental changes that promote healthy eating and physical activities– thanks to funding of several communities from the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, a statewide program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and ShapingNJ, a state partnership for nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention. Communities in three counties (Atlantic, cape May and Monmouth) were selected as pilot sites and received grants from NJPHK/ShapingNJ to implement policy and environmental changes that increase access to healthy food and create opportunities for physical activity. “We are excited to see the progress being made by these communities in creating healthy environments that encourage healthy eating and active living,” stated Darrin Anderson, deputy director, NJPHK. The communities located in Monmouth County (Red Bank, Belmar and Farmington Boroughs), Cape May […]
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December 3, 2012
New Jersey ranks 48th in the nation for its low participation rate in the School Breakfast Program, but thanks to a new program the state saw a 21 percent increase in the number of children from low-income families receiving breakfast at school from October 2010 to March 2012. Advocates for Children of New Jersey’s 2nd Annual School Breakfast Report found that a growing number of districts are implementing “breakfast after the bell” where students eat breakfast right after school starts, typically in the classroom or the cafeteria. This approach is more effective than the traditional method of serving breakfast before school and has resulted in nearly 29,000 more New Jersey children getting a healthy morning meal each school day. Despite the progress, just 35 percent of the 471,714 children in New Jersey eligible for free- or reduced-price breakfast actually received it in March 2012. The report identifies school districts that […]
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November 27, 2012
Expect significant changes to promote student health now that the Camden City Public Schools have adopted a comprehensive wellness policy. School Board President Kathryn Blackshear says the policy will change the way schools feed children and get them engaged in active play. Approved by the Camden Board of Education on November 27, 2012, the policy focuses on making healthy eating, nutrition education, and physical activity an integral part of the day in the city’s 26 public schools. With the wellness policy as the framework, the Camden Board of Education hopes to help reduce obesity rates among Camden children and youths. “The board is committed to creating a healthy environment,” said Blackshear, “and the school district will engage students, parents, teachers, food service professionals, health professionals, and members of the community in raising awareness about wellness and integrating nutrition and physical activity into the lives of our children.” Interim Superintendent Reuben […]
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November 26, 2012
Originally published in The Times of Trenton on nj.com Consider for a moment a scene from “Mad Men” — almost any scene will do — and the copious smoke curling from the cigarettes accessorizing nearly every character. The series is fictional, of course, but the prevalence of smoking was not. From those days to these, the difference is extraordinary. Smokers now are the exception rather than the rule – and a lot of that has to do with four decades of work by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. As it marks 40 years of attending to the public’s health, the country’s largest philanthropic foundation is credited for its role in the creation of the nation’s 911 emergency system; the dramatic decrease in unwanted teenage pregnancies; and evolving perceptions of hospice care. Read full story SHARE:
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November 25, 2012
Originally published in The Times of Trenton on nj.com We couldn’t agree more with the letter writer about her support of Complete Streets policies for communities throughout New Jersey (“Make byways safer for everyone to use,” Oct. 12). As community partners committed to reducing childhood obesity in Trenton, we also understand that better sidewalks, bike lanes, crosswalks and signage are key environmental changes needed to make our communities safer and friendlier places for our children to exercise. We are pleased to report that the Trenton City Council welcomed our interest in Complete Streets and adopted a clear resolution of support last March. Last month, the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids-Trenton organized a Complete Streets training session attended by council member Zachary Chester, city staff and volunteers from the Trenton planning board, green team and community. NJPHK looks forward to further improvements to our streets and neighborhoods that will benefit […]
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