Local Best Practices Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies

1. Local Best Practices Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies Policy, Partnerships and Program Accomplishments in Washington, D.C. State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

2. Today’s Presentation: • Introduction to the Nutrition Services Department • Relationship Between Child Nutrition Programs and Obesity • Examples of Policy, Partnerships, and Programs in Washington, D.C. State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

3. What is the State Education Office (SEO) ? • The State Education Office enhances educational services and opportunities to meet the life-long learning needs of all District residents by ensuring equitable distribution and availability of administrative, financial, and nutrition resources. • The SEO was established under the Office of the Mayor on October 1, 2000, as required by the State Education Office Establishment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act 13-387). State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

4. Nutrition Services Department • NS promotes the development of nutritionally sound bodies by ensuring that all children and some mentally and physically disabled adults in the District of Columbia have access to healthy, nutritious meals and snacks. • NS provides cash reimbursement and donated foods to schools, community based organizations and child and adult care facilities that participate in the Child Nutrition Programs. • Each Child Nutrition Program (CNP) is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services, (USDA-FNS). State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

5. Nutrition Services Department A Glance at Washington, D.C. • 60 Local Education Agencies in National School Lunch, Breakfast and Special Milk Programs with D.C. Public Schools, D.C. Public Charter Schools and Private Schools serving approximately 55,000 Free/Reduced Eligible Students-70% of the student population • 376 Summer Sites in DC Free Summer Meals Program (Summer Food Services Program) serving 28,849 youth • 293 Child Care Centers, Family Day Care Homes and After School Programs in the Child and Adult Care Food Program • According to the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 13.5% of students in DC are overweight and an additional 16.8% are at risk for being overweight State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

6. Participation in Child Nutrition Programs= Reduction in Obesity and An Increase in Nutritional Intake Participation in Child Nutrition Programs Offers: • Well-balanced and nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch, supper, and supplements) that must meet USDA Dietary Guidelines • Hands-on Training and Guidance for the Preparation of Healthy Meals • Reduction in intake of fast foods and competitive foods (vending machines, bake sales) during the day for children/youth • Nutrition Education and Food Safety Programs for Organizations and Children/Youth • Potential Partnerships and Funding Opportunities with Local and National nutrition and physical fitness experts State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

7. Child Nutrition Program Policy: Local Wellness Policy • USDA Mandate that each Local Education Agency (LEA) Establish a Local Wellness Policy by School Year 2006 • At a minimum, LEAs had to include: 1) Goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities to promote wellness, 2) Nutrition guidelines for foods available on campus, 3) Guidelines for USDA reimbursable meals, 4) Plan for measuring implementation, 5) Community and School involvement • Nutrition Services Department is collecting all LEA policies, evaluating first-year implementation, monitoring and visiting schools, and conducting 2 mandatory comprehensive training sessions in February 2007 State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

8. Child Nutrition Program Policy: Additional Local Examples • Healthy vending Policy in D.C. Public Schools (Board of Education Resolution passed in 2004). Schools may not carry soda, all fruit-based drinks must be 100% fruit juice and the policy sets limits on portion sizes, fats, and calories for all other snack foods • Universal breakfast in D. C. Public Schools. Adopted policy in October 2005 to boost school breakfast participation-breakfast is free for everyone regardless of income!! State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

9. Child Nutrition Program Partnerships The Mayor’s Commission on Food and Nutrition: Re-established in March 2005 with the purpose of advising the Mayor and Council of D.C. on the policy, nature and extent of feeding and nutrition programs in the District. Functions include: • Advising on food and nutrition program operations • Reviewing “best practices” in nutrition and nutrition feeding programs • Recommending standards to be applied to the delivery of nutrition programs • Advising on an outreach program and public information campaign • Making recommendations on how to enhance the federal and District government relationships • Making recommendations on regulatory or legislative improvements to enhance food and nutrition programs • Identifying gaps in funding and services State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

10. Child Nutrition Program Partnerships • Ending Childhood Hunger in the Nation’s Capital: A 10-Year Strategic Plan to Ensure Nutritious and Affordable Food for Every Child. Partners include Local and National Stakeholders (FRAC, Share our Strength, Case Foundation, Sodexho Foundation, Government, Community Experts) • DC Action for Healthy Kids-Nutrition Services Department Staff Member is Chair of our D.C. State Team comprised of Local and National Stakeholders (FRAC, American Cancer Society and American Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Dairy, etc.) • Nutrition Services Department Collaborative Efforts: 1) Child and Adult Care Food Program Collaborative, 2) DC Free Summer Meals Collaborative, 3) Emergency Shelter Collaborative State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

11. Child Nutrition Program Accomplishments-DC Free Summer Meals Program Partnerships • DC Government and Quasi Government Agencies (DCPS, DC Public Charter Schools, DC Parks and Recreation, DC Libraries, DC Housing Authority, Metropolitan Police Dept., Dept. of Health, Dept. of Human Services, Mayor's Office of Latino Affairs, the Office of Asian and Pacific Islanders and the Mayor's Advisor on Religious Affairs) • DC Children Youth Investment Trust Corporation • Local Colleges and Universities • Nonprofit and Community Based Organizations (Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA) • Faith-Based Organizations State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

12. Child Nutrition Program Accomplishments-DC Free Summer Meals ProgramMarketing and Outreach Partnerships DC Summer Fun !! Nutrition Services Department has leveraged every opportunity to strengthen and expand…. • Answers Please (211) Citywide Hotline • PTA, Board(s) of Education • DC Hunger Solutions/FRAC • Capital Area Food Bank-Part of National Food Bank Network • Movie Stations, Radio and TV Stations • Community Newspapers State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

13. DC Free Summer Meals ProgramAccomplishments “Cheyenne is obsessive about learning and she is very particular about eating healthy food. I am very proud of Cheyenne and am grateful that Cheyenne has access to healthy, nutritious food through the DC Free Summer Meals Program that comes at no cost to me.” • Nationally an average of only 18% of children who receive a free or reduced-price lunch during the regular school year receive a free lunch during the summer-in 2006 the District fed 84.4% of these children. • Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, three- year plan for the SEO to make the DC Free Summer Meals Program one of its top priorities. The number of children participating has grown from 14,848 in 2002 to 28,849 in 2006. FRAC has ranked D.C. #1 for three years in a row!! • In Summer 2006, over 1.5 million meals were served at over 376 Free Summer Meals locations- nearly a 25% increase in both the number of meals and sites from 2005. State Education Office Nutrition Services Department

14. Questions??? State Education Office441 4th Street, NW, Suite 350 NorthWashington, DC 20001   (202) 727-6436 State Education Office Nutrition Services Department