State Physical Activity and Nutrition Program Recipients

Alaska

Recipient: Alaska DHSS/DPH/Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Karol Fink
DPH/Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion
3601 C Street
Suite 722
Anchorage, AK 99503
Tel: 907-269-3457
Email: karol.fink@alaska.gov

Project Overview: Alaska is implementing statewide and local-level interventions that support healthy nutrition, breastfeeding, and safe and accessible physical activity. They are promoting healthy foods and beverages in worksites with point-of-decision prompts and menu labeling, supporting mothers who breastfeed at the clinical and community level as well as in the workplace, and helping Alaskan children and adults be physically active through increased access to a safe and walkable transportation system with Vision Zero planning and Complete Streets policies.

Arkansas

Recipient: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Sector: University and hospital

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Alysia Dubriske
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 West Markham
Little Rock, AR 72205
Tel: 501-686-6617
Email: Adubriske@uams.edu

Project Overview: The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences is 1) developing and implementing food service guidelines in food pantries, early childhood education centers, developmental disability (DD) day centers, and local parks; 2) promoting continuity of care and community breastfeeding support by recruiting and partnering with family practice clinics, early childhood education centers, and DD day centers; 3) implementing local built environment policies to include bike routes, sidewalks, and trails that increase safety and access for all abilities; and 4) changing the Quality and Improvement Rating System in Arkansas to promote physical activity, increase nutrition and physical activity education to staff, and decrease screen time in early childhood education centers.

California

Recipient: California Department of Public Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Caroline Kurtz
California Department of Public Health
1616 Capitol Avenue, MS-7204
Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel: 916-552-9908
Email: caroline.kurtz@cdph.ca.gov

Project Overview: The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) State Physical Activity and Nutrition (Cal SPAN) team is working with state and local partners to integrate nutrition and physical activity standards into statewide early care and education and professional development systems as well as the quality rating improvement systems. CDPH is addressing racial disparities in breastfeeding rates by improving workplace compliance with the lactation accommodation laws and incorporating breastfeeding supports into continuity of care practices. CDPH is promoting and supporting healthy meeting guidelines in targeted counties. CDPH continues to employ successful strategies such as healthy retail recognition programs and checkout aisles conversions using food service standards with local grocers. The Cal SPAN team is engaged with state and local partners to promote active transportation and community design, master planning and land use strategies, and increased community physical activity through training and technical assistance. This work will support the development of successful applications for the California Department of Transportation’s Active Transportation Program and assist local health jurisdictions within selected geographic regions to engage communities in Safe Routes to School.

Colorado

Recipient: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Gabriel Kaplan
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
4300 Cherry Creek Drive South
Denver, CO 80246
Tel: 303-692-2338
Email: gabriel.kaplan@state.co.us

Project Overview: The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is collaborating with over 30 public and private partners representing multiple sectors to improve the nutrition and physical activity status of Coloradans. This will be accomplished by: 1) implementing food service guidelines in worksites and community settings; 2) implementing supportive breastfeeding practices; 3) implementing and integrating nutrition and physical activity standards into statewide early care and education systems; and 4) influencing master plans and land use interventions to increase physical activity through activity-friendly routes.

Connecticut

Recipient: Connecticut Department of Public Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Monica Jensen
Connecticut Department of Public Health
410 Capitol Avenue, MS#11-HLS
Hartford, CT 06134
Tel: 860-509-8194
Email: Monica.R.Jensen@ct.gov

Project Overview: Connecticut’s Healthy Communities Project (HCP) is focusing on the implementation of food service guidelines in a variety of sites and venues within three sub-awarded communities. HCP communities are promoting Baby Friendly Hospital training materials and modules to maternity care practices and encouraging employers to be recognized as Breastfeeding-Friendly. They are also supporting the development and implementation of Farm to Preschool programs with mini-grants and technical assistance, and implementing Go NAPSACC in ECEs.

Illinois

Recipient: Illinois Public Health Institute

Sector: Non-profit public health institute

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Elissa Bassler
Illinois Public Health Institute
310 S. Peoria Street
Suite 404
Chicago, IL 60607
Tel: 312-850-4744
Email: elissa.bassler@iphionline.org

Project Overview: The Illinois Public Health Institute (IPHI) is partnering with the Illinois, Chicago, Cook County, Jackson County, and Peoria City/County health departments and leaders in active transportation, food service guidelines, early childhood, and academia. The priority populations are low-income individuals in communities with higher burden of disease and poorer health outcomes, with a specific focus on African American communities. IPHI is working statewide and with three local regions: Chicago and Cook County; Peoria Tri-County; and Jackson/Healthy Southern Illinois Delta region.

Kentucky

Recipient: Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Connie White
Kentucky Department for Public Health
275 E. Main Street
Frankfort, KY 40621
Tel: 502-564-3970
Email: connie.white@ky.gov

Project Overview: Kentucky is targeting both the eastern and western geographic areas of Kentucky, which include the 38 counties of the Purchase, Pennyrile, Cumberland Valley, Kentucky River, and Big Sandy area development districts. Kentucky is using a community-based approach that cultivates community assets and existing partnerships established through the Partnership for a Fit Kentucky.

Minnesota

Recipient: Minnesota Department of Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Kristine Igo
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64975
625 Robert Street North
St. Paul, MN 55164
Tel: 651-201-5809
Email: kris.igo@state.mn.us

Project Overview: Minnesota’s Office of Statewide Health Improvement Initiatives (OSHII) are implementing evidence-based strategies that are state- and locally-led with a focus on advancing health equity. Locally-led strategies in worksites, maternity centers, and parks and recreation areas are conducted by local public health agencies through Minnesota’s Statewide Health Improvement Partnership program and community partners. Additionally, community-based participatory research strategies will be implemented by OSHII and local leaders to pilot, test, and scale innovative physical activity and nutrition strategies statewide.

Missouri

Recipient: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Steve Cramer
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
920 Wildwood Drive
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Tel: 573-522-2806
Email: steve.cramer@health.mo.gov

Project Overview: Missouri is strengthening Eat Smart in Parks by developing new resources, expanding technical assistance, developing an online training, and disseminating healthy food service guidelines to other worksites and public locations. Missouri is supporting breastfeeding interventions at worksites, early care and education sites, and medical venues; and promoting the new CACFP meal requirements in early care and education sites.

New York

Recipient: New York State Department of Health/Health Research, Inc.

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Maureen Spence
New York State Department of Health/Health Research, Inc.
Riverview Center
150 Broadway, Suite 350
Menands, NY 12204
Tel: 518-408-5142
Email: maureen.spence@health.ny.gov

Project Overview: The Creating Healthy Schools and Communities program, in collaboration with NY Obesity Prevention Center of Excellence, is expanding statewide adoption and implementation of food service guidelines in worksites and community-based organizations and implementing community-tailored transportation system interventions in 245 urban, rural, and suburban communities. The Department of Health is fostering further implementation and integration of physical activity and nutrition standards into statewide early care and education systems. In addition, six Creating Breastfeeding Friendly Communities regional grantees are implementing interventions to support breastfeeding that address continuity of care, community support, and workplace compliance with federal and state lactation accommodation laws.

North Carolina

Recipient: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Cathy Thomas
North Carolina Division of Public Health
Mail Service Center 1915
Raleigh, NC 27699
Tel: 919-707-5216
Email: cathy.thomas@dhhs.nc.gov

Project Overview: North Carolina is funding and supporting local coalitions to implement evidence-based strategies related to food service guidelines, breastfeeding, safe and accessible places for physical activity, and nutrition and physical activity standards. These strategies are being implemented in early care and education, faith communities, health care settings, schools, worksites, parks, recreation centers, and other community settings chosen based on their needs and readiness. North Carolina is working with state level partners to change policies, systems, and environments to support the implementation of these strategies.

Ohio

Recipient: Ohio Department of Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Ann Weidenbenner
Ohio Department of Health
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Tel: 614-644-7035
Email: ann.weidenbenner@odh.ohio.gov

Project Overview: Ohio is implementing the following five strategies and outcomes: 1) providing training and technical assistance to local counties and their government jurisdictions on the food service guidelines; 2) providing training and technical assistance to worksites on adopting breastfeeding policies and adhering to the federal law; 3) expanding the Ohio Healthy Program; 4) providing training and technical assistance to local counties on adopting complete street policies and/or active transportation master plans; and 5) implementing and integrate physical activity standards into statewide early care and education systems.

Pennsylvania

Recipient: Pennsylvania Department of Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Amy Flaherty
Pennsylvania Department of Health
625 Forster Street
1000 Health and Welfare Bldg.
Harrisburg, PA 17120
Tel: 717-547-3218
Email: aflaherty@pa.gov

Project Overview: The Pennsylvania Department of Health is implementing comprehensive strategies to increase: 1) hospitals and community settings that implement food service guidelines; 2) settings that implement supportive breastfeeding interventions; 3) places that implement community planning and transportation interventions that support safe and accessible physical activity; and 4) implementation of nutrition and physical activity standards in early care and education systems.

Texas

Recipient: Texas Department of State Health Services

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Carleigh Baudoin
Department of State Health Services
P.O. Box 149347, MC 4501
Austin, TX 78714
Tel: 512-776-2209
Email: Carleigh.Baudoin@dshs.texas.gov

Project Overview: TPAN is implementing food service guidelines in early child care settings, food banks and pantries, and worksites. TPAN also supports breastfeeding in 1) healthcare systems through the Texas Ten Step Star Achiever Hospital Initiative, 2) communities by providing lactation support training to clinical staff in outpatient settings, and 3) worksites by building the Texas Mother-Friendly Worksite program in state agencies. TPAN is addressing physical activity in 1) early child care settings through the Go NAP SACC program and the OLE! Texas outdoor learning environments initiative and 2) communities through built environment initiatives including the Texas Planners4Health collaboration, FM1807/Texas State Parks collaboration, and the What Makes Texas Move? stakeholder technical assistance program.

Utah

Recipient: Utah Department of Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Linnea Fletcher
Utah Department of Health, EPICC Program
288 N 1460 W
P.O. Box 142107
Salt Lake City, UT 84114
Tel: 801-538-6146
Email: linneafletcher@utah.gov

Project Overview: The Healthy Living through Environment, Policy, and Improved Clinical Care Program (EPICC) at the Utah Department of Health is improving nutrition and increasing safe and accessible physical activity throughout the state while targeting high-burden disparate populations. EPICC is implementing food service guidelines in public recreation sites, parks, worksites and other community venues and support breastfeeding interventions in the workplace and at birthing facilities. EPICC is promoting its Early Care and Education Teaching Obesity Prevention in Childcare Settings (TOP Star) program, as well as working with local health departments, planning organizations, and community partners on active transportation and community planning interventions.

Washington

Recipient: Washington State Department of Health

Sector: State health department

Principal Investigator Contact Information:
Patti Migliorie Santiago
Washington State Department of Health
310 Israel Road SE
Tumwater, WA 98501
Tel: 360-236-3645
Email: patti.migioresantiago@doh.wa.gov

Project Overview: Washington is implementing food service guidelines in executive state agencies, which include prisons, highway stops, ferry systems, and cafeterias, vending, and markets for employees. The state is promoting best practices in nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding through: 1) training and technical assistance to early care and education providers; 2) updating and continuing to implement Breastfeeding Friendly Washington in hospitals and clinics; and 3) working with state agencies and insurers to implement the federal lactation accommodation law. Washington is also training local partners on developing and implementing Complete Streets policies and assisting municipalities in integrating health into community plans.