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Initiative for a Healthy Weight
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Governor Carcieri launches the Healthy Weight in 2008 campaign to encourage Rhode Islanders to reach and maintain a healthy weight! |
October 30, 2006
Workgroups of the Rhode Island Healthy Eating & Active Living Collaborative 
August 7, 2006
IHW completed the obesity state plan, Rhode Island's Plan for Healthy Eating and Active Living . The plan is a roadmap for obesity prevention and control efforts in Rhode Island. IHW would like to thank its diverse group of over 200 partners from across the state who dedicated their time and expertise to the creation of this plan.
June 21, 2006
IHW posted the state plan for final review and comment. IHW staff was absolutely thrilled at all the creative and thoughtful input into the state plan objectives and strategies gathered at the June 1 Summit. With the help of Clarendon Group, IHW incorporated all your wonderful suggestions, revisions, and wordsmithing, as well as priorities from the January leadership luncheon and comments from previous reviews, into your state plan. Please send any feedback to Kathleen.Cullinen@health.ri.gov by Wednesday, June 28, 2006.
June 1, 2006
The Rhode Department of Health sponsored the 1st Annual Summit of the Healthy Eating and Active Living Collaborative ... and it was a huge success! First Lady Suzanne Carcieri kicked off the morning's presentations with her inspirational words. Bert Yaffe, Chair, New England Coalition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, discussed obesity prevention initiatives happening across New England. Our keynote speaker Kyle Unland, Obesity Project Coordinator, Washington State Department of Health, motivated the group by showcasing the range of his program's successes and the potential for such successes in Rhode Island. Then it was off to the breakout sessions, where participants got to shape the future direction of obesity prevention in Rhode Island by giving feedback on the state plan.
Summit Materials
* Agenda
* Kathy Cullinen's Presentation 
* IHW Factsheet
* Kyle Unland's Presentation
* Breakout Session Description
* Health Care and Health Plans Workbook
* Early Childhood Settings Workbook
* Schools and After School Programs Workbook
* Community Access to Physical Activity Workbook
* Community Access to Healthy Food Workbook
* Community Based Programs & Resources Workbook
* Worksites Workbook
* Data, Surveillance and Research Workbook
* Communication/Media Workbook
* Evaluation Survey
* Interest Survey
Additional Materials from:
* KIDSCOUNT
* NECON
* Farm Fresh Rhode Island
* United Health Care
Interested in joining the collaborative, signing up for a workgroup, or just receiving more information?
Fill out our Interest Survey and send it by mail to Stacie Bowman, RI Department of Health,
3 Capitol Hill, Room 409, Providence, RI 02908 or by fax to 401-222-4415.
February 9, 2006
As part of a coordinated HEALTH initiative, IHW promoted nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding in Tiempo Social, a monthly magazine that reaches Hispanic populations in RI:
For more information about the Tiempo Social project, contact Carol Hall-Walker, Communications Manager, at 401-222-2589.
January 18, 2006
IHW, in collaboration with New England Coalition for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention (NECON), held an Obesity Summit for its obesity prevention partners. Over 40 partners discussed the current obesity prevention work being conducted across the state, identified priorities for future directions, and expressed how their organizations would contribute to obesity prevention efforts in the future:
For more information about the summit, contact Ana Novais, Lead, Center for Health Equity and Wellness, at 401-222-2901
January 17–18, 2006
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had a very successful site visit with the IHW staff. Ana Novais, Lead for the new Center for Health Equity and Wellness, led the visit, outlining the Department of Health’s accomplishments and future directions in obesity prevention for CDC Project Officer Lyn Almon. For more information, visit CDC’s State-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases.
More Program Updates
March 2006
March is National Nutrition Month! National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association (ADA). The campaign is designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. Public health professionals, the media and the public can use the following resources to celebrate National Nutrition Month:
* ADA's National Nutrition Month Website
* WIC Works National Nutrition Month Resources
* North Carolina Nutrition Services Branch's Team Nutrition Resources
* Nutrition.gov
* Key Messages
* Quiz
*
Healthy Eating Recipes
May 20, 2005
In his second “Healthy Dozen” list, the U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona, MD, MPH, identified healthy eating as one of the 12 tips to keep toddlers safe and healthy. For more about these tips and other “Year of the Healthy Child” program, go to the Surgeon General’s website.
July 2, 2007
This year, Rhode Island was recognized by the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) as the first "Well State" in the nation. Now it is time to recognize those organizations that are providing outstanding leadership in wellness innovation! Learn more about the Governor's Awards for Wellness Innovation.
June 1, 2006
Channel 10 covered the 1st Annual Summit of the Healthy Eating and Active Living Collaborative! Barbara Morse interviewed Kyle Unland, our keynote speaker; Bobbi Houllahan of South Providence Neighborhood Ministries; and Dorothy Brayley of KidsFirst.
February 6, 2006
Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH, presented the Partner in Advancing Public Health Award to Dorothy Brayley, chair of the Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition, at the Local Food Forum. This award is given to individuals who have contributed substantially to public health by taking a lead role in advancing nutrition and physical activity programs and policies. For more information, visit http://www.health.ri.gov/media/060206b.php or www.kidsfirstri.org.
February 6, 2006
The Departments of Health and Environmental Management participated in a local food forum at Brown University. This forum was aimed at promoting wider use of locally grown food products in institutional and restaurant settings. The forum was hosted by Farm Fresh Rhode Island. For more information, visit www.farmfreshri.org.
February 1, 2006
Director of Health, David R. Gifford, MD, MPH, met with the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition to discuss shared agendas around policy and institutional change to increase breast feeding rates as a strategy for reducing childhood obesity. He challenged the group to partner with the Department of Health and the Rhode Island Breast feeding Coalition to help Rhode Island become the first state in which every maternity hospital is “Baby-Friendly” in compliance with the World Health Organization/UNICEF Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. For more information, contact Erin Dugan, State Breastfeeding Coordinator, at 401-222-1380.
More Local News
February 14, 2006
Senators Sosnowski, Roberts, Perry, Gibbs, and Pichardo submitted proposed legislation regarding healthier snacks and beverages in schools. Click for more information on bill S2696.
February 9, 2006
Senators Roberts, Issa, and Sosnowski submitted proposed legislation regarding physical education instruction in schools. Click for more information on bill S2492.
February 9, 2006
Senator Leo R. Blais submitted proposed legislation regarding healthier snacks and beverages in schools. Click for more information on bill S2495.
NOTE: If you are interested in tracking a bill’s progress in the state house, click here and use the bill number (without the preceding “S” or “H”) to track the bill.
More Legislative Updates
Partnering with Communities to Prevent and Reduce Obesity
The Rhode Island Department of Health’s Center for Health Equity and Wellness, in collaboration with the Division of Family Health, is requesting grant proposals from public and not-for-profit community-based organizations and community coalitions to support communities in the development and implementation of guidelines, environmental supports, and programs that promote healthy eating and active living in Rhode Island. This Request for Proposals (RFP) contains the administrative procedures and instructions for preparation and submission of a proposal. Applicants must meet all of the requirements specified in this RFP.
The closing date for receipt of all proposals is June 23, 2006 by 4:00 p.m. Any proposals received after this date and time will not be considered. An original and four (4) copies of the proposal must be delivered or mailed to:
Kathleen Cullinen, Program Manager
Initiative for a Healthy Weight
Division of Community Health and Equity
Rhode Island Department of Health
Three Capitol Hill, Room 408
Providence, RI 02908
Technical Assistance Documents
* Additional Forms 
* Partnering with Communities to Prevent and Reduce Obesity Powerpoint Presentation
* Questions & Answers
* Sample Workplan
January 6, 2006
RI Statewide Planning issued two Requests for Proposals for planning grants (Challenge Grants and Corridor Studies). A total of $500,000 of federal transportation funding is available, with the 20% match to be provided by the grantee. Click for more information.
December 12, 2005
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation announced the launch of Healthy Eating Research, an $11-million national program that will support research to identify, analyze and evaluate environmental and policy strategies that can promote healthy eating and prevent obesity among children. The program's first Call for Proposals focuses on school food policies and environments. A total of approximately $3 million will be awarded in this round of funding. The application deadline is March 7, 2006 at 3:00 PM EST. Click for more information.
December 2, 2005
General Mills announced that “Champions for Healthy Kids”, a grant program introduced three years ago to encourage healthy eating choices and active lifestyles in kids, is now accepting grant applications for 2006. The deadline for applications is February 1, 2006. 50 grants of $10,000 each will be awarded in May of 2006. Click for more information.
More Funding Opportunities
After fighting his own personal battle with obesity, Mike  Meyerheim, a Barrington resident and Dr. Phil guest, is now working in communities to help others realize they can win the fight against obesity. Read More
June 2005
Taylor Violet, a 6th grader at Tiverton Middle School, promoted eating healthy and being physically active among her fellow classmates. Read more
Try the newest fitness craze….go “Low-Car” and cut down on your time behind the wheel. Read More
Interested in getting involved in Rhode Island’s fight against obesity? Read more
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