Advocacy Project: Healthy Kids :)

~Hello Everyone!~

Health in general is an issue that I am very passionate about and really do my best to be such. I really hope someday to be in the position to help others achieve their greatest human potential, and for them to find it from a base of treating themselves respectfully and with gratitude. This is why I chose this topic for my advocacy project focus: Healthy Kids.

As you all know, the issue of overweight children is more prominent now than ever before in history. And more so, if this generation does not learn to behave differently, they will only continue to slide furthur and further down the wrong path. I feel, as a future health educator, knowledge as well as action of what it means to lead a healthy life must be a focus as they get older.

So, I found this great site that has lots of great info and an interactive quiz made just for kids and targets this growing issue. Here are some helpful websites I found that give more information if your interested in reading. Enjoy!!

Quiz

Facts about heart disease and children
Overweight in children
Fun recipes for kids

~I hope you are all doing well, see you tomorrow!!~

Advocacy Project: Letter to Public Official

Samantha Hough
1717 Birds and Bees Ct
Duluth MN, 55812

April 29, 2009

Sen. Amy Klobochar
1200 Washington Ave. S., Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 727-5220

RE: Support for Bill S.581:

Senator Klobochar,

I am a concerned citizen asking for your support in the amendment of the bill S.581. Bill S.581 goes as follows:
A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the excluion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children.

As is widely known, the obesity rate in the United States has reached a level of major concern. In the past 20 years, obesity rates have continuously increased. Over half of the states are between 25-29%, with three states exceeding the 30% mark. The only state below 20% is that of Colorado as of 2007 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008).

This staggering trend is sure to continue as it has if there is not proper action taken to reverse it. Therefore, I ask for your support in passing the bill S.581, which will remove some of the obstacles that get in the way of properly equipping our youth with leading a healthy future. Funding is an undoubted issue, but in all respect to the health of an individual, it is hardly one to overlook. By supporting this bill, children would more easily receive proper nutrition in schools through school lunches, as well as learn the associated knowledge on the importance of proper nutrition to be able to continue a healthier lifestyle for the rest of their lives.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns. You can reach me at (219) 573-2298. I would be more than happy to help you promote the passing of this bill in any way I can.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Samantha Hough

Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

For my Advocacy Project, I decided to focus on children and the nutrition and health issues that are occuring. I forgot to include the bill I was choosing to work with last post (oops!!) so here is my bill:

S.581: A bill to amend the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to require the excluion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibility for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrtion program for women, infants and children.
Sponsor: Sen Bennet, Michael F
Committees: Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2009 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
My political representative: Sen. Amy Klobuchar

Whew, that was kind of a lot!

I would ask for a vote of YES to support this bill, as I feel it is imporatant for children and families alike to be supported in the area of nutrition and healthy habits beginning in the school settings for children.

Who is affected by the issue?
Those mostly affected by this issue would be the children and their families. I feel just because the kids will have positive changes in their school lunches and the ability to lead healthier lifestyles starting in the schools, and learn the importance of this subject. Children and their families will be those that gain the most from this change. Those negatively affected by this may be taxpayers or government due to the increase in cost it may propose to support this change.

Consequences of this issue...
The positive consequences of this issue would be healthier children, leading healthier lives and making better decisions nutrition wise, thus being more beneficial to them all in the long run. This would also be the case in terms of their families. They will be gaining healthier habits at school, that could directly lead to healthier habits for their families as a whole. I also feel society will benefit from this change as well, as children will learn these habits now and carry them with as they grow and become older, only leading to better society as a whole as well.

Economic Impact...
By this bill being passed, it might make some things more expensive for tax payers as well as governmental supporters, as healthier options tend to be a bit more expensive. So up front and directly this may be something people do not like about this change. But, looking to the big picture, the cost of health care will be decreased for these children later in life as they lead healthier lifestyles and are healthier individuals. Therefore, health care costs will go down as well as insurance.

Social Impact...
The social impact will be similar to that of the economic impact. I just feel this will be an overall great improvement all around, due to healthier livestyles and habits among all, so everyone will benefit on some level.

Barriers...
Barriers to this issue are that people will not support the efforts to improve on this issue. Those who will go against paying the extra cost. To overcome this is by really emphasizing the part of "exclusion of combat pay from income for purposes of determining eligibiltiy for child nutrition programs and the special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children." I feel the push of this part of the bill would be useful to combat that barrier.

Resources...
Resources for this issue would be to educate children about the issue, as well as the reason behind this change so they can bring it outside of the schools. Also, hold meetings and times for parents/gaurdians to attend seminars on the benefits and knowledge behind this issue as well. Therefore, professionals as well as governmental representatives would need to come and talk to the public about this issue, addressing all areas of the bill and the topic.

History of Issue...
President Bush signed a law back in 2004 called Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, which provided more nutritious meals and snacks to children in schools and after school programs.
Another past effort is that of addressing special nutritional needs of some children, such as allergies and diabetes. These are programs for school authoraties to watch and be a part of to better understand these special issues of children. (Meeting Children's Special Food and Nutrition Needs in Child Nutrition Programs.)

Allies & Opponents...
I feel parents/gaurdians, doctors/health practitioners, governmental authorities, school teachers and authorities, and the children themselves would support this issue. I also feel, though, that parents/gaurdians and children might also oppose this issue, as the change might not be so exciting and beneficial to all. Also, schools might not be so pumped about it if they have to pay more for such programs and changes.

I want my policy-makers to vote a strong YES on this issue!!! Go Health!!

Advocacy Project: Healthy People 2010/THOMAS

~Hello Everyone!~

For my advocacy project, I decided to do a topic that is very near and dear to my heart...Nutrition and Overweight. I decided on this topic because it is an area I am really hoping to get into as a career someday, as I feel proper nutrition is one of the most important aspects to a happy and long life. So, as looking into what Healthy People 2010 have to offer, this is what I found on this topic.....

Healthy People 2010 Goal 19: Nutrition and Overweight

Goal: Increase quality of years of a healthy life

More specifically, I am passionate about proactively dealing with children and the obesity issue. Therefore, I chose Objective 19-3c: Children and adolescents aged 6-19 years.

Here is a little more detail about the progress, disparities, opportunities & challenges, and emerging issues on this topic:

Progress:

Sadly, this objective I have chosen has shown to have moved away from the target, as the brief statement below (found on the Healthy People 2010 website) reports:

Between 1988–94 and 1999–2002, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years (19-3c) increased from 11 percent to 16 percent, moving away from the target of 5 percent. Identical trends were observed among children aged 6 to 11 years (19-3a).

Disparities:

Race and Ethnicity:

The group with the best rate was white non-hispanic, with Black non-hispanic being the furthest from the best group with 50-99%.

Gender, Income, and Disability:

The group woth the best rate was Female, Higher income level without disabilities. The group furthest from this top group was that of Lower income level (10-49%) Males (<10%).>

Opportunities & Challenges:

There are a few things that are focusing on imporving the health of youth. School wellness policies have been developed throuh out communitites, as well as increased training to food service professionals and nutritional educators. There are also afterschool programs geared more toward healthy eating and physical activity among children, as well as extending to the parents and/or caregivers of these children.

Emerging Issues:

With this phenomenon increasing rapidly, options to fix the problem are beginning to turn toward more drasitic measures, such as surgery. Such sergeries prove to be very dangerous and costly, leading to the primary focus being on prevention as opposed to treatment.

Title: Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese.
Source: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC, NCHS

Advocacy Project: My Political Representatives

President of the United States: Barack Obama

Contact Info:
The White House on CityGuide
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500

*picture found at http://images.google.com

State Congress Representative: Thomas Huntley (DFL)

Contact Info:
www.house.leg.state.mn.us/members/join.asp?id=10271

585 State Office Building
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Saint Paul, MN 55155
(651) 296-2228

Congressperson: Yvonne Prettner (DFL)

Contact Info:
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Capital Building, Room G-9
St. Paul, MN 55155-1606
(651) 296-4188

Congressperson: Jim Oberstar (DFL)

Contact Info:
231 Federal Building
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 727-7474

~or~

2365 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
(202) 225-6211

MN Governor: Tim Pawlenty (Republic)

Contact Info:

Office of the Governor
130 State Capital
75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
St. Paul, MN 55155

tim.pawlenty@state.mn.us

U.S. Senator: Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)

Contact Info:
31 Hart Senate Office
Building Washington, DC 20510
(202) 224-3244

~or~

1200 Washington Ave. S., Suite 250
Minneapolis, MN 55415
(612) 727-5220

Commissioner: Dennis Fink (DFL)

Contact Info:
Board ChairRoom 208
100 N. 5th Ave. W.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 726-2458

City of Duluth Major: Don Ness (DFL)

Contact Info:
Room 402
411 West First St.
Duluth, MN 55802
(218) 730-5230

dness@duluthmn.gov

~Welcome to Running with the Wild~

Hello!! And welcome to my environmental blog :) I appreciate you being a follower, and I hope this will be something of interest to you to check out each day. With this blog, I hope to provide you with tips on how to become more environmentally friendly everyday. Also, I will share with you things that I have recently on an everyday basis to be more ~Green~ :) Annnnddd, you can play hangman...I know!! Have fun :)

There are 5 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

• Advocacy Project
  
• Eye Openers
  
• Reflections
  
• Reviews
  
• Share and Voice
  

If you notice at the bottom of this post, the categories will be listed as labels. This post is has been labeled with all five kinds of posts. You will also see the number of each kind of post in my Labels Gadget at the top of the page. All post titles from now on will begin with one of the categories above.

The members of my web group are:

1. Brenda
2. Noah
   
3. Shannon
   
4. Sara H.
5. Valerie
   

Want to subscribe and/or follow my blog?
You can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe gadget in the gadget column. You can also follow my blog by clicking "Follow this Blog" in the gadget column. I am subscribed to all the blogs in my blog list gadget. You can see my complete profile and all the blogs I am following by clicking on "See Complete Profile." .

I hope you are all finding fun new ways to enjoy your blogging times, and any and all recommendations you would have for me are much appreciated. Please give me any feedback you have. Once again, thank you for becoming a follower of my blog :) Have a nice day!