April 2018

Thank state representatives for farm to school support

The Healthi Kids Coalition applauds state representatives for committing to bring healthy, local food to students across the state.
The 2018-19 state budget includes funding to make it easier for school districts to buy fresh food from New York farms.
For the last decade Healthi Kids has pushed for better school meals. We are also part of the statewide New York Grown Food for New York Kids Coalition which has called for changes in farm to school policies. We support better meal quality and greater access to local fruits and vegetables. We also support more opportunities for farm to school partnerships and increased farm to school reimbursement.
This year's budget adopts several of our recommendations (https://www.farmland.org/press-releases/statewide-coalition-applauds-historic-commitment-in-state-budget-to-increase-healthy-food-grown-on-new-york-farms-served-in-k-12-schools) including:
• Added incentives for local school districts: Schools that buy 30 percent of lunch ingredients from New York farms will be eligible for a $0.25 per meal incentive. This amount is four times higher than current reimbursement. This is a huge win for students as state reimbursement for school meals has been static for the last 40 years.
• Additional funding for Farm to School: The 2018-19 budget also doubles state funding for Farm to School grants to $1.5 million. This makes it easier for local school districts to receive technical assistance, equipment and support to implement Farm to School strategies.
According to a 2017 report (https://finys.org/sites/default/files/uploads/pol_publicplatefinal11_1_17.pdf) , New York schools spent 11 percent of their $400 million in food buys on New York products.
Send a thank you tweet to Governor Andrew Cuomo and state representatives for their support.

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Funding for kids was included in federal budget

Last month the President signed into law the 2018 federal budget with $1.3 trillion in spending. The Healthi Kids Coalition applauds Congress for working together across the aisle to put kids first. Wins include:
• Funding for child nutrition programs including summer meals and the National School Lunch Program
• $1.2 billion for out-of-school-time programs in the 21st Century Learning Centers Program.
• Doubled funding for Community Development Block Grants
• An added $3.9 billion for the Department of Education including $1.1 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment Block Grants
• Increases to Head Start and Early Head Start, and a $2.3 billion increase in the Child Care Development Block grant
• New funding for children's behavioral health programs, including $5 million to create an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Promotion, Intervention and Treatment program.
To see highlights and what we're watching, visit our recent blog post .
These wins happened because of tireless efforts from advocates across the country. Thank members of Congress for putting kids and communities first in this year's budget.

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Event to highlight summer meals

City of Rochester families, get a taste of Summer Meals. The free Spring into Summer: Summer Meals Fest! will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 19 at Frontier Field. The event features a WDKX dance party, bounce house and obstacle course, Rec on the Move, Summer Meals menu sampling and more. The event will take place rain or shine. Get details here (http://commongroundhealth.cmail20.com/t/j-i-bitkylt-l-q/) .
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Summer Meals mini grant available

The Rochester Area Community Foundation is offering summer meals mini grants. The grants will build organizations' capacity to serve summer meals.
Do you need more food storage equipment? Want to provide a fun game or healthy activity at your site? Would you like to offer a volunteer stipend? Here's your chance! Get a grant application here (http://www.racf.org/Grants/Search-for-Grants?ids=%7C1080%7C) .
Priority will be given to applications sent by May 8. For details, contact Aaron Lattanzio at aaron.lattanzio@commongroundhealth.org (mailto:aaron.lattanzio@commongroundhealth.org) or 1-888-324-1571.
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Healthi Kids looking for additional worksites

Wanted: Organizations in the city of Rochester to join our worksite wellness project. As part of the project, Healthi Kids will assist in:
• Assembling a wellness committee at your organization
• Walking through an assessment of your worksite to identify opportunities for wellness
• Providing technical and material assistance to help set and meet your desired wellness goals
• Providing some financial assistance to purchase supplies to get your wellness goals up and running
Over the past couple of years we've worked with such community-based organizations as Metro Council for Teen Potential, Child Care Council, Youth Voice One Vision, Center For Youth, Villa of Hope, Compeer Rochester and Teen Empowerment.
Contact Hannah Shippee at Hannah.shippee@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3152 for details.

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Upcoming events

May 9 - Bike to School Day (http://www.walkbiketoschool.org/) , a national celebration of active transportation to school by Vision Zero for Youth (http://visionzeroforyouth.org/) .

May 12 - The City of Rochester's annual Little Kids and Big Rigs (https://www.facebook.com/events/2144694775764993/) event take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Parcel 5 at Main and Cortland Streets. The free event will allow kids to explore fire trucks, SWAT vehicles, police cars, city buses, garbage trucks, construction equipment and more. For those sensitive to noise, there will be a horn-free hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Rec on the Move will host free games and activities.

May 12 - The Urban Agriculture Working Group (http://rocurbangardens.org/) will host its annual conference from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12 at John James Audobon School #33, 500 Webster Avenue Rochester, 14609. The event includes hands-on workshops, demonstrations, tours, seed swaps and conversations for community gardeners and urban farmers. All skills levels welcome. Finger Lakes Eat Smart New York will also host a training for creating school gardens from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register here (https://www.universe.com/events/2018-urban-agriculture-conference-tickets-rochester-MSQK6L) .

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Find us on social media for more Healthi Kids updates as we advocate for healthier more active kids in Rochester and Monroe County. Tell us your vision for a Playable Rochester #PlayROCs
(https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOBvQWFCBYPmdGNFxGXH-Nw)

April 2018

Thank state representatives for farm to school support

The Healthi Kids Coalition applauds state representatives for committing to bring healthy, local food to students across the state.

The 2018-19 state budget includes funding to make it easier for school districts to buy fresh food from New York farms.

For the last decade Healthi Kids has pushed for better school meals. We are also part of the statewide New York Grown Food for New York Kids Coalition which has called for changes in farm to school policies. We support better meal quality and greater access to local fruits and vegetables. We also support more opportunities for farm to school partnerships and increased farm to school reimbursement.

This year's budget adopts several of our recommendations including:

• Added incentives for local school districts: Schools that buy 30 percent of lunch ingredients from New York farms will be eligible for a $0.25 per meal incentive. This amount is four times higher than current reimbursement. This is a huge win for students as state reimbursement for school meals has been static for the last 40 years.

• Additional funding for Farm to School: The 2018-19 budget also doubles state funding for Farm to School grants to $1.5 million. This makes it easier for local school districts to receive technical assistance, equipment and support to implement Farm to School strategies.

According to a 2017 report, New York schools spent 11 percent of their $400 million in food buys on New York products.

Send a thank you tweet to Governor Andrew Cuomo and state representatives for their support.

Funding for kids was included in federal budget

• Funding for child nutrition programs including summer meals and the National School Lunch Program

• $1.2 billion for out-of-school-time programs in the 21st Century Learning Centers Program.

• Doubled funding for Community Development Block Grants

• An added $3.9 billion for the Department of Education including $1.1 billion for Student Support and Academic Enrichment Block Grants

• Increases to Head Start and Early Head Start, and a $2.3 billion increase in the Child Care Development Block grant

• New funding for children's behavioral health programs, including $5 million to create an Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, Promotion, Intervention and Treatment program.

To see highlights and what we're watching, visit our recent blog post.

These wins happened because of tireless efforts from advocates across the country. Thank members of Congress for putting kids and communities first in this year's budget.

Event to highlight summer meals

City of Rochester families, get a taste of Summer Meals. The free Spring into Summer: Summer Meals Fest! will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. May 19 at Frontier Field. The event features a WDKX dance party, bounce house and obstacle course, Rec on the Move, Summer Meals menu sampling and more. The event will take place rain or shine. Get details here.

Summer Meals mini grant available

The Rochester Area Community Foundation is offering summer meals mini grants. The grants will build organizations' capacity to serve summer meals.

Do you need more food storage equipment? Want to provide a fun game or healthy activity at your site? Would you like to offer a volunteer stipend? Here's your chance! Get a grant application here.

Priority will be given to applications sent by May 8. For details, contact Aaron Lattanzio at aaron.lattanzio@commongroundhealth.org or 1-888-324-1571.

Healthi Kids looking for additional worksites

Wanted: Organizations in the city of Rochester to join our worksite wellness project. As part of the project, Healthi Kids will assist in:

• Assembling a wellness committee at your organization

• Walking through an assessment of your worksite to identify opportunities for wellness

• Providing technical and material assistance to help set and meet your desired wellness goals

• Providing some financial assistance to purchase supplies to get your wellness goals up and running

Over the past couple of years we've worked with such community-based organizations as Metro Council for Teen Potential, Child Care Council, Youth Voice One Vision, Center For Youth, Villa of Hope, Compeer Rochester and Teen Empowerment.

Contact Hannah Shippee at Hannah.shippee@commongroundhealth.org or 585-224-3152 for details.

Upcoming events

May 9 - Bike to School Day, a national celebration of active transportation to school by Vision Zero for Youth.

May 12 - The City of Rochester's annual Little Kids and Big Rigs event take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Parcel 5 at Main and Cortland Streets. The free event will allow kids to explore fire trucks, SWAT vehicles, police cars, city buses, garbage trucks, construction equipment and more. For those sensitive to noise, there will be a horn-free hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Rec on the Move will host free games and activities.

May 12 - The Urban Agriculture Working Group will host its annual conference from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 12 at John James Audobon School #33, 500 Webster Avenue Rochester, 14609. The event includes hands-on workshops, demonstrations, tours, seed swaps and conversations for community gardeners and urban farmers. All skills levels welcome. Finger Lakes Eat Smart New York will also host a training for creating school gardens from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Register here.

Neighbors swap seeds and knowledge at the annual Urban Agriculture Conference

Find us on social media for more Healthi Kids updates as we advocate for healthier more active kids in Rochester and Monroe County. Tell us your vision for a Playable Rochester #PlayROCs

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April 2018

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