Post on 15-Dec-2015
Promoting Healthy Choices to School-Aged Childrenin Miami-Dade County
Lillian Rivera, RN, MSN, PhDAdministrator/Health OfficerFlorida Department of Health
in Miami-Dade CountyOctober 3, 2014
Initiatives Creating Partnerships/ Bringing Stakeholders Together
• Consortium for a Healthier Miami- Dade
• Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW)
• Make Healthy Happen Miami
Childcare Centers
• Environmental and system changes implemented – Facilitate healthier menu changes– Increase physical activity– Decrease screen time
Miami-Dade CountyPublic Schools
• Wellness Policy adopted by School Board (May 2006)
• Healthy Beverage and Food Guidelines incorporated into the policy (November 2009)
• Environmental changes implemented– Refrigerated reimbursable cash-less vending
machines offer fresh, healthy meals • All 177 elementary schools designated USDA
HealthierUS Schools Bronze Award winners
Miami-Dade CountyPublic Schools
• Florida-grown fruits and vegetables provided through the school meal program in 2009– South Florida local harvest season (generally
November through April) accommodates the academic school year
• CPPW 40 Pilot Schools: Forty schools located in South Miami selected to participate in the CPPW Farm-to-Schools initiative
Physical Education/Health Literacy
• Department of Physical Education and Health Literacy increased SPARK* curriculum from 40 to 240 schools – Grades three through five – Spark approved equipment provided
*Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids
Alliance for aHealthier Generation
• Increased opportunities for students to engage in healthy behaviors
• Cadre of Coaches – Ten champions in Healthy Schools Program
• Implementation grants to 58 schools to promote increased physical activity and healthy eating in line with Healthy Schools Program
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
• WalkSafe™ program– Pedestrian safety skills, physical activity, walkability
surrounding elementary schools– Multidisciplinary approach reduces pedestrian
injuries in high-risk neighborhoods• Transportation Surveillance System (TSS)
– First survey of its kind in Miami-Dade County– Site surveys to validate self-reported results– Health promotion and active transportation
awareness for Miami-Dade County school administrators
Miami-Dade County Parks
Recreation and Open Spaces
• Fit2Play®
– Health Wellness and Obesity Prevention After-School and Out of School Program
– Homework help followed by SPARK activities– Offered at 34 parks– Studied and endorsed by University of Miami as a
national model