NEA Health Information Network Hosts Healthy School Food Advocacy Event in DC
July 10, 2012
Contact: Zachary Kolsky
202-822-7778
[email protected]
NEA Health Information Network Hosts Healthy School Food Advocacy Event in Washington, DC
Leaders from NEA state affiliates learn about policies to ensure only healthy snack foods and beverages are sold in schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Education Association Health Information Network (NEA HIN) hosted more than fifty NEA state affiliate presidents and executive directors on June 28, 2012 to learn about a new project to improve state nutrition standards for snacks and beverages that are sold in schools via vending machines, school stores, fundraisers and cafeteria à la carte lines.
The event kicked off with welcome remarks from NEA HIN Executive Director Jerald Newberry and NEA President Dennis Van Roekel, both of whom stressed the connection between child health and academic success. “Everything we’re doing at NEA and NEA HIN to transform schools, improve teacher preparation, create more accountability – none of it will succeed if students aren’t healthy enough to learn,” said Newberry.
Other speakers included Maya Rockeymoore, Director of Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Chris Turner, Executive Director of the Georgia Association of Educators; and Carolyn Doggett, Executive Director of California Teachers Association. Both GAE and CTA are working with NEA HIN to improve nutrition standards for snack foods and drinks sold in schools in their respective states.
The event served as a formal kickoff for NEA HIN’s new project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, to improve the nutritional quality of snack foods and beverages sold in schools. The overall goal of the project is to educate and empower NEA leaders and members to act as informed champions for healthy snack foods and beverages in schools and provide them with the tools and support necessary to take policy action at the State level. NEA State leaders interested in joining the project can contact Lisa Creighton at [email protected].
About NEA Health Information Network
The NEA Health Information Network (NEA HIN) is the non-profit health and safety arm of the National Education Association. The organization provides health and safety information, programs, and services for the benefit of over three million NEA members and 43 million students. NEA HIN’s mission is to improve the health and safety of the school community through dissemination of information that empowers school professionals and positively impacts the lives of their students. For more information, visit https://www.neahin.org
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable, and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter www.rwjf.org/twitter or Facebook www.rwjf.org/facebook.