Local Best Practices
Childhood Obesity
Reduction Strategies
Policy, Partnerships and Program Accomplishments in
Washington, D.C.
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Today’s Presentation:
Introduction to the Nutrition Services
Department
Relationship Between Child Nutrition
Programs and Obesity
Examples of Policy, Partnerships, and
Programs in Washington, D.C.
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
What is the
State Education Office (SEO) ?
 The State Education Office enhances educational
services and opportunities to meet the life-long learning
needs of all District residents by ensuring equitable
distribution and availability of administrative, financial, and
nutrition resources.
 The SEO was established under the Office of the
Mayor on October 1, 2000, as required by the State
Education Office Establishment Act of 2000 (D.C. Act
13-387).
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Nutrition Services Department
 NS promotes the development of nutritionally sound bodies
by ensuring that all children and some mentally and physically
disabled adults in the District of Columbia have access to
healthy, nutritious meals and snacks.
 NS provides cash reimbursement and donated foods to
schools, community based organizations and child and adult
care facilities that participate in the Child Nutrition Programs.
 Each Child Nutrition Program (CNP) is funded through the
United States Department of Agriculture, Food and
Nutrition Services, (USDA-FNS).
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Nutrition Services Department
A Glance at Washington, D.C.
 60 Local Education Agencies in National School Lunch,
Breakfast and Special Milk Programs with D.C. Public Schools,
D.C. Public Charter Schools and Private Schools serving
approximately 55,000 Free/Reduced Eligible Students-70% of the
student population
 376 Summer Sites in DC Free Summer Meals Program (Summer
Food Services Program) serving 28,849 youth
 293 Child Care Centers, Family Day Care Homes and After
School Programs in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
 According to the 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 13.5% of
students in DC are overweight and an additional 16.8% are at risk
for being overweight
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Participation in
Child Nutrition Programs=
Reduction in Obesity and
An Increase in Nutritional Intake
Participation in Child Nutrition Programs Offers:
 Well-balanced and nutritious meals (breakfast, lunch, supper, and
supplements) that must meet USDA Dietary Guidelines
 Hands-on Training and Guidance for the Preparation of Healthy Meals
 Reduction in intake of fast foods and competitive foods (vending machines,
bake sales) during the day for children/youth
 Nutrition Education and Food Safety Programs for Organizations and
Children/Youth
 Potential Partnerships and Funding Opportunities with Local and National
nutrition and physical fitness experts
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Child Nutrition Program Policy:
Local Wellness Policy
 USDA Mandate that each Local Education Agency
(LEA) Establish a Local Wellness Policy by School
Year 2006
 At a minimum, LEAs had to include: 1) Goals for
nutrition education, physical activity, and other schoolbased activities to promote wellness, 2) Nutrition
guidelines for foods available on campus, 3) Guidelines
for USDA reimbursable meals, 4) Plan for measuring
implementation, 5) Community and School involvement
 Nutrition Services Department is collecting all LEA
policies, evaluating first-year implementation, monitoring
and visiting schools, and conducting 2 mandatory
comprehensive training sessions in February 2007
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Child Nutrition Program Policy:
Additional Local Examples
 Healthy vending Policy in D.C. Public
Schools (Board of Education Resolution
passed in 2004). Schools may not carry
soda, all fruit-based drinks must be 100%
fruit juice and the policy sets limits on
portion sizes, fats, and calories for all other
snack foods
 Universal breakfast in D. C. Public
Schools. Adopted policy in October
2005 to boost school breakfast
participation-breakfast is free for everyone
regardless of income!!
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Child Nutrition Program
Partnerships
The Mayor’s Commission on Food and Nutrition:
Re-established in March 2005 with the purpose of
advising the Mayor and Council of D.C. on the
policy, nature and extent of feeding and nutrition
programs in the District.
Functions include:
 Advising on food and nutrition program operations
 Reviewing “best practices” in nutrition and nutrition feeding programs
 Recommending standards to be applied to the delivery of nutrition programs
 Advising on an outreach program and public information campaign
 Making recommendations on how to enhance the federal and District
government relationships
 Making recommendations on regulatory or legislative improvements to enhance
food and nutrition programs
 Identifying gaps in funding and services
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Child Nutrition Program
Partnerships
 Ending Childhood Hunger in the Nation’s Capital: A
10-Year Strategic Plan to Ensure Nutritious and
Affordable Food for Every Child. Partners include
Local and National Stakeholders (FRAC, Share our
Strength, Case Foundation, Sodexho Foundation,
Government, Community Experts)
 DC Action for Healthy Kids-Nutrition Services
Department Staff Member is Chair of our D.C. State
Team comprised of Local and National Stakeholders
(FRAC, American Cancer Society and American
Heart Association, Mid-Atlantic Dairy, etc.)
 Nutrition Services Department Collaborative Efforts:
1) Child and Adult Care Food Program Collaborative,
2) DC Free Summer Meals Collaborative,
3) Emergency Shelter Collaborative
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Child Nutrition Program AccomplishmentsDC Free Summer Meals Program Partnerships
 DC Government and Quasi Government Agencies
(DCPS, DC Public Charter Schools, DC Parks and
Recreation, DC Libraries, DC Housing Authority,
Metropolitan Police Dept., Dept. of Health, Dept. of
Human Services, Mayor's Office of Latino Affairs, the
Office of Asian and Pacific Islanders and the Mayor's
Advisor on Religious Affairs)
 DC Children Youth Investment Trust Corporation
 Local Colleges and Universities
 Nonprofit and Community Based
Organizations (Boys and Girls Clubs, YMCA)
 Faith-Based Organizations
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Child Nutrition Program AccomplishmentsDC Free Summer Meals Program
Marketing and Outreach Partnerships
DC Summer Fun !! Nutrition Services
Department has leveraged every
opportunity to strengthen and expand….
 Answers Please (211) Citywide Hotline
 PTA, Board(s) of Education
 DC Hunger Solutions/FRAC
 Capital Area Food Bank-Part of National Food Bank Network
 Movie Stations, Radio and TV Stations
 Community Newspapers
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
DC Free Summer Meals Program
Accomplishments
“Cheyenne is obsessive about learning and she is very particular about eating
healthy food. I am very proud of Cheyenne and am grateful that Cheyenne has
access to healthy, nutritious food through the DC Free Summer Meals Program
that comes at no cost to me.”
 Nationally an average of only 18% of children who receive a free or
reduced-price lunch during the regular school year receive a free lunch
during the summer-in 2006 the District fed 84.4% of these children.
 Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, three- year plan for the SEO to
make the DC Free Summer Meals Program one of its top priorities. The
number of children participating has grown from 14,848 in 2002 to 28,849
in 2006. FRAC has ranked D.C. #1 for three years in a row!!
 In Summer 2006, over 1.5 million meals were served
at over 376 Free Summer Meals locationsnearly a 25% increase in both the number of meals
and sites from 2005.
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department
Questions???
State Education Office
441 4th Street, NW, Suite 350 North
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 727-6436
January 25, 2007
Childhood Obesity Reduction Strategies
State Education Office
Nutrition Services Department