The Task Force on Childhood Nutrition and Fitness-Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going and How We’re Going to Get ThereGROWING HEALTY KIDS IN KENTUCKY

Lieutenant Governor Stephen L. Henry, M.D.September 25, 2002

Overview of the Task Force

Membership:– More than 100 individuals representing:

• Health Care-nurses, physicians, dietitians, diabetes educators

• Education-academia, school administrators, school food service personnel

• State Government-Public Health, Department of Education, Medicaid, Office of Women’s Physical and Mental Health

Overview (continued)

Membership:– Associations-KY Education Association, KY

PTA, KY Association of School Administrators, KY School Board Association, KY Physical Health Education Recreation Dance Association, Kentucky Dental Health Coalition, KY Pediatric Society, KY Nurses Association, KY Association for School Health, American Diabetes Association, KY Diabetes Network, KY Dietetics Association

Brief History

Created in May of 2001 due to overwhelming concerns regarding:– The increase in type 2 diabetes in children; and– The coinciding increase in childhood

overweight.

Task Force Goal To decrease and prevent overweight and

obesity and the associated health consequences in children and youth.

How?

Improve child nutrition and physical activity through:– Public Policy Changes– Supporting a Healthy School Environment– Public Awareness and Education Efforts– Grassroots Actions

Where We’ve Been Issued a position paper in January of 2002 calling

for public policy changes to improve school nutrition and physical activity.

Through the University of Kentucky and the KY Department of Public Health, completed the first ever statewide survey assessing the status of school vending machines, school stores and physical activity.

Recommended legislation aimed at improving school nutrition and physical activity.

House Bill 553 in Review

Sponsored by:– Representative Tom Burch– Representative Cosponsors:

• Larry Clark Mary Lou Marizan• Jack Coleman Lonnie Napier• Mike Denham Ruth Ann Palumbo• John Draud Kathy Stein• Tim Feeley Mike Weaver• Charlie Hoffman Susan Westrom• Joni Jenkins Brent Yonts

Association Support

KY Dietetics Association KY Education Association KY Parent Teacher Association KY Medical Association KY School Food Service Association KY Pediatric Society KY Nurses Association KY Dental Association

Association Support (Continued) KY Dental Health Coalition KY Health Department Administrators

Association American Heart Association KY Education Support Personnel Association KY Association for School Health American Diabetes Association KY Diabetes Network KY Public Health Association

Original Proposal Phase in a requirement of 30 minutes of daily

physical activity in preschool through primary and require the KY Board of Ed to promulgate a regulation to establish physical activity requirements for sequential grades;

Require a legislative task force to study the the obesity epidemic;

Allow only the sale of competitive foods that meet certain nutritional standards;

Require penalties for violating competitive food sale policies;

Original Proposal (Continued)

Require certification/credentialing for food service directors;

Require continuing education for cafeteria managers;

Prohibit soft drink sales in elementary/middle schools during the school day;

Require school lunches to provide at least 6 grams of naturally occurring dietary fiber.

Why Focus on Schools? Recommendations are inline with

recommendations retired Surgeon General David Satcher.

Children spend a large portion of waking hours in the school setting.

Schools receive state funds and should be responsible for providing a healthy school environment that:– Sets a positive example for students; and– Provides a positive environment that promotes learning.

Initial Challenges

House Education Committee: – Were forced to concede a few points in order to

get a committee hearing:• Amended the physical activity requirement to a

recommendation;

• Amended the fiber requirement to a recommendation.

– Took 3 weeks to get the bill out of the committee

House Vote

Passed 87 to 5 with amendments

Onto the Senate

More Compromises:– Allowed middle schools (in addition to high

schools) to sell soft drinks beginning after lunch.

– Required 3 principals and a school board member on the task force

– Encouraged (rather than required) the Board of Ed to develop a plan based the Surgeon General’s Report

Senate Action Passed out of the Senate Education Committee with

compromise brokered by Senator Lindy Casebier on March 20th.

Vote was 11 to 2 Amendment filed late in session by Senator Dan

Kelly that:– Deletes nutritional criteria and penalties;– Deletes legislative task force and directs DOE to form a

study group– Shifts the responsibility to the Board of Ed to develop

regulations for nutritional standards for competitive food sales.

Final Action in the Senate

On April 15th a Children’s Health Rally was held in the Capitol Rotunda to signify the level of public support for the bill and to encourage senators to pass the bill without the “watered down” amendments.

Senate votes favorably for the amendment by a vote of 22 to 15 and HB 553 (with Kelly’s amendments) passes out of the Senate by a vote of 27 to 10. This action kills the bill.

Victory in the Face of Defeat

Issue still very much in the public spotlight (newspapers, TV, radio) at a national and state level.

Task Force membership continues to grow. Other agencies (Department of Education,

Department of Public Health) now looking at issue.

This has provided an excellent opportunity to educate parents throughout the state

Where Do We Go From Here?

Continue to promote a healthy school environment through pilot projects and technical assistance and support.

Continue to coordinate public awareness initiatives.

Continue to build and promote grassroots support and networks.

Continue to advocate for public policy changes via legislation in the 2003 legislative session.

How Do We Get There?

We have formed subcommittees to focus on:– Promoting a healthy school environment;– Organizing public awareness initiatives; and– Building grassroots networks;

How you can help:– Volunteer to serve on a subcommittee

Advocating for Public Policy Changes We are in the process of developing a

proposal for legislation that we will have introduced during the 2003 session of the General Assembly.

House Bill 553 will serve as a basis for the new legislation, but there is likely to be some modifications.

Road Map for Advocating for Public Policy Changes We will secure sponsorship by early

November; however, there is much work to be done in the meantime.

How you can participate as an individual:– First, start by educating yourself on the issues

(knowledge is power). Know the facts and the key points, as we must be able to justify why legislation is necessary. We can assist by supplying relevant information.

How You Can Help (Continued)

– Next, find out who your representative and senator is and how they voted on the bill last year.

– If they supported HB 553, let them know that you appreciated it and inform them that you would like their support during the upcoming year.

– If they did not support the bill, ask why. Inform them that you want their support for the upcoming year. Offer up reasons why they should support the bill.

How You Can Help (Continued)

Methods for Contacting Legislators:– Telephone– Letter– Email– *Face to face meeting –most effective

Contact Methods

Communicating by Phone:– Be sure to give your name and communicate that you

live in that person’s district.

– Leave a call back number.

– Be polite.

– Outline issue, justify recommended action.

– Request specific action (i.e., support for the bill).

– Offer to provide information.

– Ask for a response.

Contact Methods (Continued)

Communicating by Letter and/or email:– Include your name, address, phone number and

email address (if applicable). Note that you live in the person’s district.

– Clearly outline the issue and provide justification.

– Be polite-never insulting.– Request specific action (i.e., support for the

bill).

Contact Methods (Continued)

– Offer to serve as a resource if case of questions.– Ask for a reply.– Form letters are often used; however, these

types of standardized letters may not have the same impact as something more personalized.

– Recommend that if you have a form letter, modify it to make it more your own.

– Anecdotally, handwritten letters (must be legible) may have a greater impact.

Contact Methods (Continued)

Communicating via a face to face meeting:– Call the office and schedule an appointment.– If a group of individuals go in at the same time,

designate a primary spokesperson in advance.– During the meeting, be polite, never insulting

or condescending.– Base your presentation on the facts.

Contact Methods (Continued)

– Be prepared to answer questions.– Bring supporting documentation with you.– Stick to the issues at hand and stay on course.– Ask for a specific action (i.e., support for the

bill).

Tips

Remember-legislators are most concerned about what their own constituents think about a particular issue.

Contacts with legislators are much more effective when the contact comes from a person from the legislator’s home district.

While experts are important, potential voters are even more important.

Tips

Legislative sessions are very hectic and are demanding on legislators’ time.

Contacting legislators by phone (other than by letter or email) during this time may be the fastest way to ensure that they receive the information (either by contacting their offices directly or by leaving a message of the legislative message line).

Contact Information

For a listing of state legislators or other additional information, contact the Legislative Research Commission at 502-564-8100 or visit their website at www.lrc.state.ky.us .

To leave a message for a legislator, you can call the message line at 1-800-372-7181.

Other Ways to Get Involved

Organize locally:– Identify potential allies (concerned parents, teachers,

health organizations, etc.) in your area that would also have a stake in this issue and encourage them to join in support.

– Stage local events with supporters. Invite your legislators and local media.

– Stay in contact with your local media-write letters to the editors and encourage the local newspapers to write editorials in support of the bill.

Organizing Locally Volunteer to be a guest on local call-in shows. Join in with your local allies to:

– Contact your local schools and let them know that your group is concerned about this issue.

– Talk to your principal.– Ask for an opportunity to address your local site-based

council.– Ask for an opportunity to address the local Board of

Education. Remember-there is power in numbers . Ensure a

large crowd of supporters at public gatherings.

Participating in State Level Activities Volunteer to help advocate for the bill

during the legislative session. Help keep people updated through emails

and phone calls. Volunteer to help organize a Capitol Rally

(commit to bringing people with you). Keep the legislative message lines ringing.

Considering Competing Interests

We must be prepared to articulate our position while at the same time, considering competing interests and other factors. Just because we are right, doesn’t mean we will be “right”.

Considering Competing Interests

Consider:– Revenue: although many of those that oppose a

bill will not publicly cite revenue as a factor (no one wants to be labeled as someone that would choose revenue over a child’s health), we know that schools rely heavily on the money generated from competitive food sales. Money goes to support good causes (athletics, music programs, etc).

Competing Interests

Response:– We are not advocating an outright ban on

vending machines in schools. We recognize that schools are dependent on this source of revenue, which is why we are proposing a substitution, not a ban.

– We have researched what works in other states and know from West Virginia’s experience that our recommended changes would still allow a viable source of revenue.

Competing Interests

– We have also researched what food/beverages would be commercially available.

– We are only asking that schools be more responsible with the food/beverage selections.

– When schools promote the sale of junk food that is full of empty calories, while at the same time trying to teach nutrition education in the classroom, what kind of message is this sending to students?

Competing Interests

Consider:– Local Control and the KERA Philosophy-under

KERA, many issues that were once addressed at the state level are now in the hands of school districts and site-based councils. Why should this be any different?

Response:– This is a statewide issue and warrants a

statewide response

Competing Interests– The state has legislated and continues to legislate issues

that impact children’s health in schools (pre and post the implementation of KERA).

– Examples: statewide requirements for entry level and 6th grade physical exams, evidence of immunizations, the requirements for eye exams, etc.

– By virtue of the Department of Education’s regulation that applies to competitive food sales, this issue is recognized as as issue of physical welfare (702 KAR 6:090 “promulgated under the authority of …. to protect the physical welfare and safety of public school children….”).

Competing Interests

Consider:– Soft drink industry as a corporate partner with

schools. Schools reap many benefits from this arrangement including revenue from sales and often receive donated items from the companies. Soft drink industry reaps many benefits as well, especially from exclusive pouring rights contracts. Main benefit to industry-brand loyalty

Competing Interests

Response:– Soft drink industry has ventured into supplying

alternatives such as water. As with all types of businesses, industry needs to be responsive to consumer demands.

Stay on Target

Remember, don’t lose sight of the big picture here.

All other things aside, this is a matter of children’s health and children’s issues, especially concerning their health and welfare are issues that resonate with the public-this is key.

Strengths

This issue has garnered statewide as well as national issue.

Media support has been overwhelming. This is an issue that resonates with parents. Numerous associations support us. Other states are moving in this direction.

Closing

I hope that I have offered some helpful insight, not only in terms of the work of the task force, but also in terms of how individuals, especially when organized, truly can make a difference in government.

My challenge to you today is to take what you have learned and will learn from this conference and help us “Grow Healthy Kids in KY”.