Latest News
Be Our Voices Advocacy Training for Health Care Professionals
AHA and Community Care of Wake and Johnston Counties were selected by the National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality to train healthcare professionals to become advocates and change agents within their community to help reverse the trend of the childhood obesity epidemic. While there are ways physicians and other health care providers can address obesity in an office visit, the effectiveness of individual level interventions may be limited. This issue needs to also be addressed outside practice walls – where our children live, learn, play, and pray.
The training will be held Saturday, September 25 from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm. Participants will receive 6.5 Category 1 CME credits. There is no charge for the event.Special guest panelists include Senator Josh Stein, School Board Member Anne McLaurin, and Morrisville Mayor Jackie Holcombe.
To foster discussion and concrete plans of action, we will limit the group to 30 participants. To register, email Barbara James or (919)792-3644.
This training is targeted at a diverse range of health care providers including but not limited to: Physicians, Physician Assistants, NPs, RNs, Nutritionists, Exercise Physiologists, Dentists, Pharmacists, etc!
UNC Teen Weight Loss Study
The UNC Weight Research Program is conducting a research study to help overweight teenage girls to lose weight. During the 8-session (4 month) study, participants will receive treatment to assist in weight loss at no cost and $15 for completing study related assessments.
We all know adolescence is an important time to intervene because over the past two decades the rates of overweight among teens have continued to grow; currently, 1 out of 3 adolescents is overweight or obese and often parents do not know how to help their teen. If you would like to participate, call Noel Kulik at (919) 966-5852 or email knoel@email.unc.edu.
AHA has a job opening
AHA is hiring our first Project Coordinator. We are looking for someone with excellent communication skills who can work independently and believes in the AHA mission.
The project coordinator will provide leadership, support, and technical assistance to implement policy and environmental change projects focused on increasing access to healthful food and physical activity in Wake County, NC. Key focus areas include local food, built environment, school wellness, early childhood, and community initiatives.
We are taking applications through September 24th. Please take a look at the job description if you are interested!
AHA Quarterly Meeting
You are invited to attend the AHA Quarterly Meeting on September 22nd from 8:30-11:30 at Marsh Creek Park in Raleigh. This is a great opportunity to network with those working on access to healthy food, physical activity, and obesity in our area! Please RSVP to laiken@wakemed.org if you would like toa attend. Our special guest speaker will be Myron Floyd from NCSU. He will be talking about the role of Parks and Recreation in the obesity epidemic. There will also be a cahnce to learn what you can do to create a healthy, active Wake County!
Join the Wake County Air Quality Initiative
In partnership with the Wake County Asthma Coalition, Advocates for Health in Action is implementing the Air Quality Flag Initiative across Wake County. Through this initiative, partners sign up for an email that notifies you of the air quality on the following day so that you may hang the appropriate flag. Please consider becoming a partner in this initiative by flying air quality flags at your place of business.Participation in the initiative is easy and free. You may email laiken@wakemed.org to receive your flags for free, and all instructions will be provided. If you do not have a large flag pole, small mounted poles like those used at homes can be used.Please let us know at any time if your organization would like to participate. We will add new partners on an ongoing basis!We would also like to spread the word beyond AHA Partners, so feel free to share this information with anyone who might be interested! Check out details about the Wake County Air Quality project here. For more information about asthma and air quality in Wake County, click here.Current Partners:Alliance Medical Ministry
B.A.HUGHES & ASSOCIATES, LLC
Bright Horizons Corporate Center
Community Care of Wake & Johnston Counties
Duke Raleigh Hospital
East Raleigh Police Substation
Garner Fire Department
John Rex Endowment
Tarheel Foodie
Town of Fuquay-Varina Fire Department
Triangle Tomorrow Air Quality Coalition
Wake County Fire Training Center
Wake County Human Services
WakeMed Health & Hospitals
Read the AHA/Wake County Asthma Coalition Air Quality Initiative Press Release here.
July 19th AHA Visits Raleigh's East CAC
We are very excited to be providing a brief presentation on creating healthier communities at the July 19th CAC meeting at 7pm at Lion's Park. It is our goal to begin providing the communty tools to implement policy and environmental changes within their circles of influence. To check out our presentation, click here! If you are interested in ways you can make your community healthier, let us know!
The City of Raleigh to Provide Community Gardening Briefing
The City of Raleigh has scheduled a community gardening briefing July 21, 2010 from 2:30-3:30pm at the Urban Design Center, 133 Fayetteville Street. The City will be providing a brief report and have time for some questions/answers. Attendees will need to RSVP to Cindy Holmes at cindy.holmes@raleighnc.gov.
A Successful Short Session in the Legislature for Obesity Prevention Advocates
There was a great deal of excitement during the short session of the NC Legislature on obesity related bills. Several bills that will help to improve the health of North Carolinans were passed due to the hard work of the Legislative Taske Force on Childhood Obesity and community advocates such as you. Bills that were passed include:
H1777/S1152 Study Child Nutrition ProgramH1757/S1296 Physical Education and Activity in Schools
HB901 Honors Courses in Healthful Living Classes
H1726/S1287 Improve Child Care Nutrition/Activity Standards
H1832/S1284 Farm to School Program/Funds
H1775/S1151 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
H1701/S1333 NC Sustainable Communities Task Force
H1904/S1286 Screen and Reduce BMI Levels in Children
H1827/S1153 Extend Legislative Task Force on Childhood Obesity
There are several bills that did not make it through including those related to school lunch and EBT cards at farmer's markets. Despite the fact these bills died, there were excellent conversations started that should open the doors for the future. Congratulations to all of you who worked on these bills to improve the health of our state. We look forward to the long session where we can build upon success! Be sure to take time to contact the Legislators who worked so hard this session!
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Advocates for Health in Action Healthful Eating and Physical Activity Assets Map is LIVE!
We are pleased to announce that the AHA Healthful Eating and Physical Activity is live for public use! Funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina Foundation and completed in partnership with the Center for Earth Observation at North Carolina State Unversity, the map is available for users to identify places to be active and find healthful food in Wake County. Additionally, the map will be used by Advocates for Health in Action to create an advocacy agenda to increase access to these resources for everyone in Wake County.
Please check back soon for a short video with instructions on how to use the map. In the meantime, please click away and see all of the great resources Wake County has to offer!