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| Team Idaho |
In 2008, Idaho received funding from CDC DASH for the first time to support Coordinated School Health efforts to increase collaborative partnerships between the Idaho State Department of Education and the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (IDHW) to improve the health of school-age children in Idaho. One of the first interagency discussions was how to build a state-level collaborative or network which would not be redundant and yet address mutual health priority areas. It was determined that developing a network of partners focused on physical activity and nutrition to address obesity would be most effective and support the initiatives of both the Idaho Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) Program and CSH.
Throughout late 2009 and 2010, the CSH Program Specialist in DHW worked collaboratively with the IPAN Program Manager to begin the process of gathering a broad range of partners, including CSH staff in the Idaho Department of Education, to develop a comprehensive, statewide strategic operations framework to address obesity. Over 50 representatives from businesses, state and local agencies, non-profit organizations and the legislature participated in this public health effort.
In April 2011, this voluntary network, Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Idaho, completed the framework and IDHW published Idaho's Nutrition and Physical Activity Framework for 2011-2013. The goal of the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) Framework for Idaho includes creating an environment where all Idahoans value and have access to healthy food options as well as places and opportunities to be physically active to improve their health and well-being.
The Framework focuses on policy and environmental changes that will enable all citizens of Idaho to make the healthy choice the easy choice. This network is responsible for implementing and advocating the recommended changes to address physical activity and nutrition. The Framework serves as a guide for the CSH staff to address nutrition, physical education and physical activity in Idaho schools. The Framework can be found at www.IPAN.dhw.idaho.gov.
Rebecca Lemmons, Coordinated School Health Program Specialist
Idaho Department of Health and Welfare
LemmonsR@dhw.idaho.gov
http://www.IPAN.gov
Patricia Stewart, Coordinated School Health Program Director
Idaho State Department of Education
plstewart@sde.idaho.gov
http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/csh/
