Thank you to all who completed last month's newsletter survey. More than 150 individuals completed the survey, providing meaningful feedback for our consideration. Look for some changes over the next few months.

Over the summer, we began to identify strategy leaders for each of the 23 ShapingNJ policy and environmental change strategies in the 5 selected settings -- childcare, community, health care, schools and worksite/business. A training session for strategy leaders will be scheduled for mid-October, and setting-based workgroups will convene soon after this training.

We are collecting strategy specific tools and resources to share with workgroup members to facilitate implementation. In addition, we are developing planning/logic models for each setting, as well as a broader project-based model. These models will provide a clear visual for the implementation process and illustrate the interconnectedness across settings.

Communities Putting Prevention to Work - State & Territorial Initiative (Stimulus dollars) Update:
Using stimulus dollars, the Office of Nutrition & Fitness is partnering with the New Jersey Health Officers Association, a ShapingNJ partner, to enable local health departments to use evidence-based change strategies to improve nutrition and increase physical activity at the community level. 

A minimum of three communities will pilot the implementation of ShapingNJ community strategies.  One project outcome will be a package of tools and resources that local health departments and their community partners will be able to use to implement policy and environmental change in the areas of nutrition and physical activity.  The ONF and NJHOA co-sponsored an environmental and policy training workshop hosted by the Raritan Bay YMCA in Perth Amboy on July 28, 2010.  All 106 local health departments were invited; eighteen sent community teams to the workshop.

Communities that attended the July 28th workshop are eligible to submit applications for mini-grants and tailored technical assistance. Local health departments with their community partners are required to present a plan of action to implement changes in their community that will increase residents' access to healthy foods and beverages and opportunities to be physically active. Projects must focus on developing the environments that will facilitate healthier choices for community residents.

Applications are due October 15, 2010. 

In addition, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)-funded New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids will join efforts with ShapingNJ for this pilot project.  As a result, the five RWJF-funded cities -- Camden, Newark, New Brunswick, Trenton and Vineland and the ShapingNJ pilot communities will be able to learn from each other and mutually benefit from shared resources and training opportunities.  Both programs aim to create healthy New Jersey communities and prevent obesity; the Partnership for Healthy Kids focuses exclusively on children ages 3-18, and ShapingNJ  targets New Jersey residents across the lifespan who may lack access to healthy food and opportunities to be physically active.

ShapingNJ is now 104 partners strong! 

Trinity Cathedral, ShapingNJ's first faith-based organization joins the partnership
State Health Department Commissioner Poonam Alaigh joined other local dignitaries at Trinity Cathedral in Trenton to celebrate Minority and Multicultural Health Month and to accept ShapingNJ's newest partner agreement, and first faith-based organization partner, Trinity Cathedral.  Click  here for press release and picture.

Rutgers, Family and Community Health Sciences Department Awarded Team Nutrition Grant
Grow Healthy New Jersey: A Team Nutrition Initiative is a training grant that will fund pilot projects in 9 schools statewide. The main components are:

• Training food service personnel to prepare kid-friendly meals, implementing the new Dietary Guidelines, and integrating Farm to School - connecting schools and local farms to facilitate healthy meals in school cafeterias, improve student nutrition, provide agriculture, health and nutrition education opportunities, and support local and regional farmers.
• Providing nutrition education to students and planting a school garden in each of the 9 schools. 
• Re-energizing the School Wellness Policy and developing the School Wellness Councils.

For more information contact Rutgers, Family and Community Health Sciences Department: 609-265-5050

American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Fitness Index (AFI)
In this short video, Dr. Felicia D. Stoler, DCN, MS, RD, FACSM, Nutritionist and Exercise Physiologist, and a member of NJ's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports comments on the state of health and fitness in the New York metropolitan area, which ranked 21st in the 2010 American Fitness Index Report.

VOLT FITNESS introduces VOLT WELLNESS
VOLT FITNESS has expanded its services to include a Wellness Program, offering a combination of therapeutic services, in conjunction with the comprehensive VOLT FITNESSS program, in order to provide a whole-child approach to health and wellness.

A team of experienced and enthusiastic specialists are dedicated to ensuring the progress and success of each individual child. Specialists include an occupational therapist, a doctor of physical therapy, a licensed psychologist, a physical therapist and a registered dietitian.
 
The VOLT WELLNESS program is offered to all clients and may be covered by participating health benefit plans. Potential clients can inquire about the program and insurance pre-qualification eligibility by contacting the VOLT WELLNESS staff at (201) 857-3801.

Zone 7 Dinners on the Farm offers a monthly farm-to-table dinner series through October, 2010  
Zone 7 is a farm fresh-distribution service that connects farmers and chefs. Dinners on the Farm are hosted at 5 picturesque farm locations throughout New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. Zone 7 Dinners on the Farm offer a true taste of the season.  Guests are treated to an intimate, farmer-led, behind the scenes tour of the fields, followed by a 4-course, fresh and seasonal meal prepared by one (or more) chefs from highly rated local restaurants.  Click here to read about a recent dinner hosted at the Muth Family Farm.

Dinner events coming soon to a farm near you:
Sunday, September 19, 4:00 - 8:00PM
Manoff Market Gardens
Growers of Amazingly Delicious Tree Fruit & Berries
Solebury, PA
$135 per person
To register, visit: www.brownpapertickets.com

October (date to be announced), 3:00 - 7:00PM
Blooming Glen Farm
Perkasie, PA
$135 per person

NJ Parent Link, The State of New Jersey's Early Childhood, Parenting and Professional Resource Center
NJ Parent Link - links parents & professionals to New Jersey's Early Childhood Services and Resources.   Highlighting state services and resources, the goal of NJ Parent Link is to improve the accessibility, coordination and delivery of information and services to parents of young children, to improve the communication capabilities between the public and private sectors, and provide the information technology foundation for inter/intra agency service collaborations and policy development.   The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is the lead agency for this project, coordinating over 30 government service units participating on the website development team. 

For a more in depth overview of the website/project, please contact Jamie Anderson, NJ Parent Link Administrator @ 609-292-5666 or electronically at nj.parentlink.doh.state.nj.us

Down to Its Last Million Acres
According to a recent report, Urban Growth & Open Space Loss in New Jersey 1986 through 2007, part of an ongoing series of collaborative studies between the Geospatial Research Lab at Rowan University and the Center for Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis at Rutgers University, NJ is down to its last million acres of developable land, and may run out by midcentury. The report concludes that the state had its "two most sprawling decades in history" between 1986 and 2007, when the housing boom abruptly halted.

Obama declares September National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September is Fruits and Veggies More Matters Month 
A new interactive tool on the Fruits & Veggies-More Matters® consumer website has just been released.  It includes information about fruit and veggie related activities such as cooking demonstrations, product sampling events, and community contests. Of special note to partners and others interested in creating healthy school environments is the information on how schools can add fruit and vegetable vending machines and salad bars to lunchrooms. 

Positive Records Produces Tribute Song for First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Childhood Obesity Prevention Campaign
"Positive Records has produced its first song in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign. Company President, Steven J. Logwood, said ‘this song is intended to show how music can be used to deliver the core pillar messages of the Let's Move campaign, Healthy Choices, Healthy Schools, Improved access to Healthy, Affordable Foods and Increased Physical Activity.  We plan to produce additional songs to support this campaign, and the next one queued up is called "IN A GENERATION."   IN A GENERATION will be release next month and will feature information, trends and statistics related to the childhood obesity epidemic and the song will also highlight the Let's Move strategy for addressing this important national health issue"' For a preview of the song click here. 

The Dreaded Stairs
This video clip, shot in Odenplan, Stolkholm illustrates how putting a little fun in your physical activity can make all the difference!

State School Healthy Policy Database
The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE), State School Healthy Policy Database is a comprehensive set of laws and policies from 50 states that includes more than 40 school health topics. This database is intended to facilitate the sharing of school health improvement strategies and policy language across states by providing state, district, and school practitioner's access to their state's school health policies in one convenient location. Additionally it assists researchers and policy evaluators with tracking changes in policies across the nation. 

CDC releases SMART: BRFSS City and County Data: Selected  Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends
The Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends (SMART) project uses the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) to analyze the data of selected metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs). BRFSS data can be used to identify emerging health problems, establish and track health objectives, and develop and evaluate public health policies and programs. Click here to view health risk data for NJ.

New Report Shows School District Wellness Policies Fail to Provide Strong  Guidelines 
This report provides updated results from an analysis of written school wellness policies, and includes data from the first three years following the required adoption date for wellness policies. The major findings and trends presented in this report identify areas where progress has been made in strengthening the written policies, as well as opportunities for improvement. The report also highlights key findings most critical for informing efforts to make the school environment healthier for students and to prevent childhood obesity. More information, including complete data for the three years studied, is available at www.bridgingthegapresearch.org.

Saturday, September, 25, 2010
Newark Beth Israel Hospital
Walk for Wellness
Registration starts at 9:00AM and the walk begins at 10AM.               
The walk begins at Beth Israel Medical Center, turns east on Lyons Avenue and continues south around the lake at Weequahic Park.  There will be fitness activities for children and adults in Weequahic Park from 11:00AM - 3:00PM. Healthy refreshments will be offered as well as information on healthy living.  Proceeds will go toward KidsFit Newark program, which is designed to treat and prevent childhood obesity.

October 1-3, 2010: New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD) Lake Conference
Happiness is Camping
The Lake Conference is a weekend event designed to meet the needs of K-8 Physical Education teachers and future professionals. For more information visit:  http://www.njahperd.org/   

Tuesday, October 12, 2010: Bringing Baby-Friendly to New Jersey: A Challenge to Change
New Jersey Hospital Association Conference and Events Center
760 Alexander Road, Princeton, NJ
Hospital teams are invited to attend to learn more about New Jersey's new program to improve breastfeeding rates. Registration forms will be posted on www.shapingnj.gov. For more information, contact Shreya Durvasala at: sdurvasula@njpcore.org

Tuesday, October 26, 2010: New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD) Adapted Conference
"Teaching All Abilities in Health & Physical Education"
Special Olympics NJ, Lawrenceville, NJ
This conference is designed to meet the needs of Health and Physical Education teachers and Future Professionals, PreK-12, who have contact with special needs populations. Information will be provided on recent developments in the field of Adapted Physical Education, as well as inclusion of students in mainstreamed Physical Education classes. Hands-on experience will be provided and sharing of ideas and innovative teaching strategies will be encouraged. Professional Development hours offered, fee required.  Sponsored by NJAHPERD and Special Olympics New Jersey.

November 4^th: The Central New Jersey Maternal Child Health Consortium presents Vital Links: Creating NJ Partnerships for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Imperia, Somerset, NJ
8:30AM - 4:00PM
This free conference will enhance disease prevention programs by maximizing health care resources through partnerships; develop integrated ways to "make the healthy choice the easy choice" in communities across the state; and generate a statewide chronic disease plan to extend the years of healthy living for NJ residents. Register online.  

November 4 & 5, 2010: New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Convention
Creating A Better Tomorrow
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, New Jersey
NJAHPERD sponsors 8-10 sessions addressing healthy active lifestyles for students and professionals. Click here for more information.   

November 7, 2010: New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NJAHPERD) Fall Future Professionals Workshop
East Brunswick High School, East Brunswick, NJ
A "get up and get moving" workshop for college and university health and physical education majors. Click here for more information.   

November 9^th and 10^th: The 6th Annual Vaccines for Children Conference
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
NJ Department of Health and Senior Services and the NJ Pediatric Council on Research and Education present the 6th Annual Vaccines for Children Conference featuring nationally known speakers Paul Offit, MD, Margaret Fisher, MD and Alison Singer, MBA.  Click here for more information.  

November 15th - 18th: The 95th Annual League of Municipalities Conference
Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City, NJ
This Conference is an invaluable learning experience for community leaders; delegates have the opportunity to learn and ask questions at more than 100 panels, clinics, workshops, and other sessions conducted by the League and the 18 associations of technical and professional employees allied with it. Commercial, government and association exhibits display the latest products and services for municipal government. For more information click here.

December 3, 2010: Children's Health Summit - Fighting Back Against Childhood Obesity - Growing Healthy: Making a difference through policy and environmental change
Rutgers University, Cook Campus Center, New Brunswick, NJ. 
This one day conference will bring together educators, health professionals, policy makers, community organizers and other stakeholders to discuss and address the growing issue of childhood obesity as it relates to public and institutional policy and the environments in which children live, attend school and play. Strategies and approaches concerning food environments, physical inactivity and more will be shared throughout the day. Click here to register or for more information call: 732-932-9271

December 6, 2010: NJAHPERD Mary Jo Young Hands On Health Conference
"A Team Approach to School Wellness"
Crowne Plaza Monroe, Monroe, NJ
The Mary Jo Young Hands on Health Conference is designed to provide educators with current health information, new resources and teaching strategies for the classroom and school environment. Plenary sessions and choice of breakout sessions covering various current health topics will be available.  Join your colleagues for a great day of cutting edge, "hands on" professional development. This conference is co-sponsored with NJDOE, NJDHSS, NJDOA and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Click here for more information.