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Bright from the Start Supports Wellness Policies in Child Care Centers in Southwest Georgia

Problem Addressed

Childhood obesity is a growing problem throughout the U.S. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10% of infants and toddlers have high weights for lengths, and over 20% of 2-5 year olds are overweight or obese. Lifestyle behaviors are learned in early childhood, and interventions that promote good nutrition and physical activity habits in young children can help prevent obesity. Unlike federally funded school districts, child care centers are not required to have a wellness policy. However, leading health organizations recommend that child care programs implement a wellness policy to help support an environment where positive nutrition and physical activity habits are developed.

Story Abstract

Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning implemented a one year pilot project to support wellness policies in child care centers. The project was funded by a USDA Team Nutrition grant and is titled Caregivers Promoting Healthy Habits: Implementing Wellness Policies in Child Care Centers in Southwest Georgia. Twenty-two participating centers chose a minimum of six policies related to breastfeeding, foods served, eating environment, nutrition and physical activity education, scheduled physical activity, screen time, food safety and hygiene, parent involvement and staff training. Centers received training, technical assistance and mini-grant funding to implement wellness activities for children, staff and parents. Centers utilized funding to purchase nutrition curricula, plant gardens, plan cooking activities, host parent workshops, provide staff training, and to purchase posters, books and other classroom items that support messages of healthy eating and physical activity.

Preliminary data from an independent evaluation by Georgia State University (funded in part by the Georgia Department of Public Health Communities Putting Prevention to Work American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Obesity funds) found that the program produced statistically significant improvements in the following areas:

• Healthier menus-centers serve more vegetables, fewer fried/pre-fried meats, and more centers serve low-fat or fat-free milk. Menus also showed a statistically significant decrease in saturated fat content.
• Improved activity schedules-more centers include physical activity or gross motor development on infant schedules, and increased structured physical activity on toddler schedules.
• Healthier environment- analysis of the Environmental Policy Assessment and Observation Measure (EPAO) from the University of North Carolina showed statistically significant improvements in the total nutrition and total physical activity score.
• Better educated parents-About 2/3 of parents that completed a survey made changes to their nutrition practices (65%) and physical activity practices (67%) at home because of something they learned from the center over the past year.

Submitted By

Name: Monica Fink MS, RD, LD
Organization: Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Address: 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE
Address 2: 670 East Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334
Email Address: monica.fink@decal.ga.gov
Phone Number: (404)463-4093

Georgia Becomes Most Recent State to Adopt 3 Foot Safe Passing Law

Problem Addressed

"Buzzing", where a car passes dangerously close to a cyclist, is a frequent safety concern for cyclists, and also a major deterrent to individuals who might like to ride but are intimidated by unsafe driving practices.

Story Abstract

On July 1, “The Better Bicycling Bill,” HB 101, became law in the state of Georgia. This marks a huge step forward in making Georgia a safer place for cyclists and motorists alike, and is the result of a long campaign and a great deal of hard work by legislators, advocates, and cyclists of all types.

HB 101 modernizes a host of outdated bicycling laws in the state code and also implements a number of significant improvements for bicyclist and motorist safety. 101 makes lawful the sale and use of clipless pedals and recumbent-style bicycles, both popular and widely used in Georgia, which are technically illegal under the old code. Other changes include recognition of bicyclists’ right-of-way in dedicated bike lanes, establishing minimum design guidelines for bicycle lanes, and clarifying circumstances under which a cyclist may take the full travel lane due to unsafe conditions or obstructions.

Most significantly, however, a Senate amendment to the bill defines three feet as the minimum safe passing distance for motor vehicles overtaking cyclists. With the adoption of this law, Georgia joins a growing number of states with safe passing distance laws. Motor vehicles passing a cyclist too closely, known as “buzzing,” are a serious factor in causing bicycle crashes.

In a addition to the Governor and huge majorities of in the Senate and House, Lt. Governor Casey Cagle strongly supported HB 101. “This legislation updates some of Georgia’s cycling laws and includes the critically important three-foot minimum passing distance requirement,” he says. “Under this new law, both cyclists and motorists will all be able to operate on Georgia’s roads more safely.”

Georgia Bikes’ Executive Director Brent Buice also applauds the enactment of bill, noting that “the three foot passing provision in HB 101 is a tremendous safety improvement for Georgia’s cyclists. HB 101 will help create the conditions that surveys show Georgians want: safer, more comfortable conditions for cycling.”

Media

3' Passing & Other New Laws

Facebook Album: HB 101 Signing Ceremony

Submitted By

Name: Johann Weber
Organization: Atlanta Bicycle Coalition
Address: 213 Mitchell Street, Atlanta, GA, 30303
Email: johann@atlantabike.org
Phone: (404) 881-1112