Texas was awarded American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) funds to support obesity prevention through physical activity and nutrition. For this 24-month project which runs through February 2012, Texas is working to establish joint use agreements between schools and local government agencies to open up school grounds to the general public for recreational use after school hours. Schools serve as central community access points to provide safe places for physical activity and function as a central hub for community access to fresh local grown fruits and vegetables.
The Texas Department of State Health Services, administrator of the ARRA funds, selected eight schools, one in each Public Health Region. Factors that were considered for selection include infrastructure and sustainability as well as percent eligibility for free/reduced lunch program, community health disparities, race/ethnicity, and community need.
The following schools were selected:
Highland Elementary School
Plainview, Texas
Hale County
Public Health Region 1
Terrell Elementary School
Denison, Texas
Grayson County
Public Health Region 2/3
Travis Elementary School
Sulphur Springs, Texas
Hopkins County
Public Health Region 4/5
Columbus Elementary School
Columbus, Texas
Colorado County
Public Health Region 5/6
Wooldridge Elementary School
Austin, Texas
Travis County
Public Health Region 7
Washington Elementary
San Antonio, Texas
Bexar County
Public Health Region 8
Grape Creek Elementary
San Angelo, Texas
Tom Green County
Public Health Region 9/10
Dr. Mario Ramirez Elementary School
Rio Grande City, Texas
Starr County
Public Health Region 11
DSHS staff from the Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Program lead project activities through collaboration with the DSHS School Health Program, Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service, Texas Education Agency, University of Texas School of Social Work, and the Health and Human Services Commission’s Office for the Elimination of Health Disparities. Linkages with School Health Advisory Council, Sustainable Food Center, Farm to School Taskforce, Early Childhood Health and Nutrition Interagency Council and others broaden project reach and statewide impact.
DSHS NPAOP is working to implement a strategy using schools as a community centerpiece or hub to 1) facilitate joint-use agreements that permit community access to free, safe physical activity and recreation facilities on school grounds outside of school hours; 2) establish a school-based fruit and vegetable direct access initiative such as Farm to School, Farm to Work, school-based farmers’ markets and/or community gardens; and 3) foster a statewide infrastructure within community neighborhoods with schools that offer a safe and supportive physical activity environment using the Walk Across Texas program to establish walking clubs.
This initiative, implemented by DSHS, is a high-impact policy, social, and environmental change model to prevent and control the chronic health effects of obesity as well as tobacco use. (For more information on DSHS tobacco use initiatives in Texas, seehttp://www.dshs.state.tx.us/tobacco).
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