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- Federal Resources
Federal Resources
SNAP: Clarification of Policies Barriers Facing Homeless Youth
This document clarifies eligibility requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to ensure that homeless youth, and other vulnerable populations, have access to the food they need.
Stay Healthy at College With MyPlate On Campus
The MyPlate On Campus Initiative aims to spread healthy eating messages to college students to empower them to improve their eating and exercise habits and encourage their peers to do the same. MyPlate On Campus offers tools, such as a tracker that develops personalized nutrition and activity plans for users, and tip sheets on topics such as choosing healthy snacks and creative ways to exercise. Students interested in promoting wellness at their schools can become MyPlate On Campus Ambassadors and gain leadership experience while hosting fitness and healthy eating activities for their fellow students.
The Food and Nutrition Information Center
The Food and Nutrition Information Center - a leader in food and human nutrition information dissemination since 1971 - provides credible, accurate, and practical resources for nutrition and health professionals, educators, government personnel and consumers.
The First Lady Has a Challenge for You: #GimmeFive
In celebration of the fifth anniversary of Let’s Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama is encouraging people to give out high-fives when they see someone making healthy choices. The First Lady is also asking Americans to #GimmeFive for things they are doing lead a healthier life by posting their accomplishments on social media and challenging friends and family to do the same.
SuperTracker is Now Mobile
SuperTracker, an online tool that helps users personalize their fitness and nutrition plan, is now available for mobile devices. Mobile users can compare the nutritional information for foods on the go and update their activity log in real time.
Team Nutrition
Team Nutrition is an initiative of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service to support the Child Nutrition Programs through training and technical assistance for foodservice, nutrition education for children and their caregivers, and school and community support for healthy eating and physical activity. Team Nutrition's Goal is to improve children's lifelong eating and physical activity habits by using the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and MyPyramid
The Revolution of Responsibility
4-H is encouraging young people to give a voice to the dedication and commitment they’ve shown in addressing challenges in their communities and creating lasting, positive change. Read the stories of 4-H youth who joined the Revolution of Responsibility by using creative ideas to address issues in their community.
USDA Announces Grants for Childhood Obesity Prevention Programs
USDA’s NIFA has announced the award of $9 million in grants, through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), to develop childhood obesity intervention programs through colleges and universities in 12 states and Puerto Rico. NIFA anticipates making $42 million available over the next five years for the AFRI Childhood Obesity Prevention Challenge Area.
Whole Grain Resource for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs
This resource outlines the whole grain-rich criteria for school meals in order to help program operators identify foods that meet the whole grain-rich criteria and offer them in their menus.
When Schools Improve Meals, Positive Results Follow
This blog entry from the Department of Agriculture discusses schools’ progress in complying with the school meal nutrition standards updated last year and the benefits that are already being seen as a result of the changes, including a decline in childhood obesity and an increase in children’s levels of physical activity and healthy eating habits.
Serving More Summer Meals in Rural and Tribal Areas
The challenge of summer hunger is particularly great in rural areas and Indian Country, where 15% of households are food insecure. This blog post describes how USDA’s Summer Food Service Program is addressing this issue.
Check Out My Plate Video Search Winning Entries Announced
The CheckOut MyPlate Video Search contest provided an opportunity for kids to showcase their creative thoughts and ideas about food and health. Parents and teachers were challenged to create a 60-second video demonstrating a MyPlate inspired healthy eating message and a physical activity tip. The contest drew more than 100 submissions from across the country, and the top winners from each age group are featured on the USDA website.
Stop Summer Hunger
To help prevent summer hunger, USDA partners with schools, local governments, and community organizations to provide free meals to children during the summer. Individuals and organizations interested in being Summer Meal champions in their community can use USDA’s Summer Meals Toolkit to get the word out, learn about program policy and administration, and develop ideas for collaborating with stakeholders.
Share with Youth: Body Weight Planner
USDA and NIH developed the Body Weight Planner, an interactive online tool that allows individuals who are trying to lose or gain weight see how they need to change their eating or physical activity levels to meet their goals. Users enter their age, weight, height, physical activity level, gender, and weight goal for personalized results. Users can also track their progress and receive periodic updates on how their progress matches up to their goals.
Resource: Summer Meals
This resource kit is designed to be used by summer meal site operators to teach kids and families about healthy habits. It uses music, games, art, and movement to motivate kids and families to make healthy food and drink choices, exercise, and limit screen time.
Resource: Federal Food Assistance
This webpage features English- and Spanish-language resource guides to help connect food insecure families to food assistance resources.
Resource: Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness
This clearinghouse helps providers identify, select, and implement evidence-based programs and practices to address wide-ranging family and mental health issues. The searchable database includes effective and promising intervention programs as well as resources and strategies to ensure the welfare of military families.
Resource: Summer Food Service Program
This website provides information on the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides nutritious meals to low-income children when school is not in session. Local organizations can use this website to learn how to be a part of the program. Families can use the search tool to find local sites serving meals.
Healthy Homes Program Brochure
The Healthy Homes program provides homeowners and rental property owners with practical information about how to prevent health and safety hazards. Specific problems such as asthma, allergies and mold are discussed.
Neighborhood Networks
HUD created Neighborhood Networks in 1995 to encourage property owners to establish multiservice community learning centers in HUD insured and assisted properties. Neighborhood Networks was one of the first federal initiatives to promote self-sufficiency and help provide computer access to low-income housing communities. Neighborhood Networks centers are alike. With support from innovative public-private partnerships, Neighborhood Networks centers sponsor a range of services and programs. Nearly all centers offer job training and educational opportunities, and many also provide programs that include access to healthcare information and microenterprise development.
Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control
In 1991, Congress established HUD's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control to eliminate lead-based paint hazards in America's privately-owned and low-income housing. The OHHLHC provides funds to state and local governments to develop cost-effective ways to reduce lead-based paint hazards. In addition, the office enforces HUD’s lead-based paint regulations, provides public outreach and technical assistance, and conducts technical studies to help protect children and their families from health and safety hazards in the home
Seven Steps to a Healthy Home
The Healthy Homes program offers seven steps to having a healthy home, providing homeowners and rental property owners with practical information about how to prevent health and safety hazards. These steps include the importance of keeping your home pest- and contaminant-free, as well as dry, clean, well-ventilated and well-maintained.
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Human Services
The Office of Human Services in the Bureau of Indian Affairs promotes the safety, financial security and social health of Indian communities and individual Indian people.
Preserve America Stewards
Preserve America Stewards is a designation program that recognizes organizations and agencies for volunteer programs that help care for our historic heritage. Preserve America Stewards run programs that 1) provide volunteers with opportunities to contribute in direct and tangible ways to the preservation of historic properties; 2) address an otherwise unfilled need in heritage preservation through the use of volunteers; and 3) are innovative in areas such as youth involvement, volunteer training, public education, and public/private partnerships.
White House Campout
First Lady Michelle Obama invited 50 Girl Scouts from Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Oklahoma, and Washington, DC, to participate in the first-ever White House Campout on the South Lawn. This event celebrated the National Park Service centennial, and promoted getting kids and families outdoors as part of Let's Move! Outside.