Healthy kids learn better. And with nearly one out of every three children and youth in this country at a heavier weight than is recommended, the health and academic potential of more and more of our students is being put at risk. Public policy is emerging as a critical tool to improve the eating and physical activity environments in which children live, learn, and play. State and local policymakers can play a key role in creating and supporting those policies, particularly within schools. But what are the best policy strategies to help students stay healthy in and around school?
That question was addressed during a recent webcast "Leadership in Action: Policymakers Addressing Childhood Obesity Through Collaboration and Policy Change," sponsored by the National School Boards Association and produced by MSBA's Education Solutions Global Network. The webcast is now available in archival form on the ESGN website: www.esgn.tv . Simply click on the red and blue promotional graphic for the program that is located on the right side of the ESGN home page. There is no cost for viewing the archive, which can be watched an unlimited number of times. It will be available until July 1, 2010.
This webcast is a useful resource and discussion tool for community- and school-based groups (school boards, PTA/PTO councils, city or county councils, etc) to discuss the important issues around childhood obesity, as well as strategies you can use in your community to address them. The archived program can be shown in segments, paused and re-started as many times as needed to provide you with the opportunity to discuss the program's content.
After accessing the program from the ESGN web page, you can also download the agenda of the original live program as well as presentation slides used in the original broadcast by clicking on the appropriate links next to the broadcast window.