Pledge the Practice. Pass the Policy!

Healthy & Active Before 5 wants each of our community partners to become a role model for healthy eating and good nutrition. We believe social change starts at home.

We are asking our Leadership Council agencies to adopt at least one (& up to 4) policies aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

AND, we are asking you, as a colleague, to “pledge the practice” (even if your agency is slow to pass the policy.) We encourage agencies to consider our model policies and adapt them as needed.

Our HAB45 Policy Agenda is comprised of 4 policies.

  1. Healthy Beverage Policy: No sugar sweetened beverages or 100% fruit juice served to children at your agency’s events, activities, celebrations. (Sample Beverage Policy.pdf)
  2. Healthy Beverage Food & Beverage Policy: Healthy foods and beverages would be served at all organization’s meetings, events and fundraisers. This means serving fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy products and whole grains to clients (both children & adults) and to your staff. Collaborators, contractors and grantees would also be encouraged or required to follow your new Healthy Food and Beverage Policy. (Sample Food Policy.pdf)
  3. Breastfeeding Accommodation Policy: Our California law insists that breastfeeding mothers who return to work are provided with break time and a clean private space to breastfeed or pump milk. We want agencies to expand upon this in ways that create a supportive environment for breastfeeding women in their workplace. Starting with information and outreach to employees before they start their maternity leave. (Sample Breastfeeding Policy.pdf)
  4. Movement and Play Policy: Create an environment that promotes movement and play.   Adopt policies that support families and clients with children to be active at your agency, and/or raise awareness and support employees who want to be more physically active.  (Sample Movement and Play Policy.pdf)

We know policy change can sometimes be trying. That’s why HAB45 is offering $500 mini-grant to the first 10 Leadership Council agencies to approve at least one new policy and provide HAB45 with a copy. (Download our 1 page 2011/’12 application.doc)

Healthy & Active Before 5′s staff is available to help. We can troubleshoot. Fill the gap left by unhealthy foods, with new healthy alternatives. Make a presentation to your board or boss. Provide research findings, or letters on official stationary. Send an email or give us a call at (925) 676-5442 x3652.

We advocate for community change to start “at home,” in our own agencies.

Lets walk the talk. Let’s do it together.

(If you would like to edit any of the policies to better meet the needs of your agency, we also have MSWord versions of each of our model policies for healthy beverages, healthy foods, breastfeeding accommodation & movement and play.)