November 21, 2012

CCC Policy Briefing Showcases Model Programs in New York City School Food

CCC’s Innovative Practices: Model Programs in New York City School Food Policy Briefing on November 20 brought together school staff, parents, nonprofit leaders, and other stakeholders to learn about school meal and nutrition education programming currently in place in schools and communities throughout New York City.

The panel showcased the work of experts at the forefront of efforts to bring innovative food programming into classrooms and communities:

• Nancy Romer, General Coordinator of the Brooklyn Food Coalition, described the collaborative work of its members to promote food justice and sustainable food for parents and children in New York City through community organizing and public education initiatives. For information about Brooklyn Food Coalition, visit www.BrooklynFoodCoalition.org.

• Stephen O’Brien, Director of Food and Food Support at New York City Department of Education’s SchoolFood office provided an overview of the office’s efforts to increase participation in school meals, especially among students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, and to improve the quality of meals offered to over one million public school children each day. For more on SchoolFood, visit www.schools.nyc.gov/schoolfood.

• Jeannie Fournier, the Director of Nutrition and Health Education at the Food Bank For New York City, described their nutrition and health education initiatives including CookShop, which uses hands-on exploration, cooking and physical activities to teach public school students and their families about healthy eating habits, how to prepare whole foods like fruits and vegetables as nutritious and tasty meals and snacks, and enjoy an active lifestyle. For more information visit the Food Bank’s web site at www.foodbanknyc.org.

• Julianne Schrader, Director of Grow to Learn: The Citywide School Garden Initiative at GrowNYC, shared information on how school gardens provide outdoor learning environments that not only develop positive food attitudes but also strengthen math and science skills and improve financial literacy. To learn more, visit www.growtolearn.org.

The panel demonstrated how collaborative approaches that cut across sectors can have a meaningful impact on the well-being of New York City’s children. In addition, participants had the opportunity to learn how to bring nutrition education resources to children in their schools and communities, and about ways to advocate for expansion of school food programs.

CCC Resources

Go to CCC’s Healthy Affordable Food page for more on CCC’s efforts to ensure that all children have access to healthy affordable food options.

Visit our Policy Briefing page periodically to stay informed about CCC’s upcoming Policy Briefings.

Tags
Childhood Obesity, School Meals, Economic Security

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