Parent Action for Healthy Kids® in the News
As Parent Action for Healthy Kids® is all about disseminating information, when the information is about our organization we're proud to pass that along too. The following articles have appeared in print or web-based publications. We appreciate their promoting our important cause.
Have Faith! We Can Build A Healthier Tomorrow.
Posted May 21st, 2010
I had a great trip to D.C. I visited museums, the World War II, Vietnam, Korean & FDR memorials, viewed the nations' capitol from the top of the Washington Monument, and saw President Obama speak at the memorial for slain police officers on the lawn of the Capitol. The tour of the White House and Capitol arranged by Congressman Gary Peters was inspiring. Being surrounded by such rich history, I was reminded that our country was built on the strength and perserverence of its people. I have a renewed faith in our ability to make this country a healthier place for our children to learn and thrive. Sign up for my call to action for parents -- with one voice, we can leave a legacy of good health for our children.
Below photo: Portrait Monument to the pioneers of the Woman Suffrage Movement - Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Lucretia Mott, and of course, Barb Flis! :)
Below photo: Place where Lincoln's desk was in the Capitol
Below photo: Me and Laura, the intern of Congressman Gary Peters
Below photo: President Obama speaking at a memorial for slain officers on the Capitol lawn
Check Out My New Videos: Helping Parents and Kids Eat Healthy at Home and School!
Posted May 10th, 2010
As I mentioned earlier on my Facebook page, together with the Michigan Department of Education, we've made important videos for parents about Healthy Kids Snacks - Helping You Shop & Prepare Healthy Snacks, Role Modeling for Healthy Eating - Parents Matter, and Selecting Healthy Choices From the School Menu.
Click here to view videos
Healthy eating habits taught early in a child's life will stay with them for a lifetime. Healthy Habits = Healthy, Happy & Smart Kids!
Thinking About The Amazing People I Met In D.C.
Posted May 7th, 2010
As I mentioned in my blog on April 13, I was honored to be one of only 10 people invited to Washington D.C. to provide input in developing the First Lady's Let's Move initiative to end childhood obesity in a generation. I was the only person at the table representing the parents’ voice.
I now have a few photos of this meeting and some of the amazing people that I met.
This is Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary, Health & Human Services as she announced community grants.
Let's Move meeting
Left to right, Leslie Bushara, Children's Museum of Manhattan, Annette Ferebee, American Public Health Association, Stephanie Ferguston, International Food Information Council.
Left to right, Barb Flis, PAFHK, Shelley Frazier, Healthy Native Communities Partnership, Lori Kaplan, Latin American Youth Center and Annette Ferebee, American Public Health Association
Now I'm back from D.C. and taking this opportunity to launch my own urgent Call to Action for parents! Have you Signed Up yet? This just can't be the first generation where the life span of our children is shorter than their parents! Let's make things better for our children today and for the next generation.
You Won't Believe These Sugar Stacks
Posted May 6th, 2010
Wonder how much sugar you and your family are getting from foods and beverages? This web site gives good information and a great visual of the amount of sugar in our foods and beverages. Eliminating a couple of the highest sugar items from our families diet will have big health benefits now and in the future. www.sugarstacks.com
U.S. Teen Pregnancy Rate Increases After a Decade-Long Decline
Posted May 5th, 2010
I wanted to share an interesting article that was published this week on the website Healthinschools.org:
For the first time since the early 1990s, overall rates of pregnancy and birth among teens has increased, according to a report released yesterday by the Guttmacher Institute. The pregnancy rate among girls aged 15 – 19 rose by 3 percent between 2005 and 2006, reflecting increases in teen birth and abortion rates of 4% and 1%, respectively. “It is too soon to tell whether the increase in the teen pregnancy rate between 2005 and 2006 is a short term fluctuation, a more lasting stabilization or the beginning of a significant new trend, any of which would be of great concern,” said Lawrence Finer, Guttmacher’s director of domestic research. The teen pregnancy rate declined 41% between its peak, in 1990 and 2005, which also resulted in declines in teen births and abortions. Researchers attribute the significant drop to better use of contraceptives among sexually active teens. This reversal in teen pregnancy rates coincides with the introduction of abstinence-only sexual education programs that prohibited the discussion of the benefits of contraception. The Obama Administration’s 2010 budget has eliminated funding for abstinence-only programs and shifted it to pregnancy prevention initiatives that are age-appropriate, medically accurate and evidence-based.