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Contact: Susan Acker (703) 305-2286

USDA RECOGNIZES STATES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS PROMOTING A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 14, 2005 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary Eric M. Bost today announced the Leadership, Innovation and Nutrition Collaboration (LINC) Award finalists at the Second National Nutrition Education Conference “Nutrition Connections: People, Programs, Science, Community.”

“Moving all Americans to a healthier lifestyle through improved nutrition and physical activity habits is a top priority,” said Bost. “The LINC awards recognize states and organizations that promote the principles of eating a nutritious diet, making healthy choices, being physically active every day and getting preventative health screening. These principles are pillars of President Bush’s HealthierUS initiative.”

The three-day nutrition education conference is designed to provide a forum for professionals to learn about science-based nutrition education initiatives that promote healthy eating and increased physical activity. Over 800 professionals from across the country will participate in over 160 expert presentations on nutrition education.

This is the second time we have presented these awards and we are extremely pleased to have received 33 nominations from across the country, representing diverse groups and populations, said Bost. The Leadership, Innovation and Nutrition Collaboration (LINC) Award winners will be announced during the Celebrate Excellence! Awards Luncheon on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 12:00 -1:45 pm, in the Regency Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, Va.

The nine finalists are candidates for the USDA LINC Award that honors state nutrition education initiatives that have excelled in three key areas: Nourishing Tomorrow’s Nutrition Leaders and Practitioners; Partnerships and Collaborations; and Excellence in Practice.

The Nourishing Tomorrow’s Leaders and Practitioners Award recognizes excellence in recruitment, training or retention of personnel in the field of nutrition, with special emphasis on public health and community nutrition. The finalists:

  • The California WIC Branch for their WIC-Based Dietetic Internship Projects developed to meet the growing need for culturally diverse Registered Dietitians and provide career advancement for WIC employees. The Dietetic Internships address educational barriers by providing part-time employment, scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, educational materials and computer programs.
     

  • The Florida WIC Program for Making Nutrition Education Fun, a training video broadcast for Florida WIC staff designed to motivate employees to make nutrition education services more fun and meaningful. The broadcast was held at 55 sites throughout Florida, sharing fun and innovative nutrition education activities and ideas to enhance nutrition education services. All local WIC agencies received a DVD or VHS copy of the broadcast to review and use for training.
     

  • The New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension for their Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ “Connections” Program, which provides Family Consumer Sciences students the opportunity to serve as Student Nutrition Volunteer Aides, shadowing teachers and nutrition educators. The aides assist with nutrition education lessons and mentor younger students about the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.

The Partnerships and Collaborations Award recognizes organizations that use collaborative and integrated approaches to plan, develop and deliver nutrition education involving multiple FNS programs. The finalists:

  • Montana Team Nutrition for Defeating Diabetes in Montana’s Indian Country. A successful, statewide partnership involving the Montana Team Nutrition Program, Montana School Nutrition Programs, the Food Stamp Nutrition Education, the Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program, Montana’s Indian Health Service, Tribal Diabetes Programs, and the Montana Diabetes Project. This partnership highlights the role that schools and communities can play in diabetes prevention while spearheading positive changes to promote healthy eating and physical activity. Four statewide training sessions built support for diabetes awareness prevention, and showcased extraordinary programs currently in place within Montana Native schools and communities.
     

  • New York State Department of Health. A Nutrition Policy and Health Promotion Unit for their Eat Well Play Hard initiative that involves the Food Stamp Program, WIC, Child Nutrition, the Commodity Supplemental Food Program, and the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. This initiative establishes consistent nutrition and physical activity recommendations through multiple programs linked at the community level. It also develops a common understanding among parents, health professionals and the public about the problem of childhood obesity and appropriate prevention and treatment strategies.
     

  • Santa Fe Partners in Education for Cooking with Kids. This program improves child nutrition by engaging public school students in hands-on learning with fresh, affordable foods from diverse cultures. It links classroom learning with school lunches, and has four primary components: tasting classes, cooking classes, cafeteria meals prepared using recipes inspired by cooking classes and a farm-to-school program to use locally grown produce in school meals.

The Excellence in Practice Award recognizes excellence in planning, developing, and implementing nutrition initiatives focusing on Food and Nutrition Service target populations. The finalists are:

  • The California Department of Health Services, Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section of their Children’s 5-A-Day Power Play! Campaign. This campaign promotes healthy eating, physical activity and food security. It focuses on influencing attitudes, changes in individual behavior, social norms, the environment, and policy by actively involving children in activities at schools, community youth organizations, farmers’ markets, supermarkets, and restaurant/foodservice establishments; it also reaches children through local promotions and media.
     

  • The Puerto Rico Department of Family – Administration for Socioeconomic Development of the Family for their PANECO / Home Action and Nutrition Program. PANECO is a nutrition education program for participants of Puerto Rico’s Nutrition Assistance Program (PAN). This program educates Nutrition Assistance Program participants about healthy eating, active lifestyles, and proper benefit use through a variety of communication channels. A cartoon character named Paneco is joined by several friends who appear at community events, singing the PANECO jingle and inviting participants to jump, dance, move and eat healthy.
     

  • The University of Wyoming for the Cent$ible Nutrition Program. This program helps Food Stamp Program participants and applicants eat better for less by adopting healthy eating and active lifestyles consistent with the new dietary guidelines. Lessons focus on nutrition education, household resource management, and food safety. This program uses a variety of communication channels and teaching tools to change behaviors in multiple demographics.

The conference program and additional information on USDA’s nutrition assistance programs are available at www.fns.usda.gov/fns .

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