HOST HEPA Roundup, August 31, 2016

The latest in our regular roundups of healthy eating and physical activity news from HOST members and others.

News

• Afterschool Alliance shares the story of how the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) Standards created by HOST have provided the Santa Clara YMCA with "a sense of commitment to a shared effective practice, and a common language to talk about it with our colleagues locally and across the nation."
• FRAC interviews Marydale DeBor, founder and managing director of Fresh Advantage, which assists hospitals and other health care institutions to transform their food service and community benefit programs. DeBor discusses how "Hospitals Can Treat Child Food Insecurity With Summer Meals Programs."
• Soccer and tag can have a healthy impact on student's social-emotional learning (SEL) as well as their physical health. Playworks' CEO Jill Vialet explains, "Too often, schools sideline play or cut back on recess time, even as they strive to introduce social emotional learning curricula into the classroom. This is a mistake: students desperately need opportunities to practice SEL through play and through activities they care about—the activities most likely to help them learn."
• The American Heart Association has issued new recommendations designed to keep kids healthy, saying that children should consume less than six teaspoons of added sugars per day and limit their intake of sugar-sweetened drinks to no more than eight ounces weekly.

Tips

• Alliance for a Healthier Generation offers a reading list for those new to healthy out-of-school time.
• Salud America! shares 4 Easy Steps to Open Schoolyards after Class, noting that "Many schoolyards are locked up after classes end. That means many kids, especially in Latino neighborhoods, miss out on a great chance for the physical, emotional, and social benefits of physical activity and play."

Events

• The Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) is holding a conference call on September 1 at 1 p.m. ET on Healthcare Partnerships: Healthcare providers can play an important role in connecting children to healthy meals when the school year ends through the Summer Nutrition Programs. Hear from advocates and sponsors on innovative ways to serve meals at clinics and hospitals, as well as approaches to provide health services at summer meal sites. Register now to take part.
• FRAC has also partnered with the American Federation of Teachers to develop a comprehensive breakfast guide based on feedback from AFT members across the country. Join them for a webinar September 8, at 3 p.m. ET to hear about the findings and strategies on implementing breakfast in the classroom, "grab and go," and second chance breakfast. Register here.