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2018 Progress Report

A Look Back at Five Years of Progress of Voices for Healthy Kids

Introduction

In 2013, the American Heart Association and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation launched Voices for Healthy Kids, an innovative advocacy initiative with the monumental goal of reversing childhood obesity through policy change in disproportionately affected areas. Over time, the initiative evolved and, today, it focuses on promoting health equity, building a culture of health and making each day healthier for all children. 

Ensuring health equity means making healthier options more accessible and affordable for all families. By championing public policies eliminating junk food marketing in schools, increasing access to healthier foods, and improving walking paths and other places for safe physical activity and more, Voices for Healthy Kids is elevating the health and wellness of children nationwide. The results speak for themselves — from campaign funding and technical assistance to policy wins and community impact. 

We influenced policies that have increased access to healthier foods and beverages for people in 25 communities and the state of Louisiana. We supported funding for grocery store creation and expansion, and the purchase of healthy foods in low-income areas in Austin, Texas; Seattle, Washington, and throughout California and Michigan. We worked to ensure that only healthy beverages like water and milk —not sugary drinks —are the default options in kids’ meals at restaurants in Lafayette, Colorado; Baltimore, Maryland, and all of California. We also backed regulations that improved standards of early care for children in Colorado, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont and Washington. 

Thanks to our advocacy, New York City schools have higher quality physical education with better reporting and curriculum, while in Minnesota, Nevada and Massachusetts, streets and paths are safer for walking, biking and rolling. 

We look forward to the future. Together, we will continue to empower our allies and advocates to ensure that every child is healthy, happy and on the path to a bright future. 

Sincerely, 

Nancy Brown, Chief Executive Officer - American Heart Association Nancy Brown Chief Executive Officer American Heart Association


By the Numbers 2013-2018

Funding

  • 167 Campaigns Funded

  • $25,631,020 grants given

Increasing Impact

  • 144 Policy successes

  • 167,508,818 people affected by Voices for Healthy Kids policy wins

  • 50% increased chance of passing a state policy with Voices for Healthy Kids support* *Bleich, Sara N, et al. The Voices for Healthy Kids Campaign and US State Legislation to Prevent Childhood Obesity. American Journal of Public Health: March 2016, Vol. 106, No. 3: 436-439

BUILDING A MOVEMENT

  • 26 organizations leading policy priorities in a Strategic Advisory Committee

  • 140+ organizations collaborating in the initiative

  • 84,000 Voices for Healthy Kids Action Center online grassroots advocates

TRAINING AND RESOURCES

  • 26 advocacy toolkits created

  • 140+ national message research projects

  • 15,750 advocacy toolkits disseminated to field

  • 2,500 requests for skills building, planning, and consultation (technical assistance)

A Selection of Highlights from 5 Years of Progress

Success Stories

Alabama

Equity through Early Care and Education Standards: Voices for Alabama’s Children

Infants, Toddlers and Early Childhood

Success Stories

Arizona

Doubling Dollars and Extending the Reach of Healthy Food Initiatives in PA, AZ, MA, LA, MS

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

California

Improving Quality Water in Schools in Los Angeles, CA

Healthy, Equitable Schools
California

Making Kids' Meals Healthier in Perris, CA

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
California

Healthy Drinks in Kids' Meals in Santa Clara County, CA

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
California

Boosting Good Nutrition in California's Schools

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
California

Ramping Up for Safer Streets for Walking and Biking in LA County

Active, Equitable Communities

Success Stories

District of Columbia

DC Greens: Overcoming Food Insecurity in the Nation's Capital

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Kentucky

New Roots: A Community Movement

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Maryland

Forward Progress for Healthier Kids’ Meal Options

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Massachusetts

Farmers Market SNAP Incentive Program Exceeds $1.2 Million in Massachusetts

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
Massachusetts

The HIP Program: Making Healthy Eating Affordable

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Michigan

Double Up Helps Low-Income Families Shop at Farmers Markets

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
Michigan

Increasing Access to Healthier Food in Michigan

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Minnesota

Making it Safer for Kids to Walk and Bike to School in MN

Active, Equitable Communities
Minnesota

Securing increased dollars for a transportation safety fund in Minnesota

Active, Equitable Communities

Success Stories

New Mexico

Creating Healthy Eating Opportunities for Albuquerque Residents

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

New York

Equity Through Access to Healthy Food in New York

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
New York

Completing the Circle on Manhattan's Greenway

Active, Equitable Communities

Success Stories

North Carolina

Empowering Youth Advocates in North Carolina

Infants, Toddlers and Early Childhood
North Carolina

Making Strides for Physical Education in North Carolina

Healthy, Equitable Schools

Success Stories

Pennsylvania

Reducing Sugary Drinks in Philadelphia

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Rhode Island

Using Data to Improve Physical Education in Rhode Island

Healthy, Equitable Schools

Success Stories

Texas

Increasing Access to Healthy Foods in Austin, TX

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks
Texas

Erasing Food Inequities in New Mexico and Texas

Healthy, Accessible Food and Drinks

Success Stories

Utah

Providing Real Dollars for Recreation Opportunities in Salt Lake County

Active, Equitable Communities

Success Stories

Vermont

Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child: RiseVT

Healthy, Equitable Schools

Success Stories

Washington

IAF Northwest: Improving Physical Education through Health Equity

Healthy, Equitable Schools
Washington

Taking Physical Education Seriously: Mandatory Reporting in Washington State

Healthy, Equitable Schools

Success Stories

Wisconsin

Making Streets Safer Across the Nation: Milwaukee, Oklahoma City, New Orleans

Active, Equitable Communities

success stories Forward Progress for Healthier Kids’ Meal Options

State/Region
Maryland
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In April, Baltimore became the 10th city to pass legislation that creates healthier beverage options for kids’ meal offerings after strong advocacy and leadership from the Sugar Free Kids Maryland, a grantee of Voices for Healthy Kids.

The “Baltimore City Healthy Kids’ Meal Bill” ensures restaurants make the default beverage to water, 100 percent juice or milk for all children’s meals.In recent decades, studies have found that consumption of soda and other sugary drinks can put children at risk of developing chronic diseases.

The more sugary drinks children consume, the more likely it is that they will develop heart disease or type 2 diabetes. On average, children today consume roughly 25 percent of their calories from eating out, and about 42 percent of children between the ages of two and nine eat fast food on any given day. [1] That’s why restaurants are an important setting to encourage menu choices that are healthy for our kids. 

Time for Change: What This Bill Means to Baltimore

In Baltimore City, one out of every four children consumes at least one sugary drink a day.[2] But the American Heart Association recommends that children have no more than one eight-ounce sugary drink a week. The “Healthy Kids’ Meal Bill” aims to reduce the health risks associated with consumption of sugary drinks, risks that have become a major concern of the greater Baltimore community.

In her testimony before the City Council in support of the bill, local Baltimore mother and grandmother Tracy Newsome stated, “I have seen the ravages of chronic disease on my neighborhood. Kids are now being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This can be avoided if we help children choose healthy beverages.”

Pastor Kevin A. Slayton Sr. of the New Waverly United Methodist Church in Baltimore also witnesses the severity of this issue within his own congregation. “Many members have fought weight issues their entire lives. These problems stem from habits developed as children,” he wrote in an op-ed. “Now we are learning lessons from these congregants that will help our younger members avoid poor health and live longer, healthier lives.”Despite the law changing business practices, the legislation received support from several restaurants early on, even before it was introduced.

“We just never thought to put it out there as an option. If they want it, they can ask to have it,” said Lori Gjerde of the restaurant Wicked Sisters.

As people turn to restaurants to feed their families more often, it’s imperative that owners realize and embrace the responsibility they have to provide our children with healthy options.The law in Baltimore, along with the other nine cities that have passed similar legislation, reflects a growing understanding – among restaurant owners, community members and policymakers alike – of the importance in feeding children nutritious meals. 

To paraphrase the words of Baltimore mother Robi Rawl – every family should have the privilege of healthy options when they go out to eat and advocates across the nation agree.   

Building Momentum: Emphasizing Healthy Defaults

The enactment of the law in Baltimore marks the 10th success in an important movement that is sweeping the nation. Baltimore is the first city on the East Coast to pass this type of legislation.

Recently, California became the first state to pass the law. Leading up to statewide passage, Santa Clara County, Davis, Stockton, Perris, Berkeley, Cathedral City, Long Beach, and Daly City pioneered it. Additionally, Lafayette, Colorado has adopted the legislation.

Similar statewide bills were filed in California, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Hawaii this year. The City of Louisville, Kentucky is also working to pass a bill that would provide nutritious kids’ meal default options.

When the “‘Healthy-by-Default’ Kids’ Beverage Ordinance” passed in Stockton back in 2016, Vice Mayor Christina Fugazi explained the predicament that this type of legislation solves: “Instead of getting an unwanted soda without asking for one, parents will be given the opportunity to start the meal off right with a healthy beverage.”

Vice Mayor of Long Beach Rex Richardson reinforced Fugazi’s sentiment when his city’s ordinance passed in October 2017: “The goal is to help kids see these healthy options as the norm, not the exception.”

In addition to the exciting progress that is being made in local communities, six large national restaurant chains have decided to remove sugary drinks from their kids’ menu displays making restaurant meals for children healthier across the country

Help Inspire Your Own Community

To learn more about this issue and how you can help mobilize a similar effort in your community, visit our Kids’ Meals toolkit – it includes resources to help you talk to restaurant owners, community leaders, and decision-makers in your town to make sure we take the right steps to serve kids better.™ 

[1] Vikraman S, Fryar CD, Ogden CL. Caloric intake from fast food among children and adolescents in the United States, 2011-2012. NCHS Data Brief 2015; (213):1-8.
[2] Bleich SN, Vercammen KA, Koma JW, Li Z. Trends in beverage consumption among children and adults, 2003-2014. Obesity. 2018; 26(2):432-441, doi: 10.1002/oby.22056

What’s Next?

Reflecting on our progress over the past five years, we are optimistic about what the future holds. Building on previous successes, 2018 marked yet another year of big wins and inspiring progress. We’ve taken a large step in the right direction to provide opportunities for all children to eat healthier, increase their physical activity and improve their all-around health. 

But we still have work to do. With the support of our network, allies, strategic advisory committee and many more, we strive to continue the success and momentum of the past five years as we improve the health of generations to come. 

We’re grateful for and motivated by every single one of the hundreds of thousands of advocates who have joined our cause and commitment to building a culture of health. Each signature, email, and voice mattered and helped make a difference in children’s lives.

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