2008 Milestones

NHPS begins issuing policy briefs and announces its policy agenda for schools, child care and primary care, covered in both print and electronic media.

NHPS and the Department of Education’s Child and Adult Care Food Program announce that Delaware has set some of the country’s most progressive policy standards for nutrition in child care.

The social marketing campaign collects several Health Information Awards for print and electronic media.

The Nemours national health policy advocacy office opens in Washington D.C.

A Nemours-wide summit on childhood obesity prevention, identification, and treatment is held in Newark.

An integration committee with the duPont Hospital for Children is formed to better infuse child health promotion into the hospital setting and among associates.

NHPS collaborates with the Delaware Department of Parks and Recreation to promote active living, and helps kick off the “No Child Left Inside” campaign, aimed at increasing the use of trails, parks and playgrounds for active recreation in northern Delaware.

Earned media impressions double within a year.

Leadership teams from 28 child care centers participate in Nemours’ collaborative learning series over the course of the year.

NHPS co-sponsors a debate on children’s issues between the Democratic contenders for Governor of Delaware.

To promote the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ “Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future” initiative, Acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Admiral Dr. Steven Galson visits Delaware and recognizes Nemours and its partners in the Campaign to Make Delaware’s Kids the Healthiest in the Nation.

Over the summer, the sugary beverage demonstration developed by NHPS as part of 5-2-1-Almost None training is featured in segments on three Wilmington/Philadelphia television stations as well as in print and online publications.

NHPS is a major sponsor of the Delaware State Fair with added emphasis on activity and nutrition on “Healthy Kids Day.” More than 10,000 children and families “get the message” on that day.

The Sussex Child Health Promotion Coalition catalyzed by NHPS adds 36 new organizations in 2008 and counts 140 total members.

NHPS helps the Seaford School District and the City of Seaford obtain a $20,000 federal Safe Routes to School grant to support two elementary school projects.

The Delaware School Nutrition Association’s annual conference highlights the work of NHPS and 5-2-1-Almost None.

Teams from eight school districts attend the NHPS summer district collaborative meeting where they share stories on the success of their wellness policies and plan for further implementation.

NHPS partners with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware to sponsor the health center at Junior Achievement’s BizTown in Wilmington where fifth grade students take on the role of “health promotion specialist” and learn about 5-2-1-Almost None.

The multi-year primary care quality improvement initiative involving practices that collectively serve 33,400 children continues to work toward improving providers’ ability to prevent and manage childhood obesity.

NHPS is awarded a federal Food Stamp Nutrition Education SNAP grant totaling $389,000 to expand its nutrition and physical activity social marketing work to middle school students in Delaware.

NHPS staff train students from 12 high schools – with total enrollment of more than 13,500 – on 5-2-1-Almost None and connect them with wellness policy efforts in their school districts.

The 2008 Conference on Child Health Promotion held at the Hotel DuPont attracts 400 attendees, who indicate a high degree of satisfaction with the event. Vision Awards are given to the Vegetable Growers Association of Delaware and to the Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania for a school-based nutrition initiative.