For Immediate Release:
September 18, 2003

Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, Mo. 65109

Contact:
Rosalind M. Wilkins, MS, RD, LD
Nutrition Policy and Education Unit
Section for Nutritional Health and Services
573-751-6183


USDA Taps Missouri to Receive Nutrition Education Grant

Missouri's efforts to block its growing childhood obesity rate took another step forward recently when the state was named as one of 21 to share in a new $4 million federal grant aimed at improving the eating habits of the nation's youth.

Faced with the distinction of rating ninth in the nation in terms of obesity, Missouri is focusing its efforts on nutrition education as one of
the tools in combating this growing crisis which threatens both the physical and economic health of the state's citizens. The new grant will help
facilitate this effort.

"The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services is excited to receive the award for the Team Nutrition training grant," said Rosalind M. Wilkins of the Nutrition Policy and Education Unit. "In collaboration with the schools and child care programs, we will be able to improve children's lifelong eating habits by providing training and technical assistance to food service professionals, promoting nutrition education in the
classroom, and building school and community support for creating healthy school environments."

The Team Nutrition funds, which were awarded to the selected states through a competitive grant process, come from the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Services and are aimed at "reducing rates of childhood obesity and creating healthier school environments," according to Agriculture Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Eric M. Bost. "The Team Nutrition grants * are resources that schools and state agencies can use to achieve the goal of improving children's nutrition habits."

With the new funding, the state's health department is expected to reach approximately 1,500 food service professionals, and 680 childcare program and school administrators with training workshops. Examples of these workshops include two newly developed training sessions dealing with topics such as culturally sensitive menu planning and financially viable vending for healthy food choices.

Additionally, the funds will help the state-sponsored School Nutrition Education Program to expand to include evaluation of available curriculum
to meet the nutrition education needs of pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Simultaneously, the federally sponsored Changing the Scene nutrition program, which is a policy approach to an improved nutrition environment, will include more schools and childcare centers. Plus, an existing electronic communication network will be expanded statewide to deliver timely Team Nutrition updates to schools and childcare centers.

For more information on school nutrition programs, go to http://www.dhss.state.mo.us/MissouriNutrition/school-changing_scene.htm.