Key Partners

University Partners

Health Promotion Research Center

CPHN faculty collaborate on special interest projects through the Health Promotion Research Center. Donna Johnson is a HPRC investigator.

• Translating Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools
  In 2007-2008, CDC has funded HPRC/CPHN faculty and staff in collaboration with Public Health- Seattle & King County to develop a manual of best practices for developing school wellness policies that reflect the standards recently developed by the Institute of Medicine.

Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs

Donna Johnson is a co-investigator on a project examining the association between participation in different types of non-parental child care settings and children's overweight/obesity outcomes during the adiposity rebound. The project is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Erin Maher in the Evans School is the principal investigator.

School of Dentistry

The UW School of Dentistry conducts oral health research projects with the Lewis County Community Health Partnership. CPHN has joined in this work to address oral health, nutrition, and physical activity issues in Lewis County.

Excellence in Leadership for Public Health Nutrition

In association with the University of California-Los Angeles, University of Southern California, and Oregon Health & Science University, the Center offers graduate-level training and continuing education for maternal and child nutrition.

Northwest Center for Research on Eating Behaviors (NWCREB)

The mission of the Northwest Center for Research on Eating Behaviors (NWCREB) is to generate information on feeding, food preference, food choices and motivation for feeding, and potential metabolic consequences of these behaviors. Adam Drewnowski is a member of the NWCREB advisory panel.

Government Partners

Washington State Department of Health

Nutrition and Physical Activity Section: CPHN works closely with the Nutrition and Physical Activity Program in the Office of Community Wellness & Prevention to assist with the evaluation of the Washington State Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan.  The Center provides technical assistance to the Healthy Communities Projects and publishes Partners in Action, a quarterly on-line newsletter on Plan activities in Washington State.

Washington State WIC: CPHN partnered with the Washington State WIC (Women, Infants and Children) Program to implement and evaluate Healthy Habits, a statewide health promotion initiative to encourage family meals and increase physical activity.

Maternal and Child Health Section: CPHN worked with the Maternal and Child Health Section to develop childcare health modules on nutrition and physical activity environments.

Washington State Department of Social and Health Services

Aging and Disability Services Administration: The Center provided technical assistance for the evaluation of Take Charge of Your Health, a nutrition education curriculum.  The curriculum is being used in congregate meal sites to promote nutrition and physical activity for healthy aging.

Public Health-Seattle & King County

Overweight Prevention Initiative: As part of the Overweight Prevention Initiative, CPHN assists in the development of strategic planning forums around obesity.  The Overweight Prevention Initiative is a large group of stakeholders working together to make improvements in environment and policies so that residents of King County will eat healthy food and be physically active.

King County STEPS to Health: The Center is a member of the STEPS Coalition Leadership Team.

King County WIC: The Center involves students in ongoing research and field experience opportunities related to hunger,  food insecurity, and physical activity with the King County WIC Program.

Child Care Health Program: CPHN facilitates student projects with the King County Child Care Health Program that build environments that encourage healthy eating, physical activity, and breastfeeding support in child care centers.

Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit: Through joint grant writing, the Center is partners with the Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit to promote high quality research opportunities.

Community Partners

Seattle Public Schools

The Center works closely with Seattle Public Schools to evaluate nutrition and physical activity policies and programs. Projects include:

Studying the impact of Seattle Public School's Non-Commercialism Policy: Donna Johnson (PI) conducted this pilot study at Cleveland Beach and Rainier Beach high schools with funding from the National Institute of Health. The study measured changes in the students' attitudes, intentions, and behaviors related to nutrition and physical activity.
| Project Description |

Healthy Eating by Design project at T.T. Minor Elementary School: Center staff and students collaborate with the project team to evaluate the impact of this project on the school’s nutrition environment.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum Evaluation: Center staff and students will assist in the evaluation of a nutrition and physical activity curriculum that is to be implemented in selected South Seattle schools in 2007-08.

Children’s Initiatives with Multiple Partners

Healthy Schools...Successful Students Web Site: The Healthy Schools...Successful Students web site is a collaborative project of the Children’s Alliance; Washington State’s Department of Health, School Directors Association, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Board of Health; and CPHN. The site provides information and resources for policy makers, school officials and staff, students, parents and community members so that they may implement coordinated policies, programs and services that ensure healthy schools and healthy, successful students in Washington.

Active Bodies Active Minds Web Site: The purpose of this project is to ensure that policies and environments for children ages 2-5 encourage minimum screen time and maximum physical activity. The Active Bodies Acive Minds website provides early childhood health and education professionals with access to:

• Background information about the importance of limiting screen time and encouraging physical activity for young children
• Resources for limiting screen time and encouraging physical activity in child care
• Resources for limiting screen time and encouraging physical activity in homes

Partners include the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development, Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program, Regional Head Start, Washington State WIC, Healthy Child Care Washington, and CPHN.

Lewis County Community Health Partnership (LCCHP)

Needs Assessment using GIS Mapping: Under a grant from the Northwest/Alaska Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities, the Center is conducting a needs assessment of Lewis County using GIS mapping and other techniques. Our long term goal is to develop interventions that will reduce the disparities associated with oral health and overweight.  Please see Lewis County Community Health Project Updates for additional information on this project.

Evaluation of Five for Life Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum: With a grant from the Washington Health Foundation, the LCCHP invited the CPHN to provide assistance in the evaluation of a nutrition and physical activity curriculum, Five for Life. The curriculum was implemented in 2006 in three rural school districts: Adna, Morton and White Pass. 

Evaluation of the Lewis County Healthy Children Project: This three year project is funded by the US Department of Education as part of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program.  CPHN will evaluate the implementation of a comprehensive K-12 fitness curriculum in four school districts in Lewis County in 2007-2010.

Seattle-King County Acting Food Policy Council (AFPC)

The Seattle-King County Acting Food Policy Council (AFPC) aims to ensure that all residents have access to nutritious, fresh food that is produced and distributed in a just manner; and that farming, food processing and distribution flourish as part of the local economy and contribute to a healthy environment. CPHN supports the mission of the AFPC and is partnering with other member organizations.

Feet First

Feet First, a Puget Sound pedestrian advocacy group, promotes walking and the creation of walkable communities. CPHN is participating in a collaborating with Feet First and other groups to promote messages that will encourage individuals across Washington to eat healthy and be active. Feet First receives funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Living by Design project.

Action for Healthy Kids - Washington

The goal of the Washington State Action for Healthy Kids Team is to reduce the number of overweight and obese children by increasing the number of Washington State schools that adopt model nutrition and physical activity policies. The team is part of a nation-wide initiative to improve the health and educational performance of children through better nutrition and physical activity in schools.

Washington State Food and Nutrition Council

The Washington State Food and Nutrition Council advocates for food, agriculture, and nutrition programs, services, and education. The Council enhances its members’ and the general public’s ability to discern nutrition issues and related public policy issues which impact the lives of Washington state residents.