Featured Tools, Resources & Data

General Resources

Tools for Assessment & Evaluation
Demonstrating the effectiveness of your nutrition or physical activity initiatives requires assessment and evaluation.

Healthy Communities/Healthy Eating and Active Living Initiatives

Community Strategies to Prevent Obesity: National Reports and Toolkits
Recommendations and toolkits from the Centers for Disease Control, Institute of Medicine and other national experts to support local level action to prevent childhood and adult obesity.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy and Legislation Databases
Searchable databases of state and local level bills and policy initiatives that aim to improve access to healthful foods, increase opportunities for physical activity, and create healthy community environments.

Featured Resources by Objective

Nutrition Objective I
Increase Access to Health Promoting Foods

Access to Healthy Foods in Washington

Farm to School: Key Findings of the 2011 WSDA Survey
Farm to School initiatives can increase the use of Washington grown foods in Washington's schools. Graduate students of the University of Washington’s Nutritional Sciences program compiled and composed this report as their final project for Nutrition 531 – Public Health Nutrition.

Opportunties for Improving Access to Healthy Foods in Washington
This report was presented at the Food Systems Strategy Summit in 2010. Prepared by the University of Washington Center for Pubic Health Nutrition, the project involved interviews with 65 food system stakeholders.

Show Me the Money: A Guide to Selling Healthy Foods at School
Tools and resources to help school districts develop healthy and profitable fundraising strategies. Includes materials to coordinate a revenue replacement workshop, product selection and marketing strategies, healthy products guide, and success stories from schools in Washington. (Washington State Action for Healthy Kids Team, 2007)

How Washington School Wellness Policies Measure Up: PLAN Research Briefs
The Policy Legislation and Nutrition (PLAN) research project examined the effects of legislation that required school districts to develop nutrition and physical activity policies. The collection of study briefs highlight key results and policy implications.

Child Care & Obesity Prevention Issue Briefs
Three issue briefs for early childhood professionals, policymakers, public health officials and others. Summarize current research and offer practical strategies and policy recommendations.

WellSAT: Wellness School Assessment Tool
Online evaluation tool to assess the quality of school district wellness policies. Users receive personalized guidance and resources for making improvements. (Rudd Center, 2010)

Nutrition Objective 2
Reduce Food Insecurity in Washington

Food Deserts into Oases
A new Community Action Guide provides links to background and history on what constitutes a food desert and how they impact the nutrition and health of residents. The guide outlines three steps for transforming food deserts into food oases.

Parenthelp.123
Interactive web site that helps families find out if they may be eligible for state benefit programs and fill out program applications on-line. Provides a single access point to free and low-cost health insurance, food assistance and other resources all in one place. (WithinReach)

Nutrition Objective 3
Increase the Proportion of Mothers Who Breastfeed Their Infants and Toddlers

Increasing Breastfeeding Success: Why it Matters and What the Research Shows
A two CD set with ten lactation presentations created by the Physician Lactation Education Collaborative to educate physicians and their staff in the in-patient or out-patient setting. Free to Washington residents and groups. (Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington, 2008)

The Business Case for Breastfeeding: Toolkit
Free materials developed by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau at HRSA to support breastfeeding friendly work environments. The kit includes booklets for business and human resource managers, an employee’s guide to breastfeeding and working, and reproducible outreach materials.

International Breastfeeding Symbol
Copyright free image provides an alternative to the baby bottle symbol that is often used to designate nursing rooms in public places.

Working & Breastfeeding: It's Worth it!
Free packet designed to help mothers who return to work. Contains suggestions for finding supportive daycare, tips for transitioning back to work, support services, and information for employers about why and how to support their breastfeeding employees. (Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington)

Physical Activity Objective 1
Increase the Number of People Who have Access to Free or Low Cost Recreational Opportunities for Physical Activity

Shared Use Tookit
The Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition published a new resource: "Shared Use for Washington State: A toolkit to guide community partners in forming successful agreements." The kit includes step-by-step guides, examples from interviews and other resources.

Joint Use Agreements for Schools and Communities: Toolkit and Sample Washington Policies
Joint Use Toolkit developed by Public Health Policy and Law and examples of joint use agreements from Washington State communities addressing liability issues and other management issues associated with sharing recreational facilities.

Physical Activity Objective 2
Increase the Number of Physical Activity Opportunities Available to Children

ACES Toolkit
Developed by the Washington State Department of Health, the Active Community Environments (ACES) Toolkit offers a variety of tools for local program coordinators to advocate for safe and walkable communities and change policy and environments.

Making Schools the Model for Healthier Environments Toolkit
Provides information and helpful links to help schools model healthier environments, and offers tools and resources to ensure that school environments become the standard for healthy eating and active living.

Reducing Youth TV & Screen Time
Collection of toolkits, trainings, and information on reducing screen time for early childhood professionals, families with young children, and out-of-school care providers. Including "Powerful Choices: Health Living in a Media World" a curriculum for 3rd to 6th graders.

WellSAT: Wellness School Assessment Tool
Online evaluation tool to assess the quality of school district wellness policies. Users receive personalized guidance and resources for making improvements. (Rudd Center, 2010)

Research Review: School-based Health Interventions and Academic Achievement
A report of research analyzing the link between health risks and academic risks, using 2006 Healthy Youth Survey data.

Healthy Schools...Successful Students
Web Site provides information and resources to support policy makers, school staff, parents and advocates as they work to ensure that students are healthy and ready to learn.

Child Care & Obesity Prevention Issue Briefs
Five issue briefs for early childhood professionals, policymakers, public health officials and others. Summarize current research and offer practical strategies and policy recommendations.

Active Bodies Active Minds
Web site, toolkit and training materials to minimize screen time and maximize physical activity in environments for preschool children.

Physical Activity Objective 3
Increase the Number of Active Community Environments in Washington

ACES Toolkit
Developed by the Washington State Department of Health, the Active Community Environments (ACES) Toolkit offers a variety of tools for local program coordinators to advocate for safe and walkable communities and change policy and environments.

Walk Friendly Communities Resources
The WFC program will recognize communities that are working to improve a wide range of conditions related to walking, including safety, mobility, access, and comfort.

Comprehensive Plan Policies to Support Physically Active Communities
Example policies that communities can use to plan for and support physical activity. From comprehensive plans, development regulations, and other plans adopted by local governments in Washington. (Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, 2007)

Active Living Research: Research Summaries and Briefs
Brief summaries of research about environmental factors and policies that can increase physical activity and prevent childhood obesity. Based on current studies in the fields of health, planning, transportation, and recreation. Example: "Active Transportation: Making the Link from Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity"