Resolution: No. 01-05

Endorsing the Recommendations of the Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity Task Force Report

WHEREAS, unhealthful nutrition and physical inactivity among children and youth have become a national epidemic and a health crisis with profound medical implications; and

WHEREAS, in December 2003, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors established the Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity (CNPA) Task Force to develop recommendations for San Francisco to address the serious issue of childhood nutrition and physical activity; and

WHEREAS, the CNPA Task Force is comprised of representatives from the Department of Public Health, the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, the San Francisco Unified School District, Department of Recreation and Parks, medical community, size advocates, the San Francisco Youth Commission, youth organizations and others; and

WHEREAS, the CNPA Task Force met monthly over the past year to review best practices, meet with other nutrition and physical activity experts, and compile a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve the nutrition and physical activity opportunities for children, youth and their families; and

WHEREAS, CNPA Task Force developed the following recommendations:

• Recommendation 1: Ensure that at least one reasonably large outlet/vendor that sells healthy, nutritious foods - including fresh vegetables and fruits - is easily accessible to residents in all sectors of San Francisco.
• Recommendation 2: Increase the enrollment and retention of eligible clients into the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and Food Stamp programs.
• Recommendation 3: Increase the proportion of mothers who exclusively breastfeed their babies through 4 to 6 months of age and continue breastfeeding with supplementary food through one year.
• Recommendation 4: Expand information and resources for understanding healthful nutrition and physical activity to health care providers, community groups who work with children, youth, and families, and parents/guardians.
• Recommendation 5: Ensure that organizations have environments that provide optimal opportunities for youth to engage in physical activity.
• Recommendation 6: Develop partnerships across public and private agencies to increase physical activity opportunities.
• Recommendation 7: The San Francisco Board of Supervisors and the Mayor will issue recommendations of ideal levels of physical activity for children and youth to City/County Departments.
• Recommendation 8: Implement city-wide awareness campaign(s) addressing nutrition and physical activity developed by youth for San Francisco; and

WHEREAS, the CNPA Task Force also recommends creating revenue streams to fund the Childhood Nutrition and Physical Activity recommendations, for example fees or taxes on soft drinks and/or fast foods, establishing a public/private partnership to leverage the philanthropy community and advocating for a streamlined application process in all Federal Nutrition Programs; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Health Commission commends the CNPA Task Force for its commitment to improving access and utilization of nutrition and physical activity opportunities for children and youth in San Francisco; and be it

FURTHER RESOLVED that the Health Commission endorses the recommendations of the CNPA Task Force.

I hereby certify that the San Francisco Health Commission at its meeting of January 18, 2005 adopted the foregoing resolution.

Michele M. Olson, Executive Secretary to the Health Commission