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Release No. 0301.02
Alisa Harrison (202) 720-4623
John Rice (703) 305-2061
USDA ANNOUNCES $4.1 MILLION IN
NUTRITION EDUCATION GRANTS
WASHINGTON, July 22, 2002—Agriculture Secretary
Ann M. Veneman today announced grants totaling $4.1 million to 21 state agencies
for Team Nutrition training programs. Team Nutrition is an integrated,
behavior-based, comprehensive plan for promoting the nutritional health of the
nation’s children that involves schools, parents and the community in its
strategies.
“Good nutrition is vital to a child’s success
in life. Promoting healthy eating is a priority for the Department of
Agriculture and a key component of the President’s Healthier US Initiative and
the 5 A Day for Better Health Program,” Veneman said. “These Team Nutrition
grants support those programs by teaching children ways to sustain lifelong
healthy eating habits.”
The 21 states receiving the grants will use the
funds to deliver new and innovative behavior-focused nutrition education
strategies for children and their caregivers through the state agencies that
administer the National School Lunch Program and the Child and Adult Care Food
Programs. In addition, states can use the funds to provide training and
technical assistance for child nutrition professionals, including improved
techniques for preparing nutritious, appealing meals.
“I believe it is important to support action
and education at the national, state and local levels to successfully change
children’s eating behaviors,” said Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and
Consumer Services Eric M. Bost. “We can’t do it alone. We have to build
partnerships to get the message out that good nutrition and physical activity
are essential to children’s health and educational success.”
In June, USDA signed a memorandum of
understanding with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services to effectively coordinate, strengthen and promote the
education and health of our nation’s school-aged children and youth. Both
Secretary Veneman and HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson have made the cause of
balanced diets and physical activity top priorities in their respective
departments. The Team Nutrition Initiative is an important part of USDA’s
commitment in that regard.
Team Nutrition training grants, which will help
fund state and local projects from September 2002 through September 2004, were
awarded to the following states through a competitive grants process:
|
State |
Grant
Amount |
|
State |
Grant
Amount |
|
Alaska
Connecticut
Illinois
Kansas
Maine
Michigan
Montana
N. Carolina
Oregon
S. Carolina
Wisconsin |
$200,000
199,994
200,000
200,000
199,876
199,997
199,670
184,774
199,468
197,933
199,694 |
|
California
Idaho
Iowa
Louisiana
Maryland
Mississippi
Nevada
North Dakota
Rhode Island
Utah
|
$200,000
200,000
200,000
189,536
155,441
200,000
200,000
198,883
199,454
198,435
|
|
|
|
|
Total |
$4,123,155 |
The President’s Healthier US Initiative uses
the resources of the federal government to alert Americans to the vital health
benefits of simple and modest improvements in physical activity, nutrition and
behavior. The 5 A Day for Better Health Program is a public/private partnership
to encourage consumers to eat five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables a
day. More information on these programs can be found at http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/fitness/
and http://www.5aday.gov/
.
For additional information on Team Nutrition, go
to http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn
.
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