Calendar of Events

Community Leadership Institute for Childhood Obesity Prevention

Children in Balance is hosting a three day leadership training institute for professionals and advocates who wish to further childhood obesity prevention efforts in their communities with a focus on elementary-aged children. Participants will leave the training prepared and empowered to create healthier community environments for children, encouraging better nutrition and more opportunities for physical activity.

Learning objectives include:

• Understanding of community based prevention work
• Understanding of childhood obesity science: etiology, risk and protective factors for maintaining a healthy weight
• Knowledge to transform fellow community members into change agents through the use of data and coalition and relationship building skills
• Knowledge of tools for developing community capacity through curricula, events and funding sources
  

Topics to be covered include:

• Working with school food service to improve school food
• Building community coalitions
• Strategic use of communication campaigns
• Implementation of nutrition and physical activity curricula
• Local policy advocacy
  

To participate, a community must agree to send a team of at least three individuals. Each participant should represent one of the following groups for a total of three different positions represented per community team:

• Food service director (highly recommended)
• Municipal government representative
• School personnel- curriculum coordinator, principal, superintendent, teacher, etc.
• Public health department representative
• Community organization representative
• Other community advocate

Priority will be given to those communities with proof of some seed funding for a childhood obesity prevention coordinator and initial programming.

The 14th Annual MIAP Conference

Save the Date! Conference Topics Will Include: 

• National and Local Immunization Updates,
• Hot Topics in Flu Disease Surveillance,
• Vaccine Safety,
• Electronic Vaccine Ordering and More!

Registration forms will be available starting August 1, 2009 on the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) website at www.mass.gov/dph/imm

(Click “Advisories, Alerts and Events” and look under Events)

Steppin' Out for the Dimock Center

The Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel

Save the Date!

The Dimock Center is honored to announce the Honorary Chairs for Steppin' Out 2009:

• Governor Deval L. Patrick and
• First Lady Diane B. Patrick

Proceeds from Steppin' Out benefit the programs and services of The Dimock Center.