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July 2011

Florida Impact and Partnership to End Child Hunger recognized on the congressional record by Congressman Steve Southerland

During the July 21st Nutrition & Horticulture Subcommittee hearing, Rep. Steve Southerland (R-2) recognizes the work of the Florida Partnership and Florida Impact. Audrey Rowe– Administrator of the USDA Food and Nutrition Service–also details the important role that statewide anti-hunger partnerships play in the fight against hunger. See the video »

Partnership gets statewide media coverage of family food hardship report

The Partnership worked with food bank partners across the state to get news coverage of the August 2011 Food Hardship Report, which showed one in four Florida families with children lacking the money to provide enough food for themselves. See media report »

Healthy Options Pilot Results

The Healthy Options Pilot project results provide valuable information for future planning of Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Farmer's Market programs. Florida Impact was involved in this exciting pilot project along with the Florida Department of Health (DOH) that authorized the Jackson Green Market to accept the new WIC Fresh Fruit and Vegetable (FVV) vouchers (the only one in the state). As part of the pilot project, a marketing/education/communication plan was implemented to reach the target population of WIC and SNAP clients as well as increase the amount of seasonal locally grown fruits and vegetables available at the market.

The results of this study highlight how mothers' ethnicity, health status, and health beliefs may strongly influence the success of programs aimed at improving access to healthy foods for underserved populations. See the results »

June 2011

Marketing for Summer Nutrition Programs Expands

The Florida Partnership has expanded its summer nutrition marketing from last year's two pilots in Orange and Palm Beach counties to the remaining six urban targets of its Ten Point Plan: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, Osceola, Broward, and Miami-Dade.

New Walmart Foundation Grant for Miami-Dade County

The Walmart Foundation awarded $225,000 to Florida Impact for replicating and expanding its summer nutrition marketing strategies to Miami-Dade County in 2011. Some impressive partners from that community include the Miami Heat and Switchboard of Miami. Working with SalterMitchell, Florida Impact is piloting some new social networking strategies designed to interest older kids and teens in the summer nutrition programs:

Traditional News Media: Story placements on television, radio and print media outlets
Digital Media: QR codes placed on materials so users can scan the information directly into their smart phones, E-mail blasts sent to families from community partners, web banners placed on partner websites link users to www.summerfoodflorida.org to find a food program site.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, YouTube pages promoting the summer food locations.
Mobile Communications: iPhone app in partnership with Switchboard Miami 211 hotline: The app includes Google maps showing users where to find a site from their cell phones using geo-tracking technology.
Outdoor advertising: Bus shelter ads featuring the web, mobile and social media links that people can access from their cell phones while waiting for the bus.
Printed Materials: Business cards, flyers, and posters in health department and WIC offices with info to find a site.
Special Events: Working with Miami Heat as well as Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation to host "Celebrity Servers" events where well-known athletes and community leaders go to the Summer BreakSpot sites to serve the kids their meals and take pictures as a way to promoting the program.
Public Service Announcements: Television spot airing all summer long featuring Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat, Comcast cable adding Summer BreakSpot information on the end of local business commercials.

The Orlando Magic and Publix Supermarkets Pair Up for a Third Consecutive Year

The Orlando Magic expanded its investment of assets in the Orlando area's summer nutrition programs by producing THREE more public service announcements for television, radio, and robo-calls to students. Collaborating with new partner, the Florida Hospital, and Publix, these English and Spanish PSAs will run throughout the summer.

New Branding and Designs for Old Strategies

The summer nutrition project's business cards have a new branding: The Summer BreakSpot. SalterMitchell developed the design with an eye towards generating more interest from older kids and teens. The logo can be produced in the colors of sponsors in different regions, like these from the Orlando Magic and the Miami Heat:

More Pro Sports Clubs Produce Summer Nutrition Public Service Announcements

Together with the business card distribution by community agencies and bus shelter ads, the PSAs for television bring attention to where families can find information about the nearest summer nutrition sites. Florida Impact has provided small grants to the 2-1-1 agencies of the eight target counties to staff summer nutrition help-line calls. Now families can call their local 2-1-1 or use the searchable database at www.summerfoodflorida.org.

Governor Signs Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act

On June 23rd, Governor Scott signed the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act (S.B. 1312). This act transfers the administration of the school food and nutrition programs from Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Upon the signing of this important legislation, Commissioner Adam Putnam, Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services said, "I applaud Governor Scott for embracing our collective effort to improve nutrition in school cafeterias across the State of Florida. Together, we're going to direct more of Florida's fresh fruits and vegetables to Florida students. We're going to help Florida's children build healthier eating habits."

May 2011

Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act approved by the 2011 Florida Legislature

Many leaders with the Florida Partnership to End Childhood Hunger from around the state successfully advocated for the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives bill. Sponsored by Senator Gary Siplin (D-Orlando) and Representative Seth McKeel (R-Lakeland) and supported by Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act would transfer the administrative responsibilities for the federal school meal and summer nutrition programs to the agency better positioned to manage them, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (DACS). Additionally, the bill offers:

Improved Coordination of School Meal and Summer Nutrition Programs—This bill will streamline enrollment and delivery processes of school meal and summer nutrition programs. Consolidation of these programs into the DACS will provide opportunities for improved coordination between farmers and the state's child nutrition programs.
Expanded Access to Fresh Fruits and Vegetables—The legislation also promises to expand access to locally grown produce for Florida's school children by leveraging DACS relationships and farm distribution networks. This is particularly important for some children from low-income families for whom school meals are their only opportunity to enjoy a consistent diet of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Looking for more? Earlier updates can be found in our Programs & Activities Archives »