Keiki Caucus & Childhood Obesity Task Force 2004
Meeting Notes: December 16, 2004
The Keiki Caucus Meeting was convened by Sen. Chun-Oakland at 10:00 a.m. in Room 325 at the Capitol. Members from previous meetings were present as well as some new interested members.
We heard a presentation on the Coordinated School Health Program by David Randall. He made the presentation because he did not think we were aware of the initiatives DOE has under way to solve problems in which we have an interest. I think he is correct. The Coordinated School Health Program is a joint effort of DOE and DOH and is sponsored by the CDC. There are eight areas of interest including nutrition, physical fitness and health. We have heard about the physical education program from Donna Ede and the nutrition plan from the head of food services in the DOE. The health component concerns re-establishing the role of the school health nurse. The CDC sponsors this program nationally. David showed us some very impressive results from the evaluation done in Minnesota. He said that for the program to be successful the students need to be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. This point relates to the five and under programs. Later in the meeting the KC decided to make a resolution in support of this program.
Next we heard a presentation by Diane Iwaoka on the Parent-Community Networking Centers (PCNC). Their work involves communication between teachers and parents, parenting, student learning, volunteering, school decision making, and collaboration with the community. They work with the PTSA's, Ohana Counsels and other parent organizations. They are forming the School Community Counsels (SCC) which will be working with the schools. The SCC is a place where we, as pediatricians, can have input on health issues in our local schools.
Following these presentations specific bills were discussed, among them the bill for Early Childhood Education in which we are interested. Liz Chun gave an overview for GBA. We inserted into the bill expenditure of funds for special health care needs, zero to five and a request that a representative of the HAAP be on the board of the project. Bob Midkiff, member of the GBA Board and president of the Atherton Foundation, gave written testimony for the need to create an endowed foundation to enable GBA to carry out the program. This endowment will be at a minimum of $300,000,000 million. He sees the money coming from a merging of various income streams, federal, state, Children's Trust Fund, tobacco money and business.
The Keiki Caucus package continues to be developed and will be ready in January. So far the bills of interest to us are early childhood education, graduated drivers licensing, booster seats and bills relating to obesity yet to be developed.
The next Keiki Caucus meeting will be in January, date to be announced.
The Childhood Obesity Task Force was convened by Dennis Arakaki following the KC meeting. KCMC had grouped the proposals developed thus far. The members voted on which groups were our priorities. The areas chosen were formation of a physical activity and nutrition coalition along the lines of the Arkansas program, issues related to physical activity and physical education and issues related to school nutrition. The Legislature Research Bureau was given the job of drafting bills and resolutions in these different areas. These will be discussed at the next meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 12:30 p.m., location to be announced.
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