October 2021

October Newsletter 

Plan a Walking School Bus this Fall! 

Healthi Kids continues to advocate for ways kids can walk or bike to school safely by partnering with the RCSD and leaders at school #9, #10, #17 and #22 to advance safe routes to school. As more students in our district are dealing with transportation issues and being forced to walk or bike to school - a walking school bus is a fun and safe option to consider.

A walking school bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. Schools and families are using resources from Safe Routes Partnership as a guide to start a walking school bus program.

The walking school bus program guide is easy to follow and outlines the process to begin planning a walking school bus. It includes tools, tips, and resources for a fast and easy start.  

Here are some reasons why schools and families should consider starting a walking school bus:

• The program increases physical activity
• Students are more awake and alert which can lead to better grades in school
• Planning provides an opportunity for families and the neighborhood to get involved in their children's school
• It's one solution to transportation challenges

Learn more about setting up a walking school bus at your school. Click here to view more benefits and to download the step-by-step guide to start planning a walking school bus.

BLOG: Health is Wealth at B+Healthy Fresh Food Market

B+Healthy Fresh Food Market continues to expand its presence of good health in the inner-city. Since 2018, the marketplace has provided healthy and flavorful food and beverage options to neighborhood residents.

Owner Kaptah AmenRa Xi Amaru continues to work to expand the markets in Rochester. In May 2021 he opened the doors to the second B+Healthy location. The address is 1508 Dewey Ave. This expansion makes it more accessible for people living in the city's Northwest quadrant to access healthier foods.

The food market has also enhanced its educational and cultural experiences it provides to customers. Community members meet at a private, off-site location every Sunday. Workshops and discussions are held to help community members with financial goal-setting and personal development.

"We believe our customers should grow with us," said Shaquele Glover, a Chef at the new location.

Glover talked about how the business is becoming a hub for healthy eating, healthy conversations, and healthy decision-making. "When community members visit our locations they get more than what they expect."

To read the full blog about B+Healthy Food Market's expansion visit www.HealthiKids.org/blog. 

Last month, Monroe County held an event to kick off Monroe County's Early Intervention Awareness Month (September). Healthi Kids was onsite sharing resources and giveaways to commemorate the month.

Early Intervention is a program for children from birth up to a toddlers third birthday. The program provides services and support for children who are at high risk or experiencing expected delays in development. A variety of services are also offered to students with confirmed developmental delays and disabilities. 

Healthi Kids has advocated alongside state and local partners to amplify the importance of Early Intervention since 2018. One example is the Kids Can't Wait Campaign. The program uses a collective impact approach to advocate for stronger systems and services for children with special needs. 

Healthi Kids has worked to increase Early Intervention reimbursements rates for providers. Expanding racial equity and diversity in the Early Intervention workplace has also been a focus. In addition to ensuring private insurers are contributing their fair share for reimbursement.

Healthi Kids is committed to this work. Healthi Kids will host a webinar highlighting the importance of infant and early childhood mental health (IECMH) services and supports for families later this fall. More information about the webinar will be made available soon.

Studies have shown that playing outside supports kids health and well-being. Kids that play every day are healthier and learn important life skills. Every kid has the right to access all the benefits of play in their neighborhood.  

The new Adventure Course at Grand Avenue Park will help with that notion. The play space designed by teens in the community will provide a new way for kids to take advantage of their local park.

The grand opening celebration was held on Saturday, September 25 at Grand Avenue Park. Activities included free food trucks, line dancing, and fall activities. Mobile vaccines were also available at the event. Health and wellness professionals were onsite to clarify questions and concerns. A total of 78 vaccinations were given to community members during the event. 

Healthi Kids is encouraging community partners to coordinate play time at the new adventure course before Winter 2022 and consider winter-related activities in the space. 

Healthi Kids PlayROCs Advocacy Committee continues to collaborate Rochester City School District. We've worked with hundreds of RCSD families and students over the last few months to dive-in to the power and impact of play within the school district. During our time together many ideas were discussed about ways to create a collective vision of playful learning for students.

The vision is now being shared with the community.

The work kicked-off this month with a keynote speech by Dr. Brian L. Wright during PlayROCs the RCSD Maximizing The Power of Play event. Dr. Wright, a national early childhood education specialist from the University of Memphis, is the author of "The Brilliance of Black Boys: Cultivating School Success in the Early Grade." Dr. Wright shared ways we can take our collective vision of playful learning and bring it to life in a way that centers Black and Brown students.

A total of 54 community members attended the online kick-off event led by Healthi Kids in partnership with RCSD family leaders, the Strong Museum of Play, Greater Rochester After School and Summer Alliance (GRASA), Aria Strategies, LLC., Generations Two, ROC the Future, The Rochester City School District and The Children's Institute. The event was sponsored by The Greater Rochester Health Foundation. 

More information about next steps will be made available in the next Healthi Kids newsletter. The kick-off event is available on demand and can be viewed below or by visiting the Healthi Kids website.

Related news stories

• Rochester pediatric clinic preps to vaccinate ages 5-11 - Rochester First, October 22
• PTA survey says parents concerned with kids unhealthy eating habits during pandemic - Rochester First, October 7
• US has enough COVID-19 vaccines for boosters, kids' shots - Rochester First, September 26, 2021
• Community members, government look for creative solutions to busing problem - September 23, 2021
• 'Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' tells fans to 'check out' book by 5-year-old Rochester girl - Democrat and Chronicle, September 21, 2021 
• Pandemic led to 'alarming' increase in obesity in kids, study finds - Rochester First, September 18, 2021
• It's a great time to become a Scout- Rochester First, September 14, 2021