Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Annual Report Fiscal Year 2012–2013
6
Healthy Active Communities
care setting to help instill a lifetime of
healthy behaviors. How do we measure
success? Initially, we are looking at
changes that sound simple: increasing
fresh produce consumption, decreasing
or eliminating juice and increasing active
play. We’re encouraged by the National
Institute of Health Care Management
(NIHCM) Foundation’s recognition of our
efforts—NIHCM designated Shape NC as
a “best practice” for obesity prevention.
But long term? The goal is to increase the
number of children starting kindergarten
at a healthy weight. We anticipate the
new early childhood norm to focus
on healthy food and active play as an
integral part of development.
Look beyond Shape NC, and the news is
just as encouraging. The three key projects
that form the core of Shape NC are also
having significant impact in their areas
of expertise. The UNC Center for Health
Promotion and Disease Prevention’s Go
NAP SACC project launched the website
that will house its child care nutrition
and physical activity assessment tool to
a national and international audience of
more than 1,200. The Natural Learning
Initiative’s Preventing Obesity by Design is
developing a statewide network of experts
to reinvent outdoor learning environments.
And Be Active Kids completed its work
with the Frank Porter Graham School of
Child Development at UNC-Chapel Hill
to conclude a major overhaul of the Be
Active Kids curriculum, focused entirely on
developmentally appropriate movement
and play for children birth through age 5.
Still more inspiring news—The CDC
recently reported a leveling off of obesity
rates in North Carolina’s young children,
which is significant after a 30-year
progressive increase. To keep those
rates moving in the right direction, the
Foundation recognizes the importance
of the strategic work needed to bring
about a normative shift in early childhood
in North Carolina. We’re encouraged by
the receptivity of the Shape NC partners
to embrace these changes, creating the
groundwork to produce strong health
outcomes for generations to come.
MAKING FARM TO SCHOOL REACH FARTHER
Since 1997, the North Carolina Farm to School Program has been
supplying school cafeterias across the state with fresh produce from
NC farms. And, as Marketing Specialist Heather Barnes will tell you, the
more people who know about it, the better. That’s where she comes in,
sharing the tremendous impact the program has had: 92 of the state’s
117 public school districts participated during the 2012–2013 school year,
up from 85 districts the previous year; and the districts received 880
tons of produce worth some $1.4 million. The schools represent more
than a million students. That’s good for our kids as well as our farmers.
The Foundation’s grant for the purchase of five tractor-trailers helped
the Farm to School Program connect more farmers with more schools,
and the resulting farm-fresh produce has helped North Carolina
students expand their palates.
“I have to say, squash and zucchini were kind of slow to catch on.
But now the nutrition directors are telling me every time they offer
this in their cafeteria, more kids are taking it.”
Heather Barnes
, Marketing Specialist
North Carolina Department of Agriculture & Consumer Service
FRUIT
AND
CONSUMPTION
AMONG ADULTS
VEGETABLE
43
rd
NC RANKS
FOR
5 DAYS
OF VIGOROUS
ENGAGED INLESSTHAN
NC CHILDREN
&
TEENS
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
P E R W E E K
45
%
OF
4
5
