"I have advised various committees and advisory boards that I work with that Family Connection must be at the table if they are interested in making any difference in the community."
- Adriane Saunders-Smalls

Editor's Note: Family Connection is partnering with the Georgia Department of Community Health on several health initiatives across the state. Adriane Saunders-Smalls serves as program manager for Health Check and Children At Risk Targeted Case Management. She also serves on the Department of Community Health Advisory Committee, the Georgia chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the Obesity Action Network.

Resource Kit Offers Approaches to Deal with Children's Overweight Issues
by Adriane Saunders-Smalls
asmalls@dch.state.ga.us
Georgia Department of Community Health
Division of Medical Assistance
Maternal and Child Health

The University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cooperative Extension Office, recently has released a new "how-to" guide offering technical assistance to community leaders who want to launch a local task force dedicated to reducing childhood overweight problems.

The Children and Weight: What Schools and Communities Can Do Resource Kit includes:

• The most recent information on the issue.
• Best practices approaches for prevention.
• Guidelines for mapping community resources.
• Guidelines for setting the local task force's course of action, facilitating meetings, and maintaining momentum.
• A list of resources.
• A video that shows ways local communities have mobilized to improved kids' access to nutritious foods and fun ways to stay fit.

The resource kit is $100; however downloadable free publications are also available via the Web. Categories include:

Agriculture
Commercial Landscaping
Home and Family
Gardens and Lawns
Natural Resources
Pest & Disease Management
Pest Control Training and DPR Test Materials
Raising Livestock, Pets & Poultry at Home
4H Youth Development Materials
Nutrition and Eating Right
Canning and Preserving

Visit http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/ to order via the Web or call (800) 994-8849 to order by phone. Fax orders also are accepted at (510) 643-5470.