Tuesday, April 05, 2005
One Perspective on the BudgetA local resident, Poul Hertel, did some interesting work on the City Budget and how it has changed over the past few years. http://homepage.mac.com/witte/AlexC/phb.html 10:34:12 AM 
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Health and Community Planning --- Are They Related?Subject: VA Meetings on Obesity - The Link to CommunityDesign The Virginia Department of Health is holding meetings around the state to assess the problem of obesity in In addition to diet and exercise, the design of our communities and the inability to walk for any daily needs are important contributors to our obesity problem. Spread-out development, wide roads, and the location of our schools, libraries and stores, force people to drive for every trip. Communities designed for walking create the opportunity for exercise in the course of daily activities and don't require a separate trip to the gym. Please attend at least part of the meetings if you can and also send in your comments. Support smarter growth, walkable, town center communities and safe routes to school for walking and bicycling. Support schools that can be reached on foot or by bicycle. Support changes in state funding to spend more money on sidewalks, bike lanes and trails. All meetings are from 9 am to 4 pm the first day and 9 am to 12 noon the second day. Sign up at: http://www.vahealth.org/wic/champion.htm. Send comments to: Jeremy.Akers@vdh.virginia.gov MEETING DATES BELOW, FOLLOWED BY REPORTS ON COMMUNITY DESIGN, SPRAWL, AND OBESITY, and FULL ADDRESSES FOR MEETING LOCATIONS
April 20 and 21, 2005 RSVP by: April 16, 2005 Northern Virginia -- RSVP by: April 30, 2005
Healthcare Industry - Here are key reports on the issue: Active Living by Design is a national program of The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is a part of the UNC School of Public Health in http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/ Measuring the Health Effects of Sprawl http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/healthreport.html Safe Routes to School Support adoption and funding of Safe Routes to School programs to encourage parents and children to walk and bicycle to school. Learn about Aging Americans: Stranded Without Options 4/14/2004 http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=232 Mean Streets 2004 (pedestrian safety)
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Pre-School DataThe Rand Institute has released a report on the comprehensive economic benefits of universal preschool. From their study in California, Lynn A. Karoly and James H. Bigelow answer what the direct and indirect costs and benefits to the public sector and society as a whole of implementing a high-quality universal preschool program. As of 2001, 43 percent of U.S.3-year-olds and 66 percent of 4-year-olds were enrolled in some form of preschool program. However, the current enrollment rates are subject to large variations across groups of children, depending on race/ethnicity, family income, parental education, and other factors. For example, enrollment rates are lowest for Hispanic children, and lower for families with incomes below poverty compared with families at the top of the income scale. Key findings from the study of costs and benefits include: (1) Each dollar invested in a one-year high-quality universal preschool program generates $2.62 return; (2) With a 70% participation rate, universal preschool generates $2.7 billion to California society; (3) Benefits to disadvantaged children provide up to $4 in return for every dollar invested; and (4) Broader societal benefits of decrease in crime, improved child health, labor force participation, and workforce performance. To view the full report, please visit: 8:59:18 AM
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Last update: 5/18/2005; 10:16:19 AM .
