Alexandria Cooperative Extension

The Alexandria Cooperative Extension offers 4-H Programs at the Recreation Centers in conjunction with after-school programs. Youth ages 5-19 are provided programs on nutrition and healthy lifestyles. The Smart Choices Nutrition Education Program is a nutrition education program that is offered to low-income adults. The Smart Choices Nutrition Education Program position for youth is currently vacant.

In 2006, the City of Alexandria hired a Pedestrian / Bicycle Program Coordinator to improve Alexandria’s walking and bicycling infrastructure. Some of the efforts include Spin City 2009 and Safe Routes to School program.

The Spin City 2009 effort encourages more bicycle use for transportation and recreation and to receive accreditation as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. At the June 27, 2006 City Council meeting, Mayor Bill Euille signed an Action Plan for Bicycle Friendly Communities. A Bicycle Friendly Community provides:

• a safe, comfortable, and connected physical environment for bicycling
• education programs to promote a "Share the Road" ethic
• promotional initiatives to persuade people to ride or ride more often
• enforcement of traffic laws for both motorists and bicyclists
• future plans and evaluation techniques to improve conditions further

Safe Routes to School programs strive to increase the number of children walking and biking to school. The program integrates health, fitness, traffic relief, environmental awareness and safety under one program. A new federal transportation bill includes a $612 millionappropriation for a national Safe Routes to School program, of which Virginia has approximately $13.5 million to support local programs. In Alexandria, a Walk to School Day event on Oct. 4, 2006 helped emphasize the partners’ commitment to providing Safe Routes to School and underscores the City’s intent to submit a grant. Three Alexandria elementary schools, James K. Polk, Charles Barrett and George Mason, and George Washington Middle School participated in International Walk to School Day. Now in its 10th year, Walk to School Day takes place on the first Wednesday of each October. More than three million children from all 50 states and 37 countries participated. For more information, go to: www.alexride.org/.

Alexandria City Public Schools

Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) have various activities in place to increase physical activity, improving nutrition and preventing smoking. Many of the elementary schools have walking clubs for both the students and the staff. ACPS works with Partnership for Healthier Kids at Inova Health System on physical activity, nutrition and asthma programs and activities. Many of the schools have character education programs. The Middle Schools provide bicycle education and store bicycles for student use. This year, ACPS increased student time spent in physical education and recess. The ACPS food service operation (Food and Nutrition Services) is very proactive and was recently designated a District of Excellence in Child Nutrition. Food and Nutrition Services does not contract with outside vendors. The Food and Nutrition Services Director serves on the ACPS School Health Advisory Board. This fall, ACPS and Partnership for Healthier Kids will be conducting a study at the Middle Schools to determine whether marketing and placement of foods make a difference in middle school students’ decisions. A mandated Wellness Policy, addressing physical activity, nutrition and wellness in the school system, was implemented on June 1, 2006. One of the major changes is that food can no longer be used as a reward or incentive in the classroom.

Alexandria Health Department

The Alexandria Health Department (AHD) implemented the Proud To Be Smoke Free program to encourage restaurants in the City of Alexandria to voluntarily adopt a 100% smoke-free policy for both indoor and outdoor seating. Approximately 117 restaurants have voluntarily chosen to join the program. A listing of participating restaurants is available on the AHD website: http://ci.alexandria.va.us/city/health/. There is no longer funding to staff this program, so the Partnership for a Healthier Alexandria will work to continue this program.

Alexandria Office on Women

City of Alexandria Office on Women planned activities for National Breast Cancer Awareness month in October 2006. On October 3, 2006, various restaurants, retail stores, spas, and many other businesses throughout Alexandria contributed a portion of their proceeds throughout the day to the Walk to Fight Breast Cancer Dine Out and Shop. On October 21, 2006, the 13th Annual Walk to Fight Breast Cancer was held, where participants could choose from a 1.5K/3.5K/5K walk or run at Cameron Run Regional Park. All funds raised from these events support Alexandria’s Breast Cancer Fund to provide mammograms and other diagnostic procedures for Alexandria women in need. To date, these events have raised over $1 million and have served 4,000 women, providing mammograms and other diagnostic procedures. For more information, go to: www.alexwomen.com.

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