Convergence of Childhood Obesity and Hunger: Taking Action
Presented by the School of Natural Sciences and Allied Health of Cabrini University and the College of Health Sciences of West Chester University.
Supported in part by the Leo and Peggy Pierce Family Foundation.
This one-day interactive symposium, held at West Chester University, will focus on issues and opportunities related to food access for children and families in schools and in their communities. Join us in our attempt to uncover how various sectors—businesses, health care, and government—intersect on these important issues.
This symposium—ideal for professionals and students in nursing, public health, health administration, social work, physical and occupational therapy, nutrition, and physician assistant programs—includes a keynote speaker panel, breakout sessions, networking opportunities, and a healthy breakfast and lunch.
Previous Symposium Information:
2019
Convergence of Childhood Obesity and Hunger: Taking Action
February 22, 2019 | 8:00am - 4:00pm
- CEU confirmed
- Social Work
- Community Health Educator Specialist (CHES)
- Registered Dietician (RD) NOTE: to obtain your certificate, please email mehallion@cabrini.edu
- 2019 Full Program
- Community Connection Partners
KEYNOTE PANEL SPEAKERS:
Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP - Director of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight
"Nutrition: Social Justice and Population Health" (Click here for presentation slides.)
This talk will discuss the importance of optimal nutrition for growth, development and longitudinal health. The impact of food insecurity, hunger and obesity on chronic non-communicable disease will be addressed in the context of health disparities and social justice as applied to individual and population health.
Atif Bostic - Executive Director, Uplift Solutions
"The American Crisis of Access to Fresh and Healthy Food" (Click here for presentation slides.)
The presentation will include a discussion on how inadequate access and affordability lead to alarming rates of food insecurity, hunger, can childhood obesity. This discussion will explore how America arrived at this crisis; and evaluate examples of existing strategies and philanthropy’s role in developing them. Finally, attendees will be provided a framework for the development of entrepreneurial solutions to address them.
Christine Melendez Ashley - Deputy Director, Bread for the World
"Investing in our Children’s Future: Why Policy and Advocacy Matter" (Click here for presentations slides.)
The long term consequences of hunger and poor nutrition are huge. Now is a critical time to be engaging in policy advocacy. Attendees will learn about the policy discussions happening in Washington and how their advocacy can make a difference.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER PANEL MODERATOR:
Maiken Scott - WHYY Host and Creative Director of The Pulse
Breakout Session Topics (For additional details click here)
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- An action-based, interprofessional approach to combating food insecurity and childhood obesity in our communities (Click here for presentation slides.)
- Childhood obesity and hunger: Taking action through research and scholarly opportunities
(Click here for presentation slides.) - First 1,000 days of life (Click here for presentation slides.)
- Childhood Obesity and Hunger: A School Nutrition Program Perspective
(Click here for presentation slides.) - Working at the Intersection of Food, Health, and Obesity Prevention: Population Health in Action at Main Line Health (Click here for presentation slides.)
For more information, please contact Maria Elena Hallion, PhD, at 610-902-8388; or, mehallion@cabrini.edu.
2017
Pictured left-to-right: Dr. Sandra Hassink, American Academy of Pediatrics; Garrett Broad, PhD, Fordham University; Maria Elena Hallion, PhD, Cabrini University; Eric Smith, Bread for the World; Kim Fremont Fortunato, Campbell’s; Sheena Rolle, Bread for the World
KEYNOTE PANEL SPEAKERS:
- Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP
Past President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Director of the AAP Institute on Healthy Childhood Weight, and Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics at the Center for Child Health and Policy at Case Western Reserve
Building the Foundations of Child Health: Addressing the Triple Threat of Obesity, Food Insecurity and Hunger - PDF - Eric Mitchell
Government Relations Director, Bread for the World
Putting Us On Track to End Hunger by 2030 - PDF - Kim Fremont Fortunato
Director of Community Affairs, Campbell Soup Company; President, Campbell Soup Foundation
Positive Social Change for Healthy Communities - PDF - Garrett Broad, PhD
Assistant Professor, Fordham University and author of More Than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change
More than Just Food: Food Justice and Community Change - PDF
Program Objectives:
- To share the current, documented national childhood hunger and obesity trends and clarify the linkages between the two problems
- To foster inter-professional collaboration between those committed to combating childhood hunger and obesity
- To assist attendees with identifying opportunities for community action including clarifying goals, strategy development and resource identification
- To assist students, from various fields of study, to identify potential research, service and career opportunities that integrate both childhood obesity and hunger
- Agenda for Child Health Forum - PDF
A unique part of the Convergence event is the way we connect our meals to our programs.
2015
Convergence of Childhood Obesity and Hunger: A Forum for Response, which was supported in part by The President Antoinette Iadarola Endowed Fund and The Leo and Peggy Pierce Family Foundation.
Participants learned about national trends, foster inter-professional collaboration, and identify potential curricular strategies, programming, and opportunities for research, service, and careers that integrate both childhood obesity and hunger.
Topics included food policy, childhood obesity, food security, and food waste.
- Flickr Photo Gallery: 2015 Child Health Forum
- Video Report about the Forum from Cabrini's LOQation news program
- Article about the forum from Delaware County News Network
National and regional speakers, included:
- Steven M. Finn
Managing Director and Co-founder of ResponsEcology
Food Waste: Global Crisis, Global Opportunity - PDF - Sandra Hassink, MD
President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Chair of the Advisory Committee for the AAP Institute for Healthy Childhood Weight, and Director of the Nemours Pediatric Obesity Initiative
Building the Foundations of Child Health:
Addressing the Triple Threat of Obesity, Food Insecurity and Hunger - PDF - Solomon Katz, PhD
Director of the W.M. Krogman Center for Childhood Growth and Development
Science of Health and Obesity - PDF - Eric Mitchell
Director of Government Relations, Bread for the World
Offering of Letters - PDF - Mary Pat Raimondi, RD
Vice President, Strategic Policy and Partnership, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
An Unwelcome Guest at the Table - PDF - Tamela Luce
Program Officer, North Penn Health Foundation
Food Funder Affinity Groups - PDF - Christina Miller
Senior Program Director, Health Promotion Council
Addressing Chlidhood Obesity and Food Insecurity - PDF - Denise Sheehan
Nutrition and Education Programs Manager, Chester County Food Bank
No One Should Go Hungry - PDF - Suzan Neiger Gould
Executive Director, Manna on Main Street
Transforming Child Food Security in the North Penn Region of Montgomery County - PDF