Advocacy

It truly does take the entire community to make a difference for our kids. Behavior change that sticks isn’t easy, but it’s not impossible. Following the 5-2-1-Almost None lifestyle is a positive step in the right direction.

Behavior change often takes root when backed by policies that encourage a healthier lifestyle. Whether that means changes in the foods or beverages offered at your child’s school, physical or safety improvements to our neighborhoods, or rallying for recess to be a required part of the school day – each action of advocacy helps strengthen our collective ability to make a healthier Montgomery County.

It’s easy to be a GetUp advocate! Talk to fellow parents. Talk to your child’s teacher. Find out what is being taught and help them discover the 5-2-1-Almost None message. Volunteer to help. Arm yourself with information on proposed public policy. Be a positive role model and a cheerleader for change. Your thoughts and actions can have a tremendous impact on the health of your child and of other children in our community. Check out the helpful hints in the Parent & Teachers Toolkit.

Get to know the policies and recommendations currently being proposed for overall Wellness or specifically for Schools. There are many efforts underway. Find out what is going on in your neighborhood and your local community. Be a part of the action.  Click here to view the Surgeon General's Obesity Vision 2010.

You can also understand more about the barrier known as 'food deserts.'  The USDA Food Environment Atlas offers a complete view of factors relating to this issue, including the availability of fresh produce, distance to groceries stores, amount of sweetened packaged goods consumed per capita, and many more interesting data. 

Check out our Partners page for a look at who is currently involved in GetUp Montgomery County and how you can participate in creating a healthy community.