Partnership for a Healthier America

The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is a nonprofit created in conjunction with - but separate from - First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to combat childhood obesity. PHA works with the public, private and nonprofit sector to broker commitments and develop strategies to address the epidemic. Obama serves as PHA's honorary chair, alongside honorary vice-chairmen former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and Senator Cory Booker.^[1]

The mission of PHA is “to end childhood obesity within a generation by serving as a nonpartisan convener across the private, non-profit and public sectors to accelerate existing efforts addressing childhood obesity and to facilitate commitments towards the first lady’s national initiative.” ^[2] Core activities of the organization include: (1) developing a strong membership of network leaders across sectors with commitment to scaling meaningful and measurable solutions; (2) convening members annually to affirm, align and announce commitments; (3) promoting broad understanding among all sectors about the role healthy food, physical activity and the environment play in reversing the childhood obesity epidemic; (4) facilitating and measuring the impact of members’ commitments against clear and transparent targets; and (5) connecting potential partners in the private and nonprofit sectors to each other and to the correct points of contact in government to ensure efficient leveraging of actions, sharing of knowledge and lessons learned both at the community, state and national levels.^[2]

Commitments and Partnerships

Current partnerships and commitment include: All-Clad, Birds Eye, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Bright Horizons, Brown's Super Stores, Calhoun Enterprises, The California Endowment's FreshWorks Fund, ChildObesity 180, Darden, The Fresh Grocer, The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, Hyatt Hotels, Kaiser Permanente, Klein Family Markets, The Links, Inc., National Governing Bodies (NGB) of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), Produce Marketing Association, US Olympians Association, USA Cycling and USA BMX, US Paralympics, U.S. Soccer Federation, USA Swimming, USA Track & Field, USA Tennis, USA Field Hockey, USA Volleyball, USA Gymnastics, US Olympic Committee, New Horizon Academy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, SuperValu, Walgreens, Wal-Mart, and The YMCA.

The above list demonstrates current contributors to the objectives of PHA. Two examples of PHA partnering with these organizations: First, in 2012, PHA brokered commitments with several National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), US Olympians Association, and US Paralympics to increase physical activity among the nation's youth. Second, PHA worked together with 11 national sports organizations (USA Swimming, USA Tennis, et al.) to provide beginner athletic programming to more than 1.7 million kids in 2012.^[3]

Building a Healthier Future Summit

The Building a Healthier Future summit brings “together private sector, government and non-profit leaders to end childhood obesity within a generation.” Its purpose is to help ensure a coordinated and succinct national agenda around fighting childhood obesity. "The aim is to foster dialogue, forge partnerships, and streamline childhood obesity initiatives among the private, non-profit and public sectors." During the summit there are breakout sessions over the two-day event, which includes tracks to discuss making childcare healthier for children; creating opportunities for people to buy healthier foods in supermarkets; increasing physical activity; and working with schools to create a healthier learning environment.^[4]

PHA held the inaugural Building a Healthier Future Summit in Washington, DC on November 29–30, 2011. The event featured speakers from both the private and public sector including a keynote address by Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama. At the event, PHA announced new commitments from Kaiser Permanente, Hyatt Hotels, the Fresh Grocer, YMCA, New Horizons and the Links.^[5][6] The next conference will be held in Washington, D.C., March 6–8, 2013.

See also

• Songs for a Healthier America (2013)

References

External links

• Official website