State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN)
Pennsylvania is one of 16 states awarded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's State Physical Activity and Nutrition (SPAN) grant. SPAN is a five-year grant that supports state investments to improve nutrition and support safe and accessible physical activity. Through 2023, the department will increase:
- breastfeeding support in birthing facilities and communities;
- the availability of healthy foods in hospitals and community settings;
- the implementation of nutrition and physical activity standards in early care and education systems; and
- the number of places that implement community planning and transportation interventions to support safe and accessible physical activity
Breastfeeding
Through the work of the SPAN grant, the department is implementing breastfeeding interventions that address maternity care practices in birthing facilities and continuity of care.
Maternity Care Practices
The department, in partnership with the Pennsylvania Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP), started the
Keystone 10 Initiative in 2015. The comprehensive program engages Pennsylvania birthing facilities to implement 10 steps that will support birthing families. Under the SPAN program, birthing facilities:
- receive technical assistance when implementing the 10 steps;
- have access to 15 hours of breastfeeding curriculum, in-person and online;
- participate in regional collaborative meetings; and
- join a webinar on a relevant breastfeeding topic.
There are currently 84 hospitals and birth centers throughout Pennsylvania participating in Keystone 10.
Continuity of Care
To strengthen continuity of care and community breastfeeding support, the department has partnered with the Pennsylvania Chaper of the American Academy of Pediatrics (PA AAP) to implement the Educating Physicians in their Communities, Breastfeeding Education, Support and Training (EPIC BEST). EPIC BEST:
- provides the latest evidence-based research and information on breastfeeding and how to best support breastfeeding mothers;
- is presented by a local physician and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant to sites in pediatric, family medicine, obstetric-gynecological and community settings; and
- is available both on-site and online.
More than 3,700 healthcare professionals have been trained with EPIC BEST.
Health care professionals who are interested in learning more about supporting breastfeeding should refer to
The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Support Breastfeeding and
The CDC Guide to Strategies to Support Breastfeeding Mothers and Babies.
For more information on breastfeeding, please contact
ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Food Service Guidelines
The department is strengthening food service guidelines in worksite and community settings through the SPAN grant. Adopting food service guidelines will increase the availability of healthy foods to employees and community members.
Food Service Guidelines in Community Settings
The department is partnering with the Erie County Department of Health to support the implementation of food service guidelines in Erie County. Utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Smart Food Choices: How to Implement Food Service Guidelines in Public Facilities, Erie County is working to:
- convene a food service guideline workgroup within their Food Policy Council;
- educate stakeholders on food service guidelines policy options; and
- adopt food service guidelines in community settings.
For more information on Food Service Guidelines in Community Settings, please contact
ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Food Service Guidelines in the Commonwealth
The department has developed a diverse stakeholder's workgroup of state agencies to implement food service guidelines in the commonwealth. The workgroup will utilize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Smart Food Choices: How to Implement Food Service Guidelines in Public Facilities to:
- establish goals, assess the current food service environment and develop a work plan;
- identify policy options; and
- adopt food service guidelines in the commonwealth.
For more information on Food Service Guidelines in the commonwealth, please contact
ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Good Food, Healthy Hospitals
The department has partnered with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and The Common Market to implement the
Good Food, Healthy Hospitals program. The program began in Philadelphia in 2015. Currently, 20 hospitals in Philadelphia participate in the program. Four health systems in other areas of Pennsylvania are expected to be recruited in the coming year.
Participating hospitals and health systems:
- receive technical assistance on nutritional analysis, menu planning and implementing food service guidelines;
- adopt food service guidelines to create healthier food environments;
- pledge to increase the availability of healthy foods in cafeterias, vending, catering, patient meals and purchased foods; and
- convene as a task force twice a year to collaborate and share with other participating hospitals.
Facilities interested in learning more about food service guidelines should refer to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services'
Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's
Smart Food Choices: How to Implement Food Service Guidelines in Public Facilities.
For more information on Good Food, Healthy Hospitals, please contact
ra-dhspan@pa.gov.