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Policy and Legislation

CLOCC has played a role in the drafting and passage of several policy initiatives, both at the state and local levels. 

State Policy Initiatives

Consensus Agenda
In the 2004-2005 legislative session, CLOCC led the development of the Illinois Childhood Obesity Prevention Consensus Agenda.

Statewide Body Mass Index (BMI) Surveillance
In 2004, the CLOCC Data Surveillance Working Group led the drafting of an amendment to the School Code of Illinois (Senate Bill 2940). This led to the passage of a public act that will create a pediatric health surveillance system for Illinois.

Chicago City Ordinances

Banning of Restrictive Covenants
In 2005, Chicago became one of the first U.S. cities to ban the use of restrictive covenants by grocers and drug store owners. These covenants prevented new grocery and drug store businesses from using property that other grocers and drug stores vacated. CLOCC supported this effort.

Other Policy and Legislation Information

Other government agencies are involved in policies and legislation that focus on childhood obesity prevention.

Wellness Policies
In 2004, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act was reauthorized and required school districts to develop wellness policies. The links below summarize the information that is available on these policies:

Leadership Action Strategies (by Active Living Research)
This booklet lists more than 25 strategies and tactics local and state governments can use to support active living.

 

Protocol for Requests for CLOCC’s Support of Policies

Although CLOCC will not be pursuing a formal policy agenda for the 2008 State of Illinois legislative session, we understand that our network may be asked to lend support to specific pieces of legislation related to childhood obesity prevention.   Given our collaborative approach, we are implementing the following review process in 2008 for requests for CLOCC’s support of proposed policies.

To submit a request for CLOCC’s support of a policy, please send, at a minimum, an abstract of the policy, and answers to the following questions:

  • How does this policy relate to CLOCC’s 5-4-3-2-1 Go! message and facilitating the behaviors recommended in the message?
  • How does this policy lend itself to discussion of the social ecological model related to childhood obesity prevention?
  • Is this policy evidence-based? If so, please describe the evidence that such a policy will have intended results.
  • Can this policy be directly linked to the health and well-being of children?
  • Please describe the role that stakeholders (i.e. parents, youth, etc.) have played or will play in creating the policy.
  • What is the plan for supporting implementation of the policy once it has been enacted?

Please send all policy support requests to Christine Bozlak, Advocacy Program Manager, at cbozlak@childrensmemorial.org.  All policy support requests will be sent to CLOCC’s Executive Committee for review.  Thus, please be aware that an immediate response to your request will not be possible, however, all efforts will be made to respond in a timely manner.  Questions regarding policy and advocacy matters, including this process, may be directed to Christine via e-mail or by calling 312-573-7741.

 

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