CENTER FOR CHILD HEALTH RESEARCH AND POLICY

OUR MISSION AND VISION

CCHRP strives to improve the health of all children through collaboration, policy, research, and education. The Center believes that organizations across sectors should work together to create an infrastructure that aims to provide all children with a healthy food environment, safe opportunities for an active lifestyle, and access to preventative health services.

WHAT WE DO

Collaborate with Doctors for Change, Rice University’s Kinder Institute Urban Health Program, public school disctrics, hospitals, and clinics on how to feed hungry and food insecure children
Create and advocate for policies that protect recess and outdoor play time for children in schools
· Advocate for policies to increase access to healthy foods, both during the school day and in a child’s daily environment

FOOD IN SCHOOLS INITIATIVE

Through our statewide Food In Schools Initiative – CHILDREN AT RISK successfully advocated during the 83rd State Legislative session for Universal School Breakfast. Access to school breakfast dramatically improves the availability of healthy food for children, while increasing their attentiveness and classroom performance. Since passage of this bill we have implemented an extensive outreach effort to educate school districts across the state on best practice strategies to implement universal school breakfast programs and to increase participation of children in this vitally important program. We also educate and do outreach work on the At-Risk Afterschool Meals and summer meal programs for school children. Our goal is to ensure all Texas students have access to these beneficial meals and the daily nutrition they provide.

HEALTHY FOOD ACCESS

CCHRP has embarked on local and state-wide initiatives to address the critical need for improved healthy food access. Statewide, CCHRP, alongside our partners, will champion new legislation to develop a Healthy Food Financing Fund for Texas to support the development, expansion and renovation of grocery retail options that offer a full selection of healthy foods.

Houston

CCHRP successfully advocated for a Healthy Food Financing Initiative that supports the development of new supermarkets in underserved areas by providing grants, loans and tax credits. The first Pyburn’s Farm Fresh Foods, built from the ground up and developed under this program, was opened in Spring 2015.

Dallas

CCHRP, in collaboration with community partners, is advancing a Healthy Food Retail Initiative to partner with existing corner, convenience store, and small market owners to introduce and promote a healthier, more nutritious range of products. Click here to learn more about the program and to learn how you can get involved!

Establish a workgroup to provide school districts with best practices on recess. Require school districts to develop a locally determined school recess policy.
Develop a Healthy Food Financing Fund for Texas to support the development, expansion and renovation of grocery retail options that offer a full selection of healthy foods.
CCHRP supports policies that support school food service departments, such as the “The Student Fairness in Feeding Act”