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Hispanic Health Council: An Honorable Mention Winner of the Let’s Move Video Challenge

Hartford, Ct - July 11, 2012 - First Lady Michelle Obama announced today the winners of the Let’s Move! Communities on the Move video challenge, related to Let’s Move Faith and Communities initiative, intended to inspire faith-based and secular neighborhood organizations to make their communities or congregations places of wellness. Hispanic Health Council’s video, “Puppets & Peers… on the Move to Prevent Childhood Obesity”, highlights three of its signature programs that together promote the three themes of the video challenge: promoting healthy food choices, promoting physical activity and promoting access to high-quality food.

One of the featured programs is PANA, Hispanic Health Council SNAP-ED program’s pre-school component, which presents six culturally relevant puppet shows containing science-based messages about healthy eating and physical activity to tens of thousands of children annually in seven of Connecticut’s poorest cities.

Also featured is Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride, a nationally recognized evidence-based peer counseling program operated in partnership with Hartford Hospital, and replicated at Yale New Haven Hospital WIC Program. Breastfeeding: Heritage and Pride improves breastfeeding initiation and duration rates among low-income mothers and babies through prenatal and post-partum education and support provided in homes, hospitals, WIC offices and other settings.

The third featured program is SNAP Outreach, which helps eligible community members learn about the benefits of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps), and helps them to apply for the program. HHC typically helps 1,500 individuals from cities across the state to apply for SNAP benefits, with a success rate of 85-90% successfully enrolling in the program. Hispanic Health Council’s educational fotonovelas on SNAP have been distributed to Department of Social Services’ offices across the country.

The “Communities on the Move Video Challenge” Honorable Mention prize includes an invitation to the White House to meet the First Lady Michelle Obama and having our video featured on the Let’s Move website.

“We are delighted,” says Jose Ortiz, Hispanic Health Council’s Chief Executive Officer, “to have our programs acknowledged by this important national obesity prevention initiative.”

“Congratulations to the Hispanic Health Council for its prestigious recognition by First Lady Michelle Obama and the ‘Let’s Move!’ campaign. This award rightly recognizes the council’s tireless work to improve health in Connecticut’s Latino community, and entertain, inspire and educate young people about making good personal choices. Community based programs like Hartford’s Hispanic Health Council supercharge critical federal health initiatives, raising awareness and benefiting tens of thousands of young people across the state each year", said Senator Blumenthal.

The “Communities on the Move Video Challenge” Honorable Mention prize includes an invitation to the White House to meet the First Lady Michelle Obama and having our video featured on the Let’s Move website.