From left, Silver Schools Superintendent Lon Streib and Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Grant County Coordinator show signed memorandum of understanding. (Courtesy Photo)

Grant County, NM (May 3, 2016)'Lon Streib, Superintendent of Schools for the Silver Consolidated School District and Alicia Edwards, Healthy Kids Healthy Communities Coordinator for Grant County (HKHC) have signed an MOU formalizing the partnership between the two organizations. GǣI really appreciate Mr. Streib's offer to formalize this partnership. It demonstrates a willingness and commitment to work together to improve the health and well-being of our kids.Gǥ HKHC works directly with teachers, principals and school administrators to implement programs like the 5210 Challenge, walking clubs, Walk and Roll to School, school gardens, integrating locally grown produce into school meals, and much more. Additionally, HKHC works with local planners and volunteers on trails and open space, Safe Routes to Schools, ensuring emergency and supplemental food distributions provide the healthiest food possible, nutrition education and cooking classes, farmers markets and many other opportunities to increase access to healthy, nutritious food.

The purpose of HKHC, funded by SNAP-Ed and the NM Dept of Health, is to build state and local partnerships that expand opportunities for and exposure to healthy eating and physical activity for children and their families where they live, learn, play, eat, work and shop. HKHC coalitions and over 400 state and local partners create sustainable community change thru a collective impact framework. The Cooperative Extension Service is the lead for implementing direct nutrition education to low-income children and adults and HKHC is the lead in implementing policy, systems and environmental strategies at the local level.