Healthiest Next Generation Initiative

Every child deserves to grow up healthy. Recognizing that Washington's future depends on the health of our children, Governor Jay Inslee launched an initiative to join with families across the state in making our next generation the healthiest ever. The goal is to help our children maintain a healthy weight, enjoy active lives and eat well. Read the policy brief here. 

The Governor's Healthiest Next Generation initiative is an innovative public-private partnership that focuses on policies to create healthier early learning, K-12 and community environments.

Governor's Council for the Healthiest Next Generation

See list of members

• 2017 recommendations
• 2016 recommendations
• 2015 recommendations
• 2014 recommendations

Contact

Rashi Gupta, Health Policy Advisor, Governor's Office
(360) 902-0643
Rashi.Gupta@gov.wa.gov

Key Successes

• Healthy Kids – Healthy Schools Grants: The Legislature approved $5 million dollars in the 2015-2017 capital budget for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to administer a new grant program that will help schools remove barriers to student health. In 2016, OSPI granted 466 school requests in 93 school districts. 
• Launch of Breastfeeding Friendly Washington, which includes partnerships with hospitals, birth centers and community health clinics.
• Revision of Health and Physical Education K-12 Learning Standards to help children be more active in school and establish the skills necessary for safe and healthy living.
• Launch of the Complete Eats program in Safeway stores, farmers markets and health systems across the state. The program offers extra savings to shoppers who use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to as SNAP and formerly known as Food Stamps, who buy qualifying vegetables and fruits.
• Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost Effectiveness Study (CHOICES) Project: The state Department of Health worked with the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health on a yearlong Learning Community State Partnership with the CHOICES Project. The outcome of the project was the hypothetical modeling of three tailored, state-specific healthy weight interventions and corresponding cost-effectiveness estimates.
• Regulation of e-cigarettes and vapor products passed in 2016.

Current Work

• Developing new licensing requirements for child care centers through the state Department of Early Learning that will include new standards for breastfeeding, nutrition, physical activity and screen time. 
• Creating health-related trainings for all child care programs, as mandated by the federal Child Care and Development Block Grant. 
• By June 2019, developing guidance for schools setting social and emotional learning goals. 

Healthiest Next Generation on Twitter

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#healthiestnextgen Tweets

Resources