Contact: Emily Richardson, JD Public Health Communications Manager National Network of Public Health Institutes erichardson@nnphi.

org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Network of Public Health Institutes Announces Launch of Healthy Farms, Healthy People State Meetings Learning Community May 18, 2012, New Orleans, LA: The National Network of Public Health Institutes (NNPHI) has selected seven nonprofit organizations to receive $7,500 awards, coupled with individualized technical assistance from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy (IATP), to conduct meetings in 2012 promoting a cross-sector examination of the intersection between agriculture, food systems, and human health. The seven organizations selected for the Healthy Farms, Healthy People State Meetings Learning Community include: Iowa Food Systems Council Kansas Rural Center Mississippi Health Advocacy Program The National Center for Appropriate Technology Rural Health Network of South Central New York Oregon Public Health Institute Texas Health Institute

NNPHI received over 60 applications for this funding opportunity, demonstrating the high level of activity nationwide in examining issues of healthy nutrition in a broader perspective of agriculture and food systems, says Christopher Kinabrew, NNPHIs Director of Government and External Affairs. NNPHI looks forward to working with IATP and CDC to foster a learning community across states, and we are actively seeking funding to support additional technical assistance for those organizations we were not able to fund. The seven organizations funded by NNPHI will join organizers of a Minnesota cross-sector convening held in January 2012 as part of the Learning Community, as well as any other state meetings for which funding can be secured. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has supported the learning community through its cooperative agreement with NNPHI. NNPHI has provided funding to selected state meetings and contracted with IATP to provide technical assistance to meeting organizers. The views expressed during the meetings do not necessarily represent the views of NNPHI, IATP, CDC, or the Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition.

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About the National Network of Public Health Institutes Created in 2001 as a forum for public health institutes (PHIs), today NNPHI convenes its members and partners at the local, state, and national levels in efforts to address critical health issues. NNPHIs mission is to support national public health system initiatives and strengthen PHIs to promote multisector activities resulting in measurable improvements of public health structures, systems, and outcomes. Learn more about NNPHIs work at www.nnphi.org. About the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy works locally and globally at the intersection of policy and practice to ensure fair and sustainable food, farm and trade systems. Healthy Food Action is IATPs campaign to educate and engage the health community in food and agriculture policy change towards a healthier food system. For more information, please visit http://www.iatp.org/about or http://www.healthyfoodaction.org. About the Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition The American public has a growing awareness of the important connection between food, health, the environment, and the economy, and support for food and farm policy reform has never been greater. The Healthy Farms, Healthy People Coalition was formed to capitalize on the opportunity through targeted policy initiatives to create a healthier, more equitable food system. For more information, please visit http://hfhpcoalition.org/about/ .