September 2018 - Parks & Recreation - 30

ADVOCACY

NRPA Government Affairs Conference Sessions
As you plan your conference schedules, be sure to join the public policy team for one (or more) of our sessions focused on key
legislative priorities directly impacting programs and services offered by park and recreation departments.

The Farm Bill
Food Deserts, Parks and Community Gardens (Monday,
September 24, 1:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m., Session #5): Building
on efforts to promote healthy food access, park and recreation agencies across the country are developing nutrition
education and agricultural science trainings, while increasing access to fresh, local foods in underserved communities.
Farm Parks can assist in the creation and expansion of community food hubs led by parks and recreation. Learn how
using your park land for farming and community gardening
can position your agency as a key agricultural partner in
your community!

The Every Student Succeeds Act
Federal Funding for Afterschool Programs: How to Apply to the 21st Century Community Learning Center
(21st CCLC) Program (Tuesday, September 25, 1 p.m. - 2:15
p.m., Session #112): 21st CCLC is the only federal funding
available to support out-of-school-time programming,
including those offered afterschool and over the summer
months. Park and recreation agencies are eligible to apply
directly as the lead fiscal agent or can partner with their local schools and other community-based partners to apply
together. Learn how your park and recreation agency can
apply for 21st CCLC funding!

The Older Americans Act
Healthy Eating for Healthy Aging: Combating Hunger
and Improving Nutrition for Older Adults (Wednesday,
September 26, 4:15 p.m. - 5:30 p.m., Session #236): Food
insecurity - the inconsistent access to a sufficient quantity
of affordable and nutritious foods for an active and healthy
lifestyle - is a growing crisis among all Americans. Currently, 1 in 6 older Americans is food insecure. Like the role of

Parks & Recreation

| S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

an active lifestyle, healthy eating is critical for healthy aging
by improving psychological function, maintaining a healthy
weight and reducing the risk of developing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke and hypertension. Learn how park and recreation agencies can combat
hunger and improve nutrition for older adults!

Congressional Debate
Around the Opioid Epidemic
Empowering Youth Impacted by the Opioid Crisis: Providing a Safe, Supportive Environment at Your Rec Centers (Tuesday, September 25, 4:10 p.m. - 5:25 p.m., Session
#161): Across the country, park and recreation professionals
are responding to substance use in parks, providing treatment and support activities, and incorporating holistic
youth-prevention strategies into their services. This session
will highlight three park and recreation agencies' innovative
and effective strategies to provide a safe space for youth to
build critical social and emotional skills that prevent substance use. You will also receive an introduction to creating
a trauma-sensitive environment at your recreation centers,
a key method for assisting youth and families in coping with
the trauma associated with addiction.
Tackling Substance Use in Parks for the Safety of Staff,
Youth and the Community as a Whole (Thursday, September 27, 8 a.m. - 9:15 a.m., Session #1000): Join us for a candid
conversation among park directors about the role park and
recreation agencies can and should be playing in tackling
substance use in parks, while considering the very serious
concerns of liability and safety for everyone involved. We
will also discuss recent policy decisions being made in cities
across the country that are impacting the handling of substance use in public spaces.

September 2018 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2018 - Parks & Recreation