The ASPHN board of directors met on October 8, 2021.
- Seven General membership applications were approved: Christina Carbone (NY); Karen Ehrens (ND); Gayle Price (KS); Sandy Procter (KS); Lisa Ross (KS); Tandy Rundus (KS); Sue Sing Lim (KS).
- Fourteen Associate membership applications, including 11 Student applications, were approved: Temitayo Abayomi (TN); Shoua Cha (MN); LaKeisha Davis (MO); Yetunde Fadipe (TN); Alexandra Gardner (TN); Ashenafi Hayi (MN); Lexie Hill (TN); Hailey Lewis (TN); Amanda Muth (MO); Krista Nagel (MN); Abigail Rose (MN); Rita Stephenson (MN); Takako Tagami (MO); Cecily Weber (MN).
- Policy Committee actions on behalf of ASPHN since last board report:
A. Submitted letter to the Congressional Social Determinants of Health Caucus, on behalf of the ASPHN, in response to the Caucus’ request for organizations to provide feedback on challenges and opportunities associated with the social determinants of health.
B. Submitted remarks to the National Farm To School Network, on behalf of the ASPHN Policy committee regarding:
a. Barriers (real or perceived) to equitable provision of nutrition benefits?
b. Policies or guidance from USDA that have had problematic impact, and how they could be improved to serve communities
c. How federal agencies can support its state and local agency partners to better serve BIPOC communities
C. Submitted letter to the Obesity Care Advocacy Network, on behalf of the ASPHN Policy committee, with an explanation for not signing-on, at this time, to their letters addressed to the Hill and the Administration in support of the Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (S. 596/H.R. 1577).
D. Signed-on to the:
· National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity (NANA) statement/letter to USDA in favor of the Thrifty Food Plan update.
· NANA organizational letter to Congress which urges the inclusion of the White House’s $1 billion healthy school meals demonstration project in the House’s Build Back Better Act (BBBA), and calls on Congress to prioritize supporting schools in meeting and exceeding the nutrition standards. The letter is separate from and in addition to their letter supporting the inclusion of healthy school meals for all in the bill.