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Local health care providers learned how to integrate a food and parks prescription program into their practices to help their patients achieve better health at a conference hosted by the Fairfax County Health Department. The event, Rx for Life, was held on May 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfax and featured two of the leading experts on parks prescribing and food insecurity: Robert Zarr, MD, Founder and Medical Director for Parks Rx America, and Kofi Essel, MD, attending physician with the Children’s Health Center in Anacostia and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Robert Zarr, MD, Founder and Medical Director for Parks Rx America Dr. Zarr discussed how viewing and spending time in nature can improve mental and physical wellbeing by lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and anxiety, and boosting attention and physical activity. His presentation made it easy for attendees to start prescribing nature to their patients in real time during routine office visits. Dr. Essel explained the use of a screening tool called Hunger Vital Signs to identify patients who experience food insecurity and recommend interventions to improve their nutrition, physical and mental health. One in six children in the U.S. lives in a food-insecure household, which means there is limited or uncertain access to enough food. His presentation showed attendees how to implement an Rx for Food program in their practice and connect patients to local food resources and programs. Kofi Essel, MD, Children’s Health Center Anacostia, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences “We need new approaches if we are going to reduce the burden of chronic disease in our communities, and the parks and food prescribing programs are just what the doctor ordered,” says Fairfax Health Director Gloria Addo-Ayensu, MD, the event sponsor. “We are so grateful to our expert panelists and to our local providers for making time for this important event.” Other panelists included: Kirk Kincannon, Executive Director of the Fairfax County Park Authority; Cindy Walsh, Resources Management Division Director with the Fairfax County Park Authority; Annie O’Neill, Outdoor Recreation Planner with the National Park Service; Matthew Scribner, Chief Technology Officer with Park Rx America; Terri Siggins, Project Manager for the Fairfax Food Council; Carmen Gill Bailey, Fairfax County Health Department School Health physician; Annie Turner, Executive Director of Food for Others; and Cecelia Vergaretti, Senior Director of NOVA Region Capital Area Food Bank. Attendees could earn Virginia Commonwealth University continuing medical education credits. For more information on prescribing parks, visit ParksRx. To learn about other community health initiatives in Fairfax County, go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health.

  Springfield Academy earns praise for efforts to protect the health and wellbeing of children For their contributions to protecting health and well-being of children in our community, Springfield Academy was recognized by the Fairfax County Health Department today as part of its National Infant Immunization Week activities. Watch the recognition event on Facebook. National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) is an annual observance to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. Since 1994, hundreds of communities across the United States have joined together to recognize the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our children, communities, and public health. Springfield Academy’s compliance with state immunization requirements earned them congratulations from the Health Department. The family owned and operated school requires an up-to-date immunization record for every enrolled child every six months until the child is 2 years old. After age 2, the school requires updated records at the beginning of the year and includes reminders in its monthly newsletter. “When parents know it is a common practice within the school and are held accountable many times we do not even have to request the documents as they just automatically get a copy for us at the child's well check appointments,” said Angela Todd, Administrative Support Professional. In celebration of NIIW, the Health Department and its community partners participated in these additional activities: Each District Office is giving gift bags to the parents of infants who are immunized in our clinics this week; gift bags include a sippy cup, a bib, and an educational handout on the immunization schedule; and Christine Carlock, RN, the Health Department’s Immunization Action Plan Coordinator, performed a puppet show for the Main Street Child Care Development Center, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax, as a fun way for kids to learn about the importance of immunizations; and Children at the Fairfax KinderCare, 9749 Main St., colored pictures to show why vaccines help give them a healthy start in life. “Young children rely on the champions in their lives to keep them safe and healthy,” Carlock said. “We commend Springfield Academy, KinderCare and the other businesses, community-based organizations and service groups who ensure all children are fully protected from vaccine-preventable diseases through immunization.” “Vaccines are the most successful and cost-effective public health tool available for preventing disease and death. They not only protect individuals, but they protect entire communities by preventing and reducing the spread of infectious diseases.” For more information on immunization services available at the Fairfax County Health Department, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/immunizations. For more information on NIIW, go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw. ###