New Mexico Healthier Weight Council

Promote Complete Street policies at the local and state levels to create and/or improve incorporation of physical activity into daily life: bike lanes, walkability, safe routes to school, access to public transportation, etc.

Establish formal and legal Joint Use Agreements be-tween schools and community members/organizations to open school facilities during off-hours for organized activities: community gardens and recreation, family physical activity, use by local farmers/growers and other community health improvement activities.

Promote opening outdoor school grounds for community use so that individuals and families may use school grounds just like neighborhood parks. If necessary, amend the state Recreational Users Act to protect schools from liability, except in cases of gross negligence.

Promote updated childcare regulations that eliminate sugar-sweetened beverages and increase healthy beverage consumption in licensed child care centers (includes private home centers), as well as after school programs.

State procurement policies that empower communities and schools by increasing access to fresh, locally-produced fruits and vegetables. Includes allowing WIC and SNAP-ED programs to purchase food for cooking and nutrition classes, Farm to School programs, etc.

Developing and maintaining critical statewide public health infrastructure that promotes obesity prevention. Revenue generation from an excise tax on sweetened beverages could fund county health councils, after school programs, school nurses, quality physical activity in schools, Farm to School programs and more.