Kate Mattos is the President of Connect for Kids.

Some kids are too fat – and we must do more to protect their health.

But some kids are hungry – and we must do more to make sure they get food.

Taking on child nutrition is not new for Connect for Kids. We continue to stay current, provide information and urge action on this issue.

We took on hunger in 2003.
In April 2003, Connect for Kids entered a partnership with the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) to raise public awareness of federal child nutrition programs. These programs truly do make a huge difference in the lives of children in need. We recognized, however, that it was essential to remind members of Congress about the good these programs bring – or the potential harm of changes they could make as they rewrote regulations and possibly decreased funding.

To reach activists and heighten awareness of the issue, we created and promoted a Child Nutrition page. This was a rich resource of news and information about the nutritional state of children and about the programs that helped them. Readers could:

• Find out how children were faring in their state. (I clicked on the link to Virginia and learned that is an “average” state, with eight percent of its children living at poverty level. School breakfast and lunch programs were essential.)
• Get fast facts about government programs that make a difference.
• Learn how in 10, 20 or 30 minutes you could help get children the help they needed;
• Take a quick poll to register your point of view.

Our quick poll last April revealed:

• 90% of respondents believe that schools should serve free breakfasts to all school children in low-income areas;
• 93% believe that paperwork should be simplified so more children could get free or reduced-priced lunch at school;
• 82% believed that low-income children should have access to free meals when school is not in session.

We generated support.
The CFK Child Nutrition site received more than 15,000 page views in 2003. Our section on health insurance, which covered nutrition, received over 7,000 page views.

In 2004, we continue to focus on child nutrition and obesity.
We are proud to have contributed to last year’s fight for better child nutrition, but the reauthorization process continues in 2004. In late March the U.S. House of Representatives passed The Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act (HR 3873). FRAC reports that this bill makes improvements in the nutrition programs and will provide greater access to these critical programs for children with the greatest need. This bill is now being taken up by the Senate. Visit FRAC’s Child Nutrition Program Reauthorization Center for updates.

State budget gaps continue to squeeze services for children, and some children continue to be hungry. On the other end of the spectrum, obesity is now a major threat to children’s health and threatens long-term harm to these kids when they become adults (not to mention pressure on all our health care systems).

CFK will be making the issue of child nutrition and obesity a priority. We will be running articles, highlighting developments, building coalitions, and urging action to help America’s kids live healthier lives.

If you want or your organization wants to join in this effort, send me an email. We all can make a difference.

And here's a personal note on the secret of time:
I have followed the actions to remove raunchy lyrics and visuals from our media. I appreciate the move, but I wonder if the action gets to the point.

Stop the bad stuff from getting to kids, they say. I think, well, I have to agree with that, but could we also focus our energy on getting the good stuff to them?

When I help my daughter learn music, I’m not worrying about monitoring her use of the Internet.

When I support her as she does her homework, I am not concerned about images in magazines.

When we go to church on Sunday morning, I don’t worry what’s on TV.

When we read together, I don’t think about the lyrics on the radio.

But…the little secret is that helping our kids succeed takes time. Daily hours of time. Acres of time. Relentless assaults of time.

And that is crushingly hard for so many.

Many cannot cut back on their work to get that time and still put food on the table. Many cannot cut back their hours because they would lose their benefits. Many struggle every day and do their level best for their kids, but they have precious little time to do it in.

So, who else can help the kids? Who helps make sure they pursue productive activities, make good choices, and eat well? Who can help direct children’s enormous energy towards enriching their lives and reaching their dreams?

Well, maybe that would be all of us. All of us connecting for kids…not kidding.

Thanks for your inspiration and commitment.

Kate Mattos

A mother herself, Kate Mattos believes that it is important for communities come together to help families and children succeed. Mattos serves as Communications Counsel for the National Education Association (NEA) and has served on occasion as Adjunct Professor at American University's School of Communications.