PTA day in the Park is a state wide event; everyone will be planning this event on the same day. I wanted to share some ideas and guidelines you may want to use to ensure the success of this day.

The Purpose
Create a Florida PTA statewide event that will bring families together, encourage PTA membership by showing the value of belonging to the association and raise awareness of PTA’s Healthy Lifestyles Month
Ideas when planning the event

In the spirit of “5” for membership we will ask 5 things

• Unit can host a fun, free & family friendly event at a chosen park
  
• Encourage Families to go to a park in your area (provide a link/list on your website and newsletter)
  
• Partner with a Local unit (or 2 or 3) and arrange to have popcorn and cotton candy (or the like) at a local park and invite folks to stop by and meet the PTA.
  
• Encourage local units to meet up at the park with their members and have fun activities for all ages (examples: egg toss, hula hoop contest, relay races, softball/baseball games for adults and/or children)
  
• Have a drive for a needy group…food drive for a local food bank (Holidays are coming and they could use extra), toiletries for homeless, care packages for troops, cell phone drive for battered women

After the event
Now that your event has been planned and was successful please fill out Award Submission Sheet and tell Florida PTA about your Day.

Why “PTA Day in the Park”?
Kids these days are spending too much time sitting still, and it’s becoming a major health risk. American children 8 years old and above spend an average of 6.5 hours a day engaging with media technologies including watching TV, using the computer and playing video games. Studies have shown that the more TV kids watch, the more likely they are to be overweight. (National PTA Magazine 2010-2011)

Download:

• PTA Day in the Park – Award Application 2011
  
• PTA Day in the Park – Activity Kit 2011
  
• PTA Day in the Park – 2011 event flyer

For more information contact Florida PTA
info@floridapta.org
407-855-7604 / Toll Free: 800-373-5782

The Florida KidCare program was created by the 1998 Florida Legislature in response to the enactment of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) under the federal 1997 Balanced Budget Act.
Components of the Florida KidCare Program include:

• MediKids
• Healthy Kids
• Children’s Medical Services Network
• Medicaid

The goal of this call for mini-grant proposals is to work with Parent-Teacher Association/Parent-Teacher Organization (PTA/PTO) groups statewide to reach and educate more families regarding the Florida KidCare program and its benefits. Florida PTA/PTOs’ primary mission is to be a reliable resource to families and communities. With this in mind FHKC is pleased to announce an opportunity for qualified local PTA/PTO units and councils to submit proposals under a mini-grants program. PTA/PTOs have always been a strong voice for Florida’s children and through this mini-grant opportunity FHKC hopes to reach an underserved population. Statistics reflect children perform better in school if they receive the health care they need whether it is preventative or catastrophic. When children are ill everyone loses, the school loses a child that is not present to learn, the child misses valuable classroom instruction, and the parent misses work. We encourage your PTA/PTO to make a difference in the lives of your students and community.

Mini-grant submissions should focus on a specific targeted audience or activity which will ultimately result in increased enrollment into the Florida KidCare program. (Additional information about the Florida KidCare program can be found at the Florida KidCare website, www.floridakidcare.org) Technical assistance from FHKC staff in submitting these proposals is also available by request to the issuing officer.

Proposed activities must fall between October 1, 2009 and June 30, 2010.