The state physical activity and nutrition program (span) - RI department of health's healthy eating and active living program (heal) is located at 3 capitol hill in providence, RI

Heal will utilize CDC-RFA-DP-23-0012 to build upon accomplishments achieved in DP13-1305 and DP14-1422, and over the last five years. Heal serves the entire state with the goal of educating the public and implementing policy, systems and environmental changes to create supportive, equitable environments where all riers can access healthy food, be physically active, and breastfeed. In the wake of covid-19, economic and social disruption, pre-existing disparities in food access, physical activity and breastfeeding have been exacerbated, with RI's blacks and hispanics being disproportionately impacted. Nutrition insecurity rose among all households from 2017-2019, but a significant disparity exists among racial and ethnic minority households with 43.2% of black and 46.6% of hispanic households reporting food insecurity VS. 25.9% of white households. Those in poverty are disproportionately food insecure. In 2021, 26.8% of adults 400% FPL. Racial and ethnic disparities exist for physical activity, with blacks and hispanics disproportionally report being physically inactive when compared to whites (30.0% VS. 40.4% VS. 20.3%, respectively). Disparities also follow socioeconomic lines, with 32.2% of adults 400% FPL. One of the most integral factors influencing the health of children in RI is breastfeeding. According to CDC birth certificate data from 2018-2019, breastfeeding initiation varies across RI counties with providence, our most populous and racially diverse county achieving the lowest rate in the state at 64.3%. Heal has identified black and hispanic riers as its target population, with an additional focus on individuals living