Health & Safety

Thriving Forward: Article

Supporting Youth Mental and Emotional Health in 4-H Competitive Environments

April 28, 2026
By Matthew R Rodriguez, Marcel Horowitz, Ally Lemmer
Introduction 4-H has a long history of using competition as a method of providing feedback on skill mastery and continued task improvement. Preparing young people to show their animals, photographs, rockets and other 4-H projects at county fairs is a critical step in helping them grow. 4-H adult…
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Thriving Forward: Article

Cultivating Emotionally Healthy Beyond Ready Skills

April 14, 2026
By Matthew R Rodriguez
IntroductionWe all have feelings. And they matter. Feelings help us learn about ourselves and others. Despite their benefit, many of us have a hard time identifying feelings. In his book, Permission To Feel, Dr. Marc Brackett encourages us to lean in to our feelings. By doing so, we can lead more healthy and…
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Thriving Forward: Article

What Is Mental Health First Aid?

February 25, 2026
By Matthew R Rodriguez
Introduction Supporting the mental and emotional wellbeing of youth is a priority of the 4-H positive youth development program. In fact, each of the four Hs (Head, Heart, Hands, and Health) relate to mental wellbeing. Our head is the place where we think, have emotions, and make decisions. Our heart is…
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Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

NPI study on universal school meals highlighted as featured paper in Nutrients journal hot topics on nutritional inequality and public policy research

February 17, 2026
Universal school meal programs in all U.S. states were funded by the federal government during school years 2020-2022 to abate heightened rates of food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. California was the first state in the nation to continue funding universal school meals, and Nutrition Policy…
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Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

New study finds higher Chronic Fatigue Syndrome risk among LGB+ Adults

January 30, 2026
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other sexual minority individuals—or LGB+—experience persistent health disparities and higher rates of depression related to discrimination and minority stress, yet the burden of chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating and often misdiagnosed condition, is not well understood…
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Nutrition Policy Institute News: Article

Announcing the FFY 2025 CalFresh Healthy Living Data Briefs

January 21, 2026
The Nutrition Policy Institute is pleased to share the 2025 CalFresh Healthy Living data briefs, highlighting the vital contributions of local health departments and their community partners to California’s nutrition and physical activity promotion efforts during federal fiscal year 2025. The California…
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