Background
Bio – Nancy Gelbard, President
Nancy Gelbard has successfully implemented and managed some of America’s most challenging public health and education programs over the last 30 years. Nancy has devoted her life and career to creating healthier school and community environments for our children and their families. Nationally recognized as a top expert by the Public Health Institute, she was honored with the Pioneer Award for her visionary leadership and outstanding achievements in promoting healthy eating and active living.
Gelbard Consulting’s goal is to support client efforts to create healthy environments. Her practical insights, innovative practices and effective policy solutions have resulted in safer, more vibrant and healthier communities.
Prior to founding Gelbard Consulting in 2009, Nancy created a wide range of effective solutions while serving the people of California at the State Department of Public Health. During her time managing California Project LEAN, School Health Connections and the California Obesity Prevention Initiative, she frequently provided counsel to colleagues across the nation who sought out her expertise. Over time the programs’ successes in meeting the community needs made them the ‘go – to’ resource for school and community policy, and environmental and organizational change.
While at the California Department of Education, Nancy provided leadership in nutrition, physical activity and health promotion to the After School Programs Office, serving over 4,000 sites across California. She led the development of one of the nation’s first set of physical activity guidelines for after school programs. In addition, Nancy guided local programs in implementing new legislation that required all schools and community-based organizations meet nutrition standards for foods and beverages served on site.
Nancy’s passion for public health began at the local level, working at a non-profit clinic for adolescents where she expanded a variety of nutrition and public health programs. She was a lecturer in Community Nutrition at UC Davis and served as the clinical instructor for the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Dietetic Internship. Ms. Gelbard has served on a broad array of national, state and regional committees, task forces and steering committees. This included the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Expert Panel on Children, Television Viewing and Weight Status. Throughout her career, Nancy has conducted hundreds of presentations and workshops.
Nancy Gelbard is a Registered Dietitian. She holds a Masters’ degree in Preventive Medicine and Environmental Health and completed her Dietetic Internship from University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Her Bachelors’ Degree is in Foods and Nutrition from San Diego State University.
Publications
Nancy Gelbard has played a leadership role in developing the following publications:
1. California After School Physical Activity Guidelines (2009)
 This document provides guidelines to implement high-quality after school physical activity programs that expand learning opportunities of the regular school day. The Guidelines were established as a result of California Education Code 8484.8 which required California Department of Education to develop voluntary physical activity guidelines for State-funded after school programs. The Guidelines were developed by an Expert Panel composed of highly respected state and national researchers and authorities.
(Created by California Department of Education, in partnership with the California After School Resource Center)
2. Coordinated School Health: Snapshot of the Field (2006)
 This document is a follow-up to the original 1998 needs assessment on coordinated school health in California. The Snapshot of the Field assesses the progress in coordinated school health since the release of the California’s School Health Blueprint in 2000. It also assists the state health and education agencies in determining future directions related to coordinated school health.
(Created by California Department of Public Health, in partnership with the California Department of Education)
3. Building Infrastructure for Coordinated School Health: California’s Blueprint (2000)
 This nationally recognized document is the State school health plan, designed to build support for coordinated school health in California. It identifies goals and action steps for the California Department of Education, California Department of Public Health, county offices of education, local health departments, school districts and community partners.
(Created by California Department of Education, in partnership with California Department of Public Health)
4. Do More, Watch Less (2004)
 This toolkit is for afterschool programs and youth serving organizations to encourage tweens (ages 10-14) to incorporate more screen-free activities into their lives while reducing the time they spend watching TV, surfing the internet, and playing video games. Reducing screen time is a key obesity prevention strategy. Also available in Spanish.
(Created by the California Obesity Prevention Initiative, California Department of Public Health)
5. Reversing the Obesity Epidemic: California’s Strategies for Action – Recommendations
of the California Obesity Prevention Advisory Group (2006)
 This is used as a framework document for the Governor’s California Obesity Prevention Plan. Under the leadership of the California Obesity Prevention Initiative, Reversing the Obesity Epidemic: California’s Strategies for Action addresses the societal, technological and environmental influences of obesity. Designed to be used at the state and local levels, the document provides goals and strategies to reduce obesity rates in California.
(Created by the California Obesity Prevention Initiative, California Department of Public Health)
6. Obesity Prevention in the African-American and Latino Communities of California –
Ethnic Community Meetings: Summary and Findings (2006)
 This document provides a summary from ten community meetings on obesity in African-American and Latino communities. The findings from the community meetings provide culturally sensitive approaches to address the obesity epidemic in communities of color. The recommendations are included in Reversing the Obesity Epidemic: California’s Strategies for Action.
(Created by the California Obesity Prevention Initiative, California Department of Public Health)
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