EARLY CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION

ANNUAL STAKEHOLDER MEETING

HEALTHY CHILD CARE COLORADO

Taran Schneider, Director of Healthy Child Care Colorado

September 13th, 2017

MISSION + PRIORITY AREAS

Healthy Child Care Colorado works collaboratively to promote and

support health, safety, and wellness best practices in early

childhood systems.

9/19/2017 3

OBESITY PREVENTION EFFORTS

I am Moving, I am Learning Training

Wellness Champions

Nutrition Training

Cooking Matters Training

Early Childhood Health Outdoors

Healthy Beginnings, Active Futures

THE WELLNESS CHAMPION ROLE An individual who works in an early care and education setting, or in the community, with knowledge, passion, and skills to support early childhood professionals in making changes to their facilities’ environments, practices and policies to improve staff and children’s health habits.

Use an adapted strategic planning process developed and tested by the University of Colorado, Denver’s Culture of Wellness in Preschools program.

Planning process integrates evidence-based strategies which modify the child care environment, it’s systems (e.g. routines) and policies to increase healthy eating and physical activity for children and staff.

Assist program in establishing a staff wellness program by offering wellness tips, activities, and creating a plan.

This was adapted from Culture of Wellness in Preschools

WELLNESS CHAMPION ROLE

ORAL HEALTH

Why is it important? How is it connected to obesity prevention?

WHO IT MOSTLY IMPACTS

55%

70%

38%

56%

32%

48%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Kindergarten 3rd grade

Hispanic

Black

White

Most common chronic disease of childhood

Source: Prevention Services Division, Colorado Department of Public Health

and Environment, “Chew on This: 2012 Report on the Oral Disease Burden in

Colorado,” 2011.

ORAL HEALTH EFFORTS

Cavity Free Kids Training

Healthy Smiles Champions

Public Will Building Campaign

Healthy Smiles Summits

Text ToothHealthy to 313131

Sunshine Kids Academy

Thornton, CO

HEALTHY POLICIES & PRACTICES

Healthy celebrations & meetings

Menu review

Staff wellness program

Embed physical activity and oral health

into lesson plans

Strong policies and procedures

Educate & empower champions

State level licensing regulations

Taran Schneider, Director of Healthy Child Care Colorado tschneider@qualistar.org

Kim Wolff, Professional Development Specialist

kwolff@qualistar.org