Early Childhood
A young child’s early experiences with eating and activity can affect their risk for obesity and related health problems. Since approximately 75 percent of working families rely on some type of child care outside the home, Weighing In assessed current practices related to healthy eating and active play at area child care providers, and promotes action to improve those practices through this working group.
What we're working on
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Reinforce the policies and practices that support healthy eating and active play in child care settings.
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Provide staff and parent education supports.
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Strive for alignment of similar efforts within the community to improve our collective impact.
What’s been accomplished?
A survey of child care providers in the greater Kansas City area was completed in 2013 to determine nutrition and physical activity policies, practices and environments within child care settings. The Early Childhood Working Group selected priorities from this study for collaborative actions to create healthier child care. The survey by Weighing In and the University of Kansas Medical Center staff, with support by the working group, reflected input from approximately 450 licensed child care homes and centers for a six-county region in the bi-state area.
Resources for support
Family Child Care Home Provider (2013)
This report provides a summary of the responses of family child care home providers from the greater Kansas City area regarding their nutrition, feeding and physical activity practices.
Child Care Centers-Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (2013)
This report provides a summary of the responses of child care centers from the greater Kansas City area regarding their nutrition, feeding and physical activity practices.
Early Childhood Working Group Charter (2013)
This charter describes the purpose, goals and operating parameters of the Early Childhood Working Group.
Early Childhood Working Group Member List 2015
This member list includes contact information and a brief description of the program or organization of the member. It was designed to be used as a networking tool for members who are looking to connect with one another. It will be updated annually via online survey.
New Resource Now Available: Healthy Lifestyles Initiative (HLI) in Early Childhood Toolkit
Meetings
The next Early Childhood Working Group meeting is Sept. 12, 2019 from 1:30-3:00 p.m. Location will be announced via email.
Contact Emily Meissen-Sebelius at esebelius@cmh.edu for more information.