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- Title
Implementing a Nutrition and Physical Activity Curriculum in Head Start Through an Academic-Community Partnership.
- Authors
Zahnd, Whitney E.; Smith, Tracey; Ryherd, Susan J.; Cleer, Melissa; Rogers, Valerie; Steward, David E.
- Abstract
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND Schools may be an effective avenue for interventions that prevent childhood obesity. I am Moving I am Learning/Choosy Kids© (IMIL/CK) is a curriculum recommended by Head Start (HS) for education in nutrition, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle habits. METHODS We formed an academic-community partnership (ACP), the Springfield Collaborative for Active Child Health, to promote prevention of childhood obesity, in part, to implement the IMIL/CK curriculum in local HS sites. The ACP included a medical school, HS program, public school district, and state health department. RESULTS Community-based participatory research principles helped identify and organize important implementation activities: community engagement, curriculum support, professional teacher training, and evaluation. IMIL/CK was piloted in 1 school then implemented in all local HS sites. All sites were engaged in IMIL/CK professional teacher training, classroom curriculum delivery, and child physical activity assessments. Local HS policy changed to include IMIL/CK in lesson plans and additional avenues of collaboration were initiated. Furthermore, improvements in physical activity and/or maintenance or improvement of healthy weight prevalence was seen in 4 of the 5 years evaluated. CONCLUSIONS An ACP is an effective vehicle to implement and evaluate childhood obesity prevention programming in HS sites.
- Subjects
ILLINOIS; PREVENTION of childhood obesity; HEAD Start programs; HEALTH education; HEALTH promotion; INTERPROFESSIONAL relations; NUTRITION education; BODY mass index; COURSE evaluation (Education); PHYSICAL activity; COLLEGE teacher attitudes
- Publication
Journal of School Health, 2017, Vol 87, Issue 6, p465
- ISSN
0022-4391
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/josh.12515