The CATCH Partnership

CATCH began as a research study funded by the Heart Lung and Blood Institute in 1991 to determine the effectiveness of school physical education and health programs in improving students' dietary and activity related behaviors.

Research teams from the University of Texas, Tulane University, University of Minnesota, and University of California, participated in what is still largest and most rigorous school-based health promotion trial ever conducted. As the CATCH message spread to communities across the country, the universities agreed that a national marketing partner was needed to assist in development and distribution of the CATCH materials. So in 1998, the original research institutions partnered with FlagHouse Inc. to be the publishing and marketing arm for CATCH.

A leading direct mail supplier and manufacturer of physical education, rehabilitation, and special needs products since 1954, FlagHouse reaches every public and private education institution in the US and Canada. FlagHouse could ultimately introduce CATCH to every school in North America.

The CATCH Program today is built upon the sturdy foundation of that original intervention program, and continues to evolve.

The University of Texas research teams at Houston and Austin continue to review and evaluate components of CATCH to improve its delivery and sustainability as an effective health promotion program. Guided by National CATCH Training Director, Karen Doramus-Burnell, M.Ed., the CATCH National Training Staff and CATCH Institute in Austin train schools and communities across the U.S. and Canada about the effective implementation of CATCH. Together with the CATCH staff at FlagHouse, schools, parents and health professionals are guided and supported, as they bring CATCH to their respective communities.

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