Posts Tagged "YMCA"
Comprehensive Standards for Out-of-School Programs
On August 9, 2011, in Chicago, Illinois, the Healthy Out-of-School Time Coalition (HOST) – in connection with the YMCA of the USA – announced the first-ever comprehensive national nutrition and physical activity standards for out-of-school programs for children in grades K to 12. The new guidelines are the latest tool in the fight against childhood obesity and a step in promoting healthy options for the more than 8 million children that participate in out-of-school programs at least three hours a day, according to statistics from HOST. The new standards are the result of a comprehensive research project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Over...
Read MoreYMCA After School Program Emphasizes Exercise And Healthy Eating
by Melissa Pionzio MIDDLETOWN – A collective sigh arose from the students during a recent session of the CATCH Kids Club after school program at Lawrence School after they had completed an energetic set of sit-ups against the padded gymnasium wall.”I like it,” said a pink-cheeked, slightly sweaty Ryan Cudworth of the club’s exercises, games and cooking sessions. “Playing gym makes me feel good and really, really hot!”CATCH, which stands for Coordinated Approach To Child Health, is offered after school and during recess at several of the city’s schools through the Northern Middlesex YMCA. Using a curriculum...
Read MoreInterview with Brandon Bell, VP, Program Director of Sports, Families, and Teens
Collinsville, Maryville, Troy (CMT) Branch of the YMCA of Southwest Illinois What prompted you to be an advocate and champion of children’s health? The YMCA prompted me to be an advocate of children’s health. After learning about the childhood obesity statistics in the U.S. and working with youth at the YMCA, I knew that my calling was to help the youth in this country become/stay healthy.When did you adopt the CATCH Program and what prompted you to do so? The YMCA of Southwest Illinois was awarded the Carol M. White Physical Education Grant in 2009. We adopted the CATCH program in November of 2009 thanks to our awarded grant. We decided to pick CATCH...
Read MoreSkagit Childcare Nutrition and Activity Pilot (SNAP)
By Liz McNett Crowl Skagit County Health Department, Skagit County, Washington SKAGIT COUNTY – (April 28, 2010) – The Skagit County Healthy Communities Project (SCHCP) is a partnership of the Skagit County Public Health Department (SCHD) and Skagit Valley Hospital, with broad community support to focus on increasing access to healthful nutrition and physical activity to decrease chronic disease and obesity. SCHCP is one of nine Healthy Communities Projects funded, in part, with a Washington State Department of Health (DOH) Prevention Block Grant. Our project has three primary work areas: walking, biking and pathways; active community environments; and...
Read MoreInterview with Patricia Osborn Director of Afterschool Programs, YMCA of Greater Houston, Houston, TX
What prompted you to be an advocate and champion of children’s health? Healthy children are better learners in the classroom and most importantly they feel good about themselves. When did you adopt the CATCH Program and what prompted you to do so? Approximately 3 years ago a group of child care leaders and health & wellness leaders in our organization got together to discuss what a good afterschool curriculum for health and wellness would be and what would it look like. We were about to embark on the road of writing our own curriculum when I met a CATCH Trainer at the National Afterschool Conference. His workshop was awesome and after listening to his...
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