Boston Public Health Commission has received a five-year grant from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to train Boston childcare providers on strategies to promote healthy eating and physical activity for preschool-age children. The project utilizes the University of North Carolina, Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) tool and educational materials. The initial focus is on family day care programs serving children in Boston’s low-income neighborhoods. Over the course of the project we expect to reach 500 providers in 200 programs.
Program summary
Good nutrition and plenty of physical activity are key to a young child’s growth and development. These behaviors begin early in life and are fostered by the environment in which children live and play. Because many children spend much of their day in a child care setting, these environments play a critical role. To improve the environment and move toward sustained changes, Boston Public Health Commission will:
• Provide free training utilizing the NAP SACC curriculum. We have already trained 100 family childcare providers, who often have limited continuing education opportunities, in a CEU-approved Saturday class.
• Provide child care providers with the NAP SACC tool and related materials to assess the nutrition and physical activity environment in their programs.
• Provide on-site technical assistance and resources that facilitate making practical changes for example, changing food selection and preparation techniques, or re-designing the program schedule to include more active time that includes all children.
• Provide educational materials to reach out to parents through child care settings to promote healthy weight behaviors at home.
The NAP SACC system is recognized by the CDC as an Exemplary Program.