Steps to a Healthier Yuma County

An Effective Practice

Description

The goal of Steps to a Healthier Yuma County is to prevent obesity and diabetes in young children by implementing nutrition and physical activity programs in childcare settings in Yuma County, Arizona.

A coordinator from the Yuma County Public Health Services District led a seven-series Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) workshop at participating childcare centers in Yuma County. The first workshop was used to raise awareness about childhood obesity and recruit participants, the second was used to complete a self-assessment addressing 56 best practices in nutrition and physical activity, and the third was used to give each center their score on the self-assessment. Based on these scores, NAP SACC coordinators worked with center staff to create action plans to address priority areas. The final four workshops were customized to assist childcare providers take steps to address their priority areas.

Steps to Healthier Yuma County is part of the Steps to a Healthier Arizona Initiative, a statewide initiative funded by the Centers for Disease Control.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Steps to a Healthier Yuma County is to prevent obesity and diabetes in young children.

Results / Accomplishments

Steps to a Healthier Yuma County reached 1,876 children attending 30 child care centers in 6 communities. The program succeeded in significantly increasing the median number of best practices being implemented at the centers from 36 to 44 (p=0.0003).

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Primary Contact
National School Lunch Program & School Breakfast Program
Arizona Department of Education
1535 West Jefferson Street, Bin 7
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
(602) 542-8700
Kacey.Frey@azed.gov
http://www.azed.gov/health-nutrition/healthier-az/
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Diabetes
Health / Children's Health
Organization(s)
Arizona Department of Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Date of publication
Apr 2009
Date of implementation
2005
Geographic Type
Rural
Location
Yuma County, Arizona
For more details
Target Audience
Children