Increasing Access to Nutritious Foods
“This has been a great experience. Not only have I picked fresh vegetables, I have also gotten some physical activity.” Charles Stamper, A Riverview Terrace resident
Residents of the Riverview Terrace Manufactured Home Community in Chaska planted a fruit and vegetable garden in 2015 to be used by community residents. The garden included 10 plots with five raised beds with a wide array of produce, including cucumbers, peppers, radishes, carrots, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, tomatillos, cilantro, cherry tomatoes, pumpkins, as well as three apple trees. The garden was such a success that the community is planning to continue it for the 2016 season.
The community-based agriculture project was made possible through a partnership including Carver County Public Health, the owners of Riverview Terrace Community, and the community residents. Other local contributors included University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardener’s Program and Mustard Seed, a local landscaping and gardening company.
“At its heart, this project was about working with local community members to increase their access to fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables. But in the end, it did much more than that- it actually helped to strengthen the sense of community among the residents of Riverview Terrace.” Tami LaGow, Public Health Program Specialist.
Carver County parents and child care providers are determined to CATCH kids early to keep them on a lifetime path to good health. Carver County’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) is supporting that effort at three child care centers.
The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) is a school health program that promotes healthy lifestyle choices for pre-K through middle school-aged children
CATCH Early Childhood is designed to nurture a love of physical activity, provide an introduction to classroom-based nutrition and encourage healthy eating. Children are motivated to walk, run, jump, dance and move their whole bodies while playing and having fun.
SHIP helped fund curriculum materials, training for teachers and equipment to implement CATCH.
About 300 children at Next Steps Learning Centers in Chaska and Chanhassen and a Lil’ Explorers Childcare Center in Waconia are now benefiting from the CATCH approach. In addition, Carver County SHIP staff are collaborating with Wright County on a Lil’ Explorers site in Delano.
“This was great training,” a Lil’ Explorers teacher said. “It was so informative and hands-on. I was able to implement CATCH in my classroom the day after the training.”
Carver County is offering the physical activity segments of CATCH Early Childhood in child care programs; nutrition curricula is offered through a separate effort.
Policy changes came after program started
Carver County offered its first CATCH training for child care center directors last August. The directors agreed that it was worthwhile training, but they thought more lead teachers were needed to implement it. A second training session was offered in January and now there are 25 lead teachers.
The training is making an impact.
“We are using it in our classrooms once a day,” said Sara Sieberer, regional director of Next Step’s Learning Centers. “Our new policy is that out of two large motor times during the day, teachers must implement a CATCH activity during one of those times.”
Making a policy change for CATCH was very easy after the training,” a Lil’ Explorer teacher said. “The trainer did a great job talking about why it is so important for children to do CATCH on a daily basis.”
CATCH is expanding its reach with additional child care providers. Carver County Public Health has conducted training for Children of Tomorrow Learning Centers in Waconia and Chanhassen
“We are using it in our classrooms once a day,” said Sara Sieberer, regional director of Next Step’s Learning Centers. “Our new policy is that out of two large motor times during the day, teachers must implement a CATCH activity during one of those times.”
“Making a policy change for CATCH was very easy after the training,” a Lil’ Explorer teacher said. “The trainer did a great job talking about why it is so important for children to do CATCH on a daily basis.”
CATCH is expanding its reach with additional child care providers. Carver County Public Health has conducted training for Children of Tomorrow Learning Centers in Waconia and Chanhassen.
“THANK YOU for all your guidance with this. We would not have been able to do it without you!“ Sarah Prescher, School Nurse
Wellness Corner at East Union Elementary School
The East Union Elementary School nurse and media specialist partnered with Carver County Public Health to create a list of books promoting physical activity and nutritious eating choices for elementary school age children.
Carver County Public Health purchased the books on the list for the library to create a wellness section in its media center. School staff created a display for the new books to entice students to check them out to read and share with their families.
This partnership fit nicely with the school’s action plan to increase resources available to students that promoted healthy living and physical activity and to supplemented existing health curriculum.
One way the staff at East Union are using the books is to discuss wellness topics as part of “Fitness Fridays.” One teacher said the books helped her introduce students to healthy, allergy safe snacks and alternatives to sugary treats at celebrations. This is a great example of how SHIP can support work by partners and reinforce healthy eating and active living messages with young children!
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