The Ohio Healthy Programs for child care facilities address the significant issue of childhood obesity, as highlighted by the CDC's 2018 report revealing that 1 in 5 children are affected. In Ohio, WIC data from the same year indicates that 14.6%-15.4% of 2-4 year olds were overweight, emphasizing the urgency of preventative measures.
Recognizing that childhood habits play a crucial role in long-term #health, the Ohio Healthy Programs (OHP) initiative focuses on Early Care and Education (ECE) and Out-of-School Time programs. OHP strives to instill #healthy habits, implement nutritious #menus, establish health-oriented policies, and foster family #engagement to combat childhood obesity. Professionals in the field can undergo Ohio Healthy Program Ohio Approved Training, emphasizing these key areas.
The designation of an "Ohio Healthy Program" is awarded to programs that successfully implement positive changes. The program is funded by the Ohio Department of Health, and steps toward designation involve attending Ohio Healthy Programs Ohio Approved professional #development, implementing a wellness policy, improving menus, engaging families, sharing success stories, and completing the Ohio Physical Activity and Nutrition Assessment. Program administrators can then apply for the designation through the Ohio Professional Registry Organization Dashboard.
Ohio Healthy Programs training consists of three sessions:
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Healthy Habits (Session 1): Geared towards #teachers, this session covers structured and unstructured physical activity ideas, infant feeding, trying new foods, picky eating, eating practices, healthy food options, growing children's self-esteem, descriptive praise, children's benefits of growing plants, and practical ideas to engage families in healthy behaviors.
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Healthy Menus (Session 2): Designed for cooks or administrators, this session includes making healthy menu choices, resources for menu and snack planning, a 4-week cycle menu, healthy celebration ideas, and strategies to save food costs.
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Healthy Policy (Session 3): Targeted at administrators, this session delves into the program's role in healthy living and preventing childhood obesity, the purpose of healthy program policies, conveying healthy messages through policies, and strategies to overcome barriers to policy implementation.
The training requirements vary for different roles within child care facilities:
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Family Child Care: Must complete Ohio Healthy Programs Session 1 (Healthy Habits), Session 2 (Healthy Menus), and Session 3 (Healthy Policy).
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Program Administrators: Must complete Ohio Healthy Programs Session 3 (Healthy Policy).
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Program Cooks: Must complete Ohio Healthy Programs Session 2 (Healthy Menus). If there is no designated cook, the program administrator may take Session 2 (Healthy Menus).
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Program Lead Teachers: Must complete Ohio Healthy Programs Session 1 (Healthy Habits). Additionally, a teacher from each age group served must attend the training.
For more information and application procedures please visit: The Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA) and the Ohio Healthy Programs page.
For more information on the importance of recognizing obesity in children, read ChildCareEd's article: The Importance of Recognizing Obesity in Children