2012: Predictions for Healthier Childcare

Group brainstorm: The Year is 2012

Before the conference participants went their separate ways, they came together for a final group brainstorm.  The question: The year is 2012.  What progress and policy change can we hope to have achieved toward the goal of healthier childcare environments?

Physical activity

• A dedicated indoor space for physical activity and play in all child care facilities
• Joint-use agreements for use of school facilities after hours

Nutrition:

• A strong, balanced Child Nutrition Act reauthorization
• Consistent nutrition standards for Head Start, Women, Infants and Children (WIC), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), and others
• A single entry point for each family into all federally-funded health, nutrition and cash assistance — potentially using the U.S. Post Office as the point of entry

Oral health:

• BMI and dentist visits within the last 12 month added to the immunization registry

Research gaps:

• A conference of physical activity and healthy eating experts to examine the research that exists, identify gaps, and develop a research agenda for gathering the cost-effectiveness data we need

Collaboration:

• Assemble a wide array of partners — including those normally left out — to adopt and implement a common set of nutrition standards for childcare

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