Healthy Kids, Healthy Future

Support grant program to train early care and education staff

A second piece of exciting news that we would like to pass on to you is Senator Mark Udall’s (D-CO) introduction of an amendment to the Senate health reform bill that, if passed, enacted into law and funded, would establish a grant program to train early care and education staff in best practices for obesity prevention and health promotion. This is exactly what many of you called for at the conference! You can support this amendment by signing on to the attached letter per the instructions below from our friends at the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH).

Senator Mark Udall’s office is planning to introduce an amendment to the health reform bill that would promote physical activity, healthy eating, and childhood obesity prevention in the very important setting of the childcare environment. The amendment would establish a three year CDC pilot program that would provide grants to five state health departments (or other childcare licensing entities within the State) to provide or contract to provide training to staff at childcare centers and family childcare homes. The training would focus on healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices that could be implemented in child care settings. Childcare centers with trained staff would then receive grant funds to implement these practice and policy changes. Best practices and lessons learned would be disseminated at the conclusion of the pilot and would be incorporated into future CDC guidance documents.

With leadership from TFAH, Nemours and others provided input to this legislation which closely mirrors the successful model Nemours Health and Prevention Services implemented in Delaware. Attached is the text of the amendment, as well as a sign on letter of support. Senator Udall’s staff has requested a Friday deadline for sign on of the letter. If you have questions or would like to sign on, please contact Daniella Gratale of Trust for America’s Health at dgratale@tfah.org.

Supporting Documents