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It's as easy as 5-2-1-0! Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables, no more than 2 hours per day of screen time, 1 hour of physical exercise and zero sugary drinks are the keys to obesity prevention. Partners of the Keys 4 HealthyKids community grant are working to reduce and prevent childhood obesity in West Virginia but providing kids with the Knowledge to Eat healthy, how Youth can be active, and be kids can be Safe and empowered. By teaching healthy habits early in childcare centers, schools, and communities, Keys 4 Healthy Kids is helping the next generation of West Virginia residents stop obesity-related health problems before they start--and making it fun! 

Type of Organization Non-profit
Website http://keys4healthykids.com/
Primary Contact

Dr. Jamie Jeffrey

[email protected]

Keys 4 HealthyKids Coordinators
Social Media

  Facebook, Twitter

History of Organization: The Keys 4 HealthyKids program received a Healthy Kids Healthy Communities grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and implemented through a partnership of 22 Kanawha County organizations to increase access to healthy foods for kids and their families and improve physical activity.  

Programs and Projects: The School/Youth Garden Support Network connects students with educators and volunteers to teach children how to grown their own healthy food. The program also helps create natural playgrounds, designed by children, to promote physical activity and learning elements that instill healthy habits as a part of play. The kid-lead KidZ Bite Back initiative through posters, photos, and videos to educate families, friends, neighbors and officials about youth-targeted promotion of unhealthy foods and habits such as watching too much TV and playing video games for too long, making children and youth physically inactive. In 2014, in conjunction with WVU Extension, the program worked to get the Move to Improve bill passed in the WV legislation to require at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day in schools. Although the bill did not pass, the Board of Education supported the initiative. The NAP SACC tool (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care Centers) works with child care centers to create physical activity standards and healthy menus that promote child wellness while including families to keep the healthy habits going at home. The Key 2 a Healthy Start project aims to prevent childhood obesity by working with early care and education systems such as child care centers that uses evidence-based methods to improve the quality of nutrition and incorporate physical activity at an early age.   The project includes and assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of of the center regarding food and activity developing and action plan with specific goals for change, provides continuing education and workshops, technical assistance, consultation, and follow-ups to help centers continue to move their practices in a positive direction. Keys 4 HealthyKids also incorporates the Farm to Childcare program to provide healthy, sustainable foods to centers at a reasonable costs that also supports local farmers. Partnerships with the WV Wellness Network and the School Wellness Initiative strive to enhance students academic performance and achieve a healthier lifestyle. Keys 4 HealthyKids works closely with other community initiatives such as Try This West Virginia, the Our Children, Our Future campaign, Imagine Charleston, and Nature Explore outdoor classrooms to make healthy choices the rule instead of the exception. 

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