Click here for the CATCH Kids Club application for the 2010-2011 school year
OVERVIEW
CATCH Kids Club (CKC) is a physical activity and nutrition education program designed for elementary school-aged children in an after-school or summer setting. CKC was developed based on the successful elements of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Program, which is a proven elementary health promotion program.
CKC is comprised of nutrition education lessons (including snack activities) and a physical activity component. The easy-to-use curriculum gives staff the ability to structure nutrition and physical activity lessons into after-school time with the capability to easily modify the lessons in regards to materials, age of children, number of children, and so forth. The education component of CKC aims to provide children with the knowledge, skills, self-confidence, and intentions to make healthy dietary and physical activity decisions. The purpose of the snack activities is to introduce children to tasty and healthy foods and to teach children the skills to enable them to select and prepare snack foods for themselves.
WHAT IS CATCH KIDS CLUB?
The CKC lessons are divided into 32 nutrition lessons and physical activity sessions. Approximately eight lessons include a snack preparation/taste-testing activity. There are 5 lessons focusing on fruits and vegetables, 4 lessons about choosing foods lower in fat and the importance of low-fat dairy products, 6 lessons learning about fiber, and 3 lessons learning about MyPyramid. A physical activity session lasting at least 30 minutes follows every 15-25 minute nutrition lesson.
WHERE IS CATCH KIDS CLUB?
The CKC program began in Oklahoma in August 2007. The Oklahoma State Department of Health sponsored the implementation of the program in 20 counties across the state. The Oklahoma City-County Health Department partnered with West Nichols Hills Elementary to implement the CKC in their after-school program in August 2007. It was so successful over the course of the 2007-2008 school year that Oklahoma City-County Health Department decided to further their commitment to this program and has expanded partnerships with two other elementary schools (Bishop John Carroll School and Crutcho School), and the Greater Oklahoma City YMCA After-School Programs. The Oklahoma City-County Health Department’s vision for this physical activity and nutrition education program is to be implemented and sustained throughout all after-school settings in Oklahoma County.
WHY CATCH KIDS CLUB?
This physical activity and nutrition education program is vital in our state for several reasons:
- In 2008 Oklahoma was ranked 8th for being one of the most obese states in the country, with the two major risk factors of obesity being poor nutrition and lack of physical activity
- It has been estimated that 15%-20% of children ages 10-17 in Oklahoma are classified as obese
- In the 2007 State of the State’s Health Report, Oklahoma is ranked last with a grade of F in adults who eat 5+ fruits/vegetables per day
- Most importantly, our future health status is measured by our children and youth today, so this type of program is an investment in the health of our children and our state
Unstructured time after school and during the summer provides a ready-made opportunity for programs to fill childcare needs with fun, hands-on nutrition activities, as well as enjoyable structured physical activity.
WANT TO BECOME INVOLVED WITH OR PARTICIPATE IN CATCH KIDS CLUB?
If you want more information about the program in Oklahoma or are interested in partnering with the Oklahoma City-County Health Department to implement CATCH Kids Club at your after-school program in Oklahoma County, please contact:
Chrystal Hedges, MPH, CHES
Phone: (405) 419-4140
Email: chrystal_hedges@occhd.org