Improving Children’s Health through Afterschool Activities.

Childhood obesity is ranked as the #1 health concern for children in the U.S. today and has reached epidemic proportions. The Healthy Behaviors Initiative addresses the serious health problems facing students in low-income communities throughout California and most at risk of obesity. Through its work, Healthy Behaviors is demonstrating the important role that afterschool programs can play in improving the lives and health of these children and families by addressing the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States.

Under the Initiative, afterschool programs are being transformed into environments that support and encourage healthy behaviors. A Guide to  Developing Exemplary Practices in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Food Security in Afterschool Programs (Practices) was created in consultation with expert stakeholders, grounded in research and deep afterschool experience, and tested and implemented by a learning community of  multi-site afterschool programs selected for their outstanding work in nutrition and/or physical activity. Healthy Behaviors Learning Centers have now been established at program sites across California to help other programs access support, resources and tools to increase the healthy eating and physical activity of their students, staff and families.

Changing Lives, Saving Lives:  A Step by Step Guide to Developing Exemplary Practices in Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Food Security in Afterschool Programs (March 2010) is replacing the original Exemplary Practices Guide. It provides user-friendly guidance to implementing the practices based on the Healthy Behaviors Learning Centers’ experiences.

The Healthy Behaviors Initiative is made possible by funding from The California Endowment, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the CDPH Network for a Healthy California through funds from the USDA Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly the Food Stamp Program). Healthy Behaviors is an initiative of the Center for Collaborative Solutions.