What Makes a CATCH Champion?
By Peter Cribb, M.Ed., National CATCH Director
University of Texas School of Public Health
We need Champions! Specifically, we need CATCH and Coordinated School Health Champions!
Why? Because with one out of three children today having excess body fat, 81% of overweight kids becoming obese adults, and 46 million students currently enrolled in our schools classrooms, it's no wonder we are facing an epidemic. In fact, chronic diseases related to obesity kill more people then smoking each year. If children don't learn what to do, such as eat properly and exercise, then how can we expect them to do it? We need Champions, and soon.
Learning positive health behaviors is an essential life skill and must be an integral part of a child's educational development. So what can you do to facilitate consistent and positive health messages at school?
A couple of suggestions might be to take stock of your current school health culture and policies and get a dialogue going. We have also found that reaching out and forming partnerships locally not only helps getting the ball rolling and making people aware but helps in sustaining the program once it's in place. Many community institutions, organizations, charities, business, and agencies have goals and interests that include improving child health so why not get them involved? And don't forget, a school's greatest resource is people so involve as many as you can.
Changing a school health environment is a journey – not an event, so keep moving forward. It takes courage to evoke change, and that is what's needed to make a difference in a child's life. There are certain steps that can be taken to change a school's or community's health culture. These key steps might include:
Creating a vision
Prioritizing health and wellness
Being a role model
Providing consistent messages to youth
Educating teachers, parents and students
Galvanizing teachers and staff efforts
Partnering with parents
Connecting with the community
A Champion can also come from all walks of life. It can be a principal, a teacher, a Physical Education Instructor, a Food Service Manager, or even a concerned parent. So, be a Champion and help make our children's future a bright one.
If you have someone in your community who exemplifies what being a champion is then we want to hear from you. Contact Kathy Chichester at editor@catchinfo.org to submit your nomination!
Contact us for more information on CATCH!
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