CATCH Champion - April 2008
Interview with Dontrice Stephens
Health and Wellness Coordinator, Georgia Mountains YMCA
When did you and your district adopt the CATCH Program and what prompted you to do so?
We adopted the CATCH program in July of 2007 because of its strong structured curriculum that focuses on development of the whole child, which meets our YMCA mission to "Put Christian Principles into practice through programs, services and relationships that build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all".
Describe notable changes since implementing CATCH and how you know CATCH is working.
All programs are very excited and engaged in using all the tools provided to them as well as adding new components to existing games to keep kids engaged. Children are learning to live a healthier, more active lifestyle through active play and eating healthy as a result of the new curriculum.
What are the keys to your success?
The key to our program's success was the motivation and dedication to serving our youth. We focused on the needs of the children and schools that we serve, and what the overall goal needed to be. As an instructor, I made sure to develop my staff with the appropriate tools needed to run a successful CATCH program.
What advice can you offer for those just beginning and for those who have already implemented the CATCH Program.
"Make it your own"
Only you know how passionate you are about your program. Take what you love about the program and what you are excited about, and pass it on to your staff and children.
What was your most significant barrier and how did you overcome the challenge?
Not knowing how to tie all the materials together, and implementing the program when space was limited
What has been the reaction from parents, administration, students and community?
Students, parents and the community are very excited about the program and truly enjoy it. With schools contemplating cutting Physical Education from the curriculum, CATCH helps families maintain the activeness in their lives. Our Healthy Kids Day was a prime example of this program being put to use: "Put Play in Your Day".
What are your plans for the future? What is your CATCH vision?
Our future goal is to implement CATCH in all 27 of our afterschool sites throughout Hall County . Our vision is to promote healthy lifestyles for families and children of all ages. We want to see the child obesity rate drop by acknowledging that there is a problem, and beginning to solve it with CATCH.
Anything else you would like to add?
CATCH has been running successfully for 6 months in our afterschool programs, and has just begun in one of our middle schools. I predict that by next school year, we will be running in all 27 sites and have met our goal
Contact us for more information on CATCH!
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