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September 10, 2012
News Releases
In recognition of National Childhood
Obesity Awareness Month, The Children’s Center is holding a countywide CATCH
Early Childhood Kick-Off on Friday, September 21, 2012.
CATCH
(Coordinated Approach to Child Health) Early Childhood (EC) is a preschool evidence-based
healthy nutrition and physical activity program, developed by the University of
Texas. This program directly addresses the childhood obesity epidemic by
providing an environment where physical activity, health education, gardening
and healthy eating behaviors are valued and taught. It employs a holistic
approach to child health by targeting multiple aspects of the preschool
community, involving teachers, children and parents in a wide range of
health-promoting activities. While playing and having fun, 3- to 5-year-old
children are building a solid foundation for healthy living. The CATCH EC
kick-off will include approximately 400 children throughout Brevard County,
demonstrating a parachute physical activity component of the CATCH Early Childhood
program.
“The
growing rate of childhood obesity in our country is alarming,” said Lori
Duester, manager of The Children’s Center. “National Childhood Obesity
Awareness Month and CATCH Early Childhood recognizes the serious threat obesity
poses to the health of America’s children and the importance of decreasing its
prevalence, not only in Brevard County, but across the United States.”
The
Children’s Center, an affiliate of Parrish Medical Center, receives funding and
partners with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation through its
Embrace a Healthy Florida initiative. An evidence-based, multisector,
community-based initiative located across Florida, the Embrace initiative is
designed to use community engagement to make long-term changes in childhood and
family health. The Children’s Center received Embrace funding in March 2012 to
address and prevent childhood obesity in the community.
“We
are proud to recognize National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month with The
Children’s Center,” said Susan Towler, vice president of the BCBSF Foundation.
“It calls attention to this national epidemic and The Children’s Center’s work
to build a healthier future for Brevard County children.”
If
you are an early childhood program director or teacher and interested in
promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors in young children, contact Kathy Simonsen
at 321-264-0855 or Kathy.Simonsen@parrishmed.com
to learn more about how to bring the CATCH Early Childhood program to your
school.
About The Children’s Center
The
Children's Center, an affiliate of Parrish Medical Center, offers a variety of
learning and early childhood development programs for area children. The
Children’s Center consists of six local partner agencies working together to
meet the needs of children. The Center annually serves nearly 2,000 children
and their families. Visit The Children's Center online at
parrishchildrenscenter.com.
About the
BCBSF Foundation
The Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation (BCBSF Foundation) is a separate,
philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan
for Floridians. The BCBSF Foundation and its parent, Florida Blue, are
independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an
association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more
information about the BCBSF Foundation, please visit www.bluefoundationfl.com. For
more information about Embrace a Healthy Florida, visit http://embraceahealthyfl.org.
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