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CONTACT: Beth Kaplan, Department of Health Services, (608) 267-3810
WISCONSIN CHILD CARE PROVIDERS JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST CHILDHOOD OBESITY
State Program Seeks to Create Foundation for Physical
Activity in Young Children
MADISON – Promoting physical activity to help prevent childhood
obesity is the goal of a new grant awarded recently by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention to the Department of Health Services (DHS).
The funding targets two to five-year-olds in 20 regulated child care sites
around the state.
The grant will fund a program called “Active Early: Promoting
Physical Activity in Early Care and Education” that provides low or
no-cost strategies and resources to promote at least 120 minutes of
physical activity daily.
More than 30 percent of Wisconsin’s low-income two to four-year-olds
are overweight or obese. Early childhood obesity dramatically increases a
child’s chances of becoming an obese adult and increases risk for many
chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Researchers warn that if childhood obesity continues to rise, children
today are likely to live shorter lives than their parents.
"We know that focusing on nutrition and physical activity in kids
before age five promotes life-long healthy habits," said Karen
Timberlake, Department of Health Services Secretary. "With children
spending, on average, more than 30 hours per week in child care centers,
these providers are well placed to help get kids moving and enjoying
physical activity."
DHS will partner with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association,
Supporting Families Together Association and regional child care resource
and referral agencies to support the Active Early sites. The agencies will
teach hands-on strategies to help the child care centers easily
incorporate physical activity into their daily activities. Grants for
equipment and other resources ranged from $2,500 to $7,500, depending on
the size of the child care centers.
For more information on the Active Early initiative go to: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/physicalactivity/index.htm.
The child care centers receiving grants are:
| Child Care Center |
City |
Grant Amount |
| Tender Times Child Care |
Amery |
$2,500 |
| Faith Child Care |
Appleton |
$7,500 |
| Rising Sun Day Care |
Crandon |
$5,000 |
| Lil Blessings Child Care |
Crandon |
$2,500 |
| Country Care Children's Center |
Cuba City |
$2,500 |
| Encompass De Pere |
De Pere |
$7,500 |
| Starbright Child Care |
Hayward |
$5,000 |
| Hudson Community Children's Center |
Hudson |
$7,500 |
| Library Square School |
Kenosha |
$7,500 |
| MATC Child and Family Center - Downtown |
Madison |
$5,000 |
| Kids Depot |
Madison |
$7,500 |
| Dolly's Child Care |
Merrill |
$2,500 |
| Lilly of the Valley |
Milwaukee |
$2,500 |
| COA Youth and Family Centers Early Education Center |
Milwaukee |
$7,500 |
| Joy's Day Care |
Onalaska |
$5,000 |
| Little Sprouts Discovery Center |
Redgranite |
$7,500 |
| April's Child Care |
Salem |
$2,500 |
| Sheboygan County Interfaith Organization - Building
Bridges |
Sheboygan |
$5,000 |
| Shining Stars Child Care |
Suamico |
$5,000 |
| MC Care |
Wausau |
$2,500 |
Last Revised: December 06, 2010 |
