The Obesity Prevention and Wellness Section implements evidence-based strategies to improve nutrition and support safe and accessible physical activity across the lifespan.
Good Food Healthy Hospitals
The department partners with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania to implement the Good Food, Healthy Hospitals, an innovative program to improve health through interventions in hospital food and better nutrition. Currently, 64 hospitals, 16 health systems, serving 28 counties participate in the program.
Participating hospitals and health systems:
- receive technical assistance on nutritional analysis, menu planning and implementing food service guidelines;
- adopt food service guidelines to create healthier food environments;
- pledge to increase the availability of healthy foods in cafeterias, vending, catering, patient meals and purchased foods; and
- convene as a task force twice a year to collaborate and share with other participating hospitals.
Facilities interested in learning more about food service guidelines should refer to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Smart Food Choices: How to Implement Food Service Guidelines in Public Facilities.
For more information on Good Food, Healthy Hospitals, please contact ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Early Care and Education (ECE)
High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards Integration
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Spectrum of Opportunities outlines a framework for how to incorporate nutrition and physical activity standards into statewide ECE systems such as:
- quality rating improvement systems;
- state professional development systems;
- licensing;
- statewide technical assistance networks;
- state subsidy programs;
- statewide recognition programs; and
- others outlined in the CDC ECE opportunities framework.
This aim focuses state activities to impact all state residents by making changes that have the potential to reach all legally operating ECE providers or the subset of providers statewide that are served under a particular ECE system component (e.g., all licensed providers; all providers participating in QRIS, and all providers accepting subsidy funds).
Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards for ECE refers to a subset of 47 high-impact obesity prevention standards included in the Caring for Our Children national health and safety standards. The subset of 47 high-impact standards were identified by an expert review panel and designated as Preventing Childhood Obesity standards. These standards, which include nutrition, breastfeeding, physical activity and screen time topics are published in Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs.
Pennsylvania (PA) is accomplishing this work through bi-monthly and annual meetings with a statewide stakeholder group, Keystone Kids Go! (KKG). The collaborative workgroup has members from the PA Departments of Health, Education, Human Services, Head Start State Collaboration Office, Pa. Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics Early Childhood Education Linkage System (ECELS), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Penn State Better Kid Care (BKC), Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pa. Family Literacy, Pa. Nutrition Education Network and Tuscarora Intermediate Unit (TIU) and numerous community organizations representing ECE interests in the state. A full list of partners is available on the KKG website.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Participation in Pennsylvania: A Story Map
The department and Keystone Kids Go workgroup aims to support early childhood education programs that currently participate in CACFP and encourage more eligible programs to participate in an effort to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks and curb disparities in food access across Pennsylvania. The department implements early childhood education strategies to prevent childhood obesity. In this map, current CACFP participation in Pennsylvania and examines the potential for expanded participation in the context of food access and poverty.
Implementation of High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards
Since 2009, Pennsylvania has supported the implementation of high-impact obesity prevention standards in ECE environments throughout the state through the Pennsylvania Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (PA NAPSACC). The PA NAPSACC mini-grant program currently supports up to 50 ECE programs annually with technical assistance, training, professional development and resources to make policy and practice changes that create healthier environments for staff and the children they care for. Outcomes and best practices from past participants are searchable by subject area.
NAPSACC is an approved bonus points intervention to assist child care programs with achieving Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) and Keystone STAR 3 and 4 status.
For more information on ECE strategies, please contact ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Physical Activity
The department has partnered with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center to provide funding and technical assistance to communities to develop Active Transportation Plans that better connect active modes of transportation with everyday destinations within the community through WalkWorks. Its mission is to increase access to and opportunities for physical activity, such as walking, biking, using a wheelchair or other micromobility device, and riding public transit. To date, more than 43 communities have developed and adopted Active Transportation Plans.
Everyday Destinations
Everyday destinations are places people can get to from where they live or work by walking, rolling, wheeling, bicycling or using transit systems. These can include jobs, grocery stores, schools, libraries, parks, restaurants, cultural and natural landmarks and health care facilities. These can connect to activity-friendly routes that can make it safe and convenient for people of all abilities to walk, bike, use a wheelchair or other micromobility device, and ride public transit. For more information on community physical activity, please contact ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Early Care and Education (ECE)
High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards Integration
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Spectrum of Opportunities outlines a framework for how to incorporate nutrition and physical activity standards into statewide ECE systems such as:
- quality rating improvement systems;
- state professional development systems;
- licensing;
- statewide technical assistance networks;
- state subsidy programs;
- statewide recognition programs; and
- others outlined in the CDC ECE opportunities framework.
This aims encourage states to focus on activities that impact all residents by making changes that have the potential to reach all legally operating ECE providers or the subset of providers statewide that are served under a particular ECE system component (e.g., all licensed providers; all providers participating in QRIS, and all providers accepting subsidy funds).
Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards for ECE refers to a subset of 47 high-impact obesity prevention standards included in the Caring for Our Children (4th Ed.) national health and safety standards. The subset of 47 high-impact standards were identified by an expert review panel and designated as Preventing Childhood Obesity standards. These standards, which include nutrition, breastfeeding, physical activity and screen time topics are published in Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs (2nd Ed.).
Pennsylvania (Pa.) is accomplishing this work through bi-monthly and annual meetings with a statewide stakeholder group, Keystone Kids Go! (KKG). The collaborative workgroup has members from the Pa. departments of Health, Education, Human Services, Head Start State Collaboration Office, Pa. Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics Early Childhood Education Linkage System (ECELS), Office of Child Development and Early Learning (OCDEL), Penn State Better Kid Care (BKC), Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pa. Family Literacy, Pa. Nutrition Education Network and Tuscarora Intermediate Unit (TIU) and numerous community organizations representing ECE interests in the state. A full list of partners is available on the KKG website.
Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) Participation in Pennsylvania: A Story Map
The Pennsylvania SPAN Program and Keystone Kids Go workgroup aims to support early childhood education programs that currently participate in CACFP and encourage more eligible programs to participate in an effort to increase access to nutritious meals and snacks and curb disparities in food access across Pennsylvania. The SPAN program implements early childhood education strategies to prevent childhood obesity. In this map, current CACFP participation in Pennsylvania in the context of food access and poverty is examined.
Implementation of Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards
Since 2009, Pennsylvania has supported the implementation of nutrition and physical activity standards in ECE environments throughout the state through the Pennsylvania Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (PA NAP SACC). The PA NAP SACC mini-grant program currently supports up to 100 ECE programs annually with technical assistance, training, professional development and resources to make policy and practice changes that create healthier environments for staff and the children they care for. Outcomes and best practices from past participants are searchable by subject area.
NAP SACC is an approved bonus points intervention to assist child care programs with achieving Quality Rating Improvement System (QRIS) and Keystone STAR 3 and 4 status.
For more information on ECE strategies, please contact ra-dhspan@pa.gov.
Physical Activity
The department has partnered with the Pennsylvania Downtown Center to provide funding and technical assistance to communities to develop plans or policies that better connect active modes of transportation with everyday destinations within the community through the SPAN grant and WalkWorks. Active modes of transportation include sidewalks, paths, bicycle routes and public transit while everyday destinations include homes, early care and education, schools, worksites, parks or recreation centers. To date, more than 30 communities have developed and adopted active transportation plans.
Everyday Destinations
Everyday destinations are places people can get to from where they live or work by walking, bicycling or using transit systems. These can include jobs, grocery stores, schools, libraries, parks, restaurants, cultural and natural landmarks or health care facilities. They are often desirable, useful and attractive. These can connect to activity-friendly routes that can make it safe and convenient for people of all abilities to walk, run, bike, skate or use wheelchairs.
For more information on community physical activity, please contact ra-dhspan@pa.gov.