Broadreach Family and Community Services Nutrition Education

Photo of preschooler jumping around

 

Project Description

  • This project provides nutrition education to preschoolers and adolescents, in two different programs. Nutrition education is provided to preschoolers as part of the comprehensive early childhood programs delivered by the Early Childhood Inclusive and Public PreK Collaborative Programs of Broadreach Family & Community Services.  Pre-school children participate in daily developmentally appropriate nutrition and physical activity education activities as integrated into the agency’s classroom-based early education programs.  Additionally, classroom teachers communicate regularly with parents to provide information on classroom nutrition and physical activity activities, and provide information, referrals and support to assist families in accessing nutrition resources and programs.
  • Nutrition education is provided to adolescents during their participation in the broad range of Youthlinks programs delivered during in-school, after-school and school vacation programs.  One of the chief goals of the program is to foster a healthier lifestyle for youth.  Youthlinks programs are delivered in a variety of settings including at the Youthlinks Center, public schools and at community-based sites throughout Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties.   Programming focuses on building youth skills through gardening education, cooking and outdoor physical activity.  Youthlinks delivers approximately 15 hours per week of after-school programming delivering significant nutrition and physical activity education to about 100 youth per week. 

Methods:

The project uses multiple, innovative and evidence-based strategies to assure success in achieving improved nutrition and physical activity outcomes. The unique project integrates early literacy themes into nutrition and movement activities using innovative instructional and family involvement strategies. Supplemental nutrition education activities (such as gardening, food preparation, food safety, and literacy-based nutrition initiatives) are available to all preschool children served by the agency’s classroom and home-based programs.

The agency creates and distributes a monthly newsletter to support improved family nutrition for all families of enrolled preschoolers. Broadreach staff integrates healthy nutrition information and activities and messages into all family events including parent conferences, classroom open house events, and child and parent days.


MNN staff:

Catherine Giles, Chris Sady and Mary Ann Bennett


Staff contact:

Catherine Giles
45 Commerce Drive, Suite 11, Augusta, ME 04330
P: 207/626-7273
F: 207/626-5210
cgiles@usm.maine.edu


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