At the end of the day, this team promoting fitness for children was happy and satisfied at the day-long training offered to over 20 kindergarten through eighth grade physical education teachers and professionals. Healthy Communities Partnership and the ALMH Foundation sponsored the Coordinated Approach To Child Health PE Program held at the Lincoln Park District on September 21. Foundation Specialist for CATCH, Angie Whiteman, national CATCH PE Trainer Shana Green and HCP Manager Angela Stoltzenburg led the workshop aimed at improving childhood cardiovascular health through physical activity.


 

HCP and Logan County PE teachers 'CATCH' for healthier kids

[October 08, 2016]  LINCOLN - On Wednesday, September 21, more than 20 kindergarten through eighth grade physical education teachers from through Logan County and eastern Mason County attended a day-long CATCH training.

Coordinated Approach To Child Health 'CATCH'
is a national evidence based program that targets behavior patterns in physical activity, healthy eating and non-smoking.

There was plenty of enthusiasm and energy as the Healthy Communities Partnership Team - Manager Angela Stoltzenburg, Foundation Specialist Angie Whiteman and national CATCH PE Trainer Shana Green launched into explaining the program and then sharing its practical lessons and guides to the PE teachers, who on an ordinary day are already an energetic group themselves.

The CATCH program is one of the many efforts ALMH/Healthy Communities Partnership has in progress to address obesity in Logan County. The 5210 program promoting healthy eating habits and activity each and every day was also designed to encourage youth and was introduced a few years ago.

CATCH Schools encourage good nutrition through such things as posters showing Go foods, Slow foods, and Whoa foods, and school staff are trained to offer students plenty of interactive rewards for healthy choices.

The CATCH programs in local schools are facilitated by the Healthy Communities Partnership. The program supplies curriculum, tools, support, equipment and training for educators and school staff, and includes take-home family components.

The CATCH PE day included introductions to structured fitness activities that are fun and can be integrated with traditional fitness exercise to promote increasing levels of physical fitness in youth.

Curriculum included how to introduce new activities with a multitude of variations, organization and communications, keeping control of the group, avoidance of problems, discipline options, how to jump right into activity and avoid lost minutes; how to keep it fun, such as with music used like musical chairs to change activity or partners in the group, and how to change it up by adding various types of simple equipment.

Several self-assessment guides were provided to steer teachers in fore- and after-thought class planning and review; prompts for trouble shooting difficulties;; tips on how to get children, including the difficult child, to obey; transition points and clean up equipment.

Teachers were instructed on how to make the exercise periods enticing for all levels of their students skill and condition, and to encourage students to increase activity both in school and outside of school.

In explaining lesson planning options, the teachers were encouraged to choose developmentally appropriate games and activities and how to integrate the use of traditional fitness exercises; and to make modifications on what doesn't work for their group. Teachers were also instructed to build slowly, "In by inch, its a cinch. Yard by yard, it's too hard."

The last point emphasized, "Remember: First and foremost, it's about ENJOYABLE PHYSICAL activity." The goal is to foster "an environment where the kids believe that you care about them and their well-being."

Teachers attending the training day held at the Lincoln Park District also enjoyed a healthy lunch that included veggie and meat filled tortilla wraps and fresh fruit.

The Coordinated Approach to Child Health were created to promote a healthy school environment and contains elements that can be furthered at home.

CATCH programs are one of many efforts the Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and Healthy Communities Partnership are using to address the problem of obesity beginning with our youth as a top health priority in Logan County.

And this year, the ALMH Market has been introduced for the whole community promoting healthy choices. The Market has been highly successful and a few opportunities remain before the last market day for the season on Saturday, October 29.

The producer-only indoor market promotes fresh food and healthy living, while also supporting local farmers and the food-producer economy.
Locally grown foods, family oriented activities, cooking demonstrations, health screenings, and more can be found at the ALMH Market on Saturdays held from 8 a.m. to noon at the Logan County Fairgrounds.

Each week you will find fresh meats, poultry, pork, eggs, baked goods, and of course, fruits and vegetables. All items are homegrown, handmade and/or vendor-created from locally-owned operations within the state of Illinois.

Fitness classes are held at 9 a.m.

The ALMH Market accepts debit cards and SNAP/Link cards. Visit The ALMH Market Booth for more information.

You can visit the https://www.thealmhmarket.org/  for more information. "The ALMH Market prides itself on being a wellness destination like no other in Illinois."

[Jan Youngquist]

For more information about CATCH, visit www.catchinfo.org.

You may also contact
Angela Stoltzenburg,
MBA Marketing and Community Partnerships Manager
Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital
Healthy Communities Partnership
200 Stahlhut Drive | Lincoln, IL 62656
Phone [phone]
Email [e-mail]

Or visit www.ALMH.org and www.healthycommunitiespartnership.net