2018 Education

Page 24 2018 EDUCATION MAGAZINE LINCOLN DAILY NEWS MARCH 1, 2018 A partnership between Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital and local schools is helping students in Logan County learn how to live a healthy, active lifestyle. CATCH—which stands for Coordinated Approach to Child Health—is a nationwide program aimed at combating childhood obesity that was first implemented in two Logan County schools in the fall of 2014. Now, Logan County has 15 schools including two early childhood programs, reaching over 3,000 students in total. Stoltzenburg said that staff at local schools, as well as kids across the county, have embraced the CATCH message, which promotes healthy eating and active lifestyles. Schools using the program receive staff training, as well as resources like physical education equipment and classroom curriculum. ALMH Foundation Specialist for CATCH, Angie Whiteman regularly provides fruits and veggies for taste testings and sometimes even helps teachers with lesson plans from the CATCH curriculum. The CATCH program also have Bruce Broccoli and Stella Strawberry that visit the schools. The CATCH Kids Club, an after school program, is also being presented in partnership with the local YMCA, extending the message beyond school walls. And CATCHslogans are now featured on community billboards and park banners. “We are taking CATCH community- wide,” said Angela Stoltzenburg, director, ALMH Community Health Collaborative, “Healthy eating and active living is important for all ages.” This year the Children’s and Community Wellness EXPOs held at the Lincoln Park District in February were themed “Go, Slow and Whoa Your Way to Health” building on the messaging theCATCH schools teach. K i d s need to live a a healthy active lifestyle too! P hotos by Karen Hargis Latham Park Scully Park CONTINUED →