Healthy Kids Program
Healthy Kids Program
The Healthy Kids Program aims to help all children live healthy lives by providing education and programming for children, parents, educators, child care providers and healthcare providers, with a goal of preventing and treating elevated Body Mass Index (BMI) and associated diseases such as diabetes.
All Kids Healthy
All Kids Healthy is the outreach branch of the Healthy Kids Program and is a resource for families, schools, childcare and healthcare providers to use to create healthier habits in the places where children live, learn and play. From programs for students to speakers for providers and families, All Kids Healthy has a variety of programs and resources to help kids grow strong and healthy for a lifetime.
Creating Healthy Habits
If you are looking to start making changes for yourself and your family, we have created a guide to help take the confusion out of the process and let you make the changes you want in a way that will last. Included in the guide is information on why creating healthy habits is important, a process to help you set and work toward your goals, information on how to plan for and handle set-backs, as well as tracking forms to help you stay on target.
Resources
5-2-1-0 is a messaging and education program based out of Maine and adopted by the American Academy of Pediatrics as well as numerous communities across the nation. All Kids Healthy collaborates with the Central Iowa Well Kids Coalition and the Healthiest State Initiative to provide consistent messaging about healthy eating and active living to Iowa families. In Central Iowa, the Healthy Kids Program provides outreach to healthcare providers, childcare providers and schools by offering training, webinars and resources. By integrating evidence-based messageing into a variety of settings, we are helping reinforce the message and encourage healthy habits for kids and families.
For more information or to schedule a presentation, please contact Angie Clark at (515) 241-3317 or Angie.Clark@unitypoint.org.
CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) has been part of the All Kids Healthy program since 2010. CATCH is a nationally-recognized, research-based childhood obesity prevention program. CATCH supports the 5-2-1-0 message by teaching children about the benefits of daily physical activity and smart food choices using a variety of non-competitive games and classroom-style lessons.
While the complete CATCH curriculum addresses a variety of areas within schools, the Center for Advocacy & Outreach at Blank Children's Hospital has focused on the after-school component (CATCH Kids Club) and the preschool component (CATCH Early Childhood). CATCH programming helps teachers and staff shape their physical activity time to get all children participating and active.
All Kids Healthy can train your staff in the CATCH Kids Club and Early Childcare curriculums as well as assist in incorporating them into your existing programs. Training is available at no charge. To schedule a training, please contact Angie Clark at (515) 314-9271 or Angie.Clark@unitypoint.org. For more information about CATCH, visit www.catchinfo.org.
Healthy Kids Treatment Program
The Healthy Kids Treatment Program is for children and families who would like to create a healthier lifestyle, improve health habits and decrease the risk of additional medical concerns associated with elevated Body Mass Index (BMI). This program utilizes a multidisciplinary team approach to help families set small, attainable goals based off healthy eating and activity recommendations. The program offers weekly contact with the wellness coach to help your family stay focused on your goals and to problem-solve any challenges that might arise. Families will also have follow-up appointments in the office with the team to monitor lab work, BMI and address medical needs.
Treatment Program
Your first visit will take up to 2 hours and you will meet with members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Blank Children's Endocrinology provider, Courtney Reints, DNP, ARNP, CPNP is the medical provider for the program. She will review your medical history and lab work. She will offer recommendations for behaviorally-based goals and address any co-morbidities or concerns you or your child may have. She will help develop a treatment plan that is individually tailored to the child and his/her family.
- Alex Ceryanec is the dietician for the program. She will review your current eating habits, provide education on nutrition, and make recommendations for improving nutrition for the patient and family.
- Julia Richards Krapfl is the wellness coach who will be calling you on the phone every week. She will help you set behaviorally-based goals to work toward and develop a specific plan to help you reach those goals in small steps.
Patients and families can be referred to the office by their primary care provider, care coordinator or nurse. Patients must meet the following referral criteria:
- Age 2-18 years.
- BMI at the 99th percentile or above or at the 95th percentile with co-morbidities.
- Previous attempts of working with your primary care provider, nurse or care coordinator on healthy habit goals.
- Documentation for at least three visits in the past 12 months.
- Family is ready to make lifestyle changes and willing to work toward goals with clinic providers and staff.
- Family is willing to have weekly phone calls with the wellness coach to review progress and set new goals.
- Attend monthly follow-up visits in the office.
We will communicate closely with your primary care provider who will continue to follow you for your routine health care needs.