Local organizations honored
for supporting Healthy Kids Initiative
A select list of Maine schools, after-school programs and child care programs is being recognized for offering healthy food and recreational opportunities for students.
The award was presented to those organizations that met five priority strategies established in connection with Let’s Go!, a program of The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center:
• Provide healthy choices for snacks and celebrations, and limit unhealthy choices;
• Provide water and low-fat milk and limit or eliminate sugary beverages;
• Provide non-food rewards;
• Provide opportunities for children to get physical activity every day; and
• Limit recreational screen time.
Three levels of recognition — gold, silver and Bronze — were presented, using the following criteria:
• Gold — All five Let’s Go! priority strategies included in recipient’s written policy and written policy enforced (verified by a signed statement from a principal or director);
• Silver — All five Let’s Go! priority strategies implemented, between one and four of the priority strategies included in written policy and written policy enforced (verified by a signed statement from a principal or director); and
• Bronze — All five Let’s Go! priority strategies implemented.
In addition, 24 health care locations were recognized as Sites of Distinction. Those providers (noted with an asterisk below) committed to the three components of a Let’s Go! health care site: providing consistent 5-2-1-0 messaging in offices, calculating body-mass index for all patients aged 2 and older and using the 5-2-1-0 questionnaire to have a respectful conversation about weight with their patients.
“These organizations have made a commitment to improving the health of Maine children,” said Victoria Rogers, MD, Let’s Go! program director. “By providing healthier food options and encouraging more activity, they’re making a difference in the lives and futures of our state’s youngest population.”
Aroostook County organizations receiving recognition include gold recipients: ACAP Child & Family Center, Caribou; ACAP Child and Family Services Park Street, Presque Isle; ACAP Child and Family Services, North Street, Houlton; ACAP Child and Family Services, Bird Street, Houlton; ACAP Child and Family Services, Dyer Brook; ACAP Child and Family Services, Fort Fairfield; ACAP Child and Family Services, Fort Kent; ACAP Child and Family Services, Mars Hill; Bouchards Day Care, Houlton; and Dr. Levesque Elementary School, Frenchville.
Receiving silver were: Caribou Parks and Recreation Youth Programming, Caribou; Central Aroostook Jr-Sr High School, Mars Hill; and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Houlton.
Bronze recipients included: Pine Street Elementary School, Presque Isle; Presque Isle Middle School, Presque Isle; Susan Sewells Day Care, Houlton; and Zippel Elementary School, Presque Isle.
*Houlton Pediatrics, Houlton.
