District of Columbia will be creating and implementing the “I am Happy, I am Healthy” program, a three-part wellness improvement strategy.  The program will provide training that will focus on the knowledge, resources, and support for the needs of children, an outreach program that aims to increase participation, and sub-grant opportunities for child care institutions.  Sub-grants will be split into two categories: 1) sub-grants modeled after the Healthier US School Challenge will be available to all child care institutions in amounts ranging from $500-$3,000, based on the level achieved (bronze, silver, or gold); 2) sub-grants will be available to sponsoring organizations of family day care homes willing to focus on and recruit providers with limited English proficiency.  One award of $75,500 will be distributed.  Funds may be used to provide suppliers with training and technical assistance, translate CACFP materials, and purchase nutrition education and physical activity curriculum. 

New York seeks to educate CACFP institutions on its Healthy Child Meal Pattern (HCMP) implemented in January 2010. This meal pattern seeks to improve the quality of meals and snacks served in CACFP by recommending changes that decrease the risk of overweight and obesity and chronic diseases, and further enhances the quality of meals served. Four sub-grants of up to $85,000 each will be awarded to family day care home sponsors. Grants are renewable each year for up to two years. Sub-grantee recipients may use funds to implement the Healthy Child Meal Pattern. Each sub-grant recipient will also be required to hire one full-time dietician (who must attend State administered trainings) who will provide assistance in incorporating improved nutrition and physical activity practices in family day care homes and communicating positive nutrition and physical activity messages to children and their families. Priority will be given to sponsors who serve a large number of low-income providers.

Maryland will be training child care providers on how to develop and implement a wellness policy. These trainings will be delivered through on-line training modules that will be developed through contracted services. Sub-grants of up to $3000 will be available to child care centers to purchase needed resources (nutrition education materials and small equipment for food demonstrations and/or physical activity), and for staff training for the successful implementation of the center’s new wellness policies. Child care center directors must attend an in-person training in order to be eligible to apply for the grants.

North Carolina will create child care nutrition and physical activity standards (wellness policy), create nutrition education materials, develop online training modules, and conduct three regional trainings (twice per year for two years) to provide technical assistance, resources, and accomplishments with child care institutions. Sub-grants will be available to child care centers and sponsoring organizations in the amount of $14,848.52 each. Sub-grants may be used to implement nutrition and physical activity interventions. 

Wisconsin will develop a wellness policy tool-kit for child care institutions that will include materials on nutrition education and developing a successful wellness policy.  Wisconsin will also be developing and disseminating an outreach webinar and brochure, developing an evaluation plan for the wellness policies, and providing technical assistance and oversight to sub-grant recipients. Sub-grants will be available to all child care institutions and awards will range from $1000-$30,000. Sub-grant funds may be used to implement physical and nutrition activities described in the wellness policy kits. 

Texas will implement the Farm to Child Care initiative to increase the connection between local farmers and child care institutions; the Breastfeeding Support Child Care Practices to provide increased support for child care centers with the use of optimal policies and procedure in child care institutions; and the Healthy Child Care Network to provide internet-based distance learning options. Texas will also provide oversight and technical assistance to sub-grant recipients. Sub-grants of up to $8000 will be available to sponsors and individual providers to implement the Farm to Child Care initiative and the Breastfeeding Support practices, or to purchase computer hardware and/or software needed to participate in the Healthy Child Care Network. 

Missouri will implement the Missouri Eat Smart Child Care initiative in family day care homes. The Missouri Eat Smart Child Care initiative was modeled after the Healthier US School Challenge recognize providers who go above and beyond in providing nutritious meals and a healthy environment to children. Missouri will also provide oversight and technical assistance to sub-grant recipients. Sub-grants will be available to sponsoring organizations of family day care homes and child care centers.  Sponsors will receive grants between $15,0000-$30,000; child care centers will receive grants between $1,500-$2,000. Sub-grants may be used to fund costs, such as printed materials, staff time, training, and small equipment. 

Pennsylvania will implement the Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC), a program that focuses on helping child care institutions enhance policies and practices and improve environments. Pennsylvania will also provide oversight and technical assistance to sub-grant recipients. Sub-grants will be awarded to 200 child care institutions at $1,500 each. Sub-grant funds may be used to implement the NAP SACC program, including pay for substitute staff, distribution of nutrition education materials to parents, and professional development and assistance. 

Montana will provide a Cook’s Training/Workshop to food service workers of child care centers participating in the CACFP.  Cook’s Training provides practice in preparing high quality nutritious foods that are in-line with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Sub-grants will be available to sponsoring organizations of family day care homes in the amount of $75 per participating family day care home.  Sub-grant funds may be used to provide Cook’s Training to day care home providers.   

Alaska will implement the Wellness in Alaska Child Care Project, which focuses on promoting the adoption of lifelong habits of good nutrition and physical activity by children in child care centers. Training will be offered through three regional conferences that will discuss and teach three nutrition education materials (Active Play!, More Than Mudpies, and Happy Mealtimes for Healthy Kids). Attendance at the training is required in order to receive a sub-grant. Sub-grants will be available to child care centers and sponsoring organizations of family day care homes.  Child care centers can receive up to $300 per site and sponsoring organizations can receive up to $150 per family day care home.  Sub-grant funds may be used to purchase materials needed to implement the nutrition education curricula. 

Nevada will develop and implementing a CACFP Wellness policy for child care institutions. The wellness policy will target six priority areas: 1) increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, 2) increasing physical activity, 3) supporting breastfeeding, 4) decreasing screen time, 5) increasing the consumption of nutrient-dense foods, and 6) reducing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. Sub-grants will be available to sponsoring organizations.  Funds will be allocated on a per child basis.  Sub-grants may be used to fund costs, such as technical assistance, training, food demonstrations, small physical activity equipment, and nutrition education materials.

Maine will develop CACFP nutrition and physical activity standards and model policies and conduct a train-the-trainer seminar for sub-grantee recipients. Sub-grants will be available to independent centers (25 awards of $500 each) and sponsoring organizations (3 awards of $60,000 each).  Sub-grant funds may be used to provide nutrition education, food safety, and physical activity resources and curriculum, attend trainings, and purchase small equipment for food demonstrations and physical activities. 

Kansas will develop wellness policy guidelines tailored for child care centers and a comprehensive support system for the implementation of these policies.  The wellness policy guidelines will include benchmarks that represent different levels of achievement (basic, advanced, exemplary) in nutrition, nutrition education, and physical activity, and two five-week cycle menus that meet the advanced and exemplary criteria. Sub-grants of $400 to $2,250 will be available to all child care.  The sub-grants program will be modeled after the Healthier US School Challenge with awards given to institutions meeting basic level, advanced level, and exemplary level criteria that promote healthier initiatives and practices in CACFP. Sub-grants  may be used to fund purchases, such as nutrition education materials, small equipment for physical activity, parent education materials, and outreach materials. 

Oregon will create a Child Care Wellness Champions recognition program that identifies institutions that have developed and implemented strong practices and/or policies serve to prevent childhood obesity.  Oregon has developed four key strategies, two related to nutrition-related and two related to physical activity, that these practices and policies must address. Wellness Champions will be featured on the State’s website, in newsletters, and at annual conferences.  Wellness coordinators will also be expected to serve as peer educators and perform outreach for a period of one year.  A Child Care Wellness advisory committee will be convened to develop this recognition program and the sub-grant application. Sub-grants of $1,000 to $500 will be available to sponsoring organizations for supplies needed (nutrition education materials, training, etc.) to move towards or maintain Child Care Wellness Champions status.