FRANKLIN COUNTY HONORED FOR IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF MAINE’S YOUTH  

 Let’s Go! Recognizes 8 Child Centric Sites as Sites of Distinction

 

Farmington, Maine (November 7, 2014) – Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 and the Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County (HCC) announced today that two after school programs, two childcare centers, and four health care practices in Franklin County are being honored for their commitment to excellence in healthy eating and active living for children and families. A total of 24 sites in Greater Franklin County are prioritizing children’s health in collaboration with the Let’s Go! program.

 

Established in 2012, the Let’s Go! Site of Distinction certificate recognizes schools, out of school programs, childcare centers and health care practices for their dedication to creating healthy environments and policies where kids live, learn and play. A total of 368 sites statewide earned this distinction, a 28 percent increase from last year. Let’s Go! encourages policy change and recognizes three levels of change: Bronze reflects a site implementing the program’s top five strategies, Silver acknowledges a site that has written at least one strategy into policy and Gold, the highest level of distinction, is reserved for sites that have written all five priority strategies into policy and enforce the written policy.

 

“We are thrilled to honor sites across the state for their dedication to children’s health. All recipients have embraced Let’s Go!’s five priority strategies and many have written these strategies into policy” said Dr. Victoria Rogers, Director of Let’s Go!. “It’s efforts like these that truly impact children’s health and obesity rates.”

 

Let’s Go!’s top five strategies are: 1) Provide healthy choices for snacks and celebrations; limit unhealthy choices; 2) Provide water and low fat milk; limit or eliminate sugary beverages; 3) Provide non-food rewards; 4) Provide opportunities for children to get physical activity every day; and 5) Limit recreational screen time.

 

Health care sites are recognized for three practice specific, obesity prevention program components: 1) Providing consistent 5-2-1-0 messaging in offices; 2) Calculating BMI for all patients aged 2 and older; and 3) Using the 5-2-1-0 Healthy Habits questionnaire to have a respectful conversation about lifestyles with their patients.

 

HCC’s Let’s Go! Program Coordinator Molly Clark said, “I am continually inspired by the enthusiasm and grassroots efforts that are already happening to support healthy kids in our community. There are wonderful success stories as well as opportunities to do even more. As word travels and Let’s Go! efforts expand, I look forward to honoring many more sites in the coming years.”

 

Programs honored this year include child care sites Jeannie’s Jungle in Jay (Gold) and Tamarack Tree House in Wilton (Bronze) along with Rangeley Fitness Center after school program (Bronze), Stratton School after school program (Bronze), Franklin Health Pediatrics in Farmington, Livermore Falls Family Practice, Mt. Abram Health Center in Kingfield and Strong Area Health Center.