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We're CATCHing Up! CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health) is a coordinated school health program which builds an alliance of parents, teachers, child nutrition personnel, school staff, and community partners to teach children and their families how to be healthy for a lifetime. The four CATCH components - Go For Health Classroom Curriculum, CATCH Physical Education, Eat Smart Guide School Nutrition, and Family Home Team activities - reinforce positive healthy behaviors throughout a child's day and make it clear that good health and learning go hand in hand.
Good health is a family affair. But wouldn't it be nice if schools could help? Perhaps you are already teaching your family that proper nutrition and regular physical activity are a lifetime priority. Or maybe, you realize your family needs to make some changes toward adopting a healthier lifestyle. Either way - the CATCH Program is a great place to start or further expand your efforts at home. It has been well noted that your children will achieve academically when schools and parents work side-by-side. The same is true for good health. The success of CATCH relies on the coordinated process utilized to implement its component parts. CATCH provides the foundation by which you can build an alliance of school administration, teachers, and parents to support your family's efforts to eat healthy and stay active. Parents are the most influential catalyst for school change. CATCH parents communicate that good health and learning go hand in hand. Regardless how you choose to become involved, the CATCH Texas website will provide you with ideas and insights how you can support CATCH at home, in your school, or at the district level. Make sure to view the What's New Family section and the Links section for Family/Home Team Resources. You may also want to get involved by becoming a part of your child's district SHAC (School Health Advisory Committee). This committee is responsible for making recommendations on health curriculum and other issues impacting the health of children in schools. We hope you enjoy your visit to our website. When you're ready, please contact us toll free at 1-866-346-6163 to learn more about how you can attend a CATCH Training or get started helping schools begin implementing the CATCH Program. The New Movement for Healthier Kids CATCH works! The CATCH Program has scientifically demonstrated that you can create school environments that affect healthy behavioral changes in children. Your school's participation in the CATCH Program is an investment in the health of children, and helps create a healthy community where children benefit from the eating behaviors and physical activity skills they have learned in the school.
Texas, and the nation, is faced with an epidemic of obesity. Approximately 15% of American children are overweight. Children who are overweight are more likely to develop diabetes and other chronic disease risk factors. Inactivity and poor diet cause at least 300,000 deaths a year in the United States. Obesity related diseases cost the U.S. economy more than $100 billion every year. But fortunately, the science of CATCH demonstrated that behaviors such as physical inactivity and eating foods high in fat can be positively changed. |
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