CATCH Makes Big Splash in Big Easy

A pilot in eight New Orleans-area schools has seen some terrific results in the first year of implementation. An initial report on the Jefferson Parish Public School System (JPPSS) pilot schools shows that campuses are implementing the program with high fidelity. Health and nutrition lessons are being taught regularly, kids are more physically active during PE classes, there is signage and messaging around the campuses that encourages healthy food choices and active lifestyles, and schools are bringing in parents and engaging them in health-related activities through “Family Fun Nights.” 

At Bridgedale Elementary, the food services manager has been using healthy snacks to encourage taste testing and teach nutrition education. At Boudreaux Elementary, pre-K students are now eating healthy foods from the school garden they helped plant.

The Phase One project was made possible thanks to an $80,000 grant from the Humana Foundation.

JPPSS is one of the 75 priority school districts CATCH has identified as part of the “CATCH Promise” initiative. This initiative aims to bring CATCH to districts with the greatest risk for obesity and chronic disease. Learn more about the CATCH Promise here. 

Digital CATCH 2.0 is Here!

Version 2.0 of the popular Digital CATCH web platform is now available, making it easier than ever to access CATCH programs and resources! Users can sample lessons and download resources for free using their computer or other device (did we mention Digital CATCH is fully mobile/tablet friendly?). Check it out here!

As one of the sunniest states in the nation, Arizona is serious about sun safety. The Arizona Department of Education includes sun safety education in their Health and Physical Education standards and the Arizona Department of Health incentivizes licensed childcare providers to implement sun safety education through their EMPOWER program. 

We are delighted to announce that many schools and early childhood education centers in the state will begin using Ray and the Sunbeatables™: A Sun Safety Curriculum created and developed by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and disseminated by CATCH Global Foundation. The Sunbeatables Program educates children, teachers and parents about sun protection and promotes sun safety behaviors in an effort to reduce children’s lifetime risk of developing skin cancer. 

CATCH Global Foundation partnered with the Pima County Department of Health as well as the Arizona Department of Health EMPOWER program to bring two Sunbeatables training events to the state in April. This is the beginning of an exciting partnership in Arizona to promote sun safety education! 

Attend One of the CATCH Open Trainings This Summer! 

Updated Coordination Kit includes new Communications section

Summer is nearly upon us, which means it's time for CATCH Open Trainings! These trainings are a convenient opportunity for organizations and districts of all sizes to get trained or refreshed in CATCH. This year's participants will receive training on the freshly updated Coordination Kit, which features an all new communications and media component. Attendees will learn how to utilize different communications tactics to enhance their program activities and overall effectiveness. To learn more about the Open Trainings taking place this June, July, and August, click here.

Conference Highlights

National Convention on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH) in Austin 

E-cigarettes were a prominent topic at NCTOH this year. Dr. Steven Kelder examined the issue through the lens of youth prevention during a session where he presented pilot test data from the CATCH My Breath Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Program. Dr. Kelder, who authored CATCH My Breath, also sat on a panel with fellow editors of the recently released Surgeon General's report on E-cigarette use among youth and young adults. 

National Head Start Association (NHSA) Annual Conference and Expo 

CATCH presented with representatives from Chicago Public Schools and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center at NHSA’s conference this year in Chicago. The sessions had a great turnout and revolved around early childhood health, including Ray and the Sunbeatables™: A Sun Safety Curriculum created and developed by MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

SHAPE America National Convention and Expo

CATCH and Del Valle ISD spoke in Boston on “Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP) Strategies: Increasing Participation, Providing Resources, and Empowering Student Leaders.” CATCH Early Childhood Program Manager, Abby Rose, also offered real-world strategies for engaging young children in PE class. 

New CATCH My Breath Resources Available!

• Parent Resources
  Parents who have children enrolled in the CATCH My Breath Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Program, or would simply like to learn more about E-cigarettes, can find a parent letter, informational handout, fact sheets, and educational videos on our new Parent Resources page here on Digital CATCH.
  
  
• Teacher/Tobacco Educator Resources
  Educators from schools or organizations that have purchased CATCH My Breath can now access policy templates, guides/toolkits, infographics, and social media links on our new Teacher/Tobacco Educator Resources page here.
  
  
• “The Flavor Trap” E-Cigarette Report
  Five leading public health organizations released a report in March warning that candy- and fruit-flavored products are putting a new generation of kids at risk of nicotine addiction and the serious health harms that result from tobacco use. View the full report here. 

Enter the Spring CATCH Challenge!

This year, how about try a different kind of spring cleaning? Rid your fridge and pantry of unhealthy WHOA foods and make room for plenty of nutritious GO groceries. Keeping your kitchen stocked with nourishing foods will help make the healthy choice the easy choice!

Post a photo of your fridge or pantry spring cleaning using the hashtag #CATCHchallenge and tag @CATCHhealth for a chance to win a $50 Flaghouse gift card. Full details here.

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