CATCH® partners with Carnegie Public Schools with support from BCBS-OK

August 10, 2016  | By CATCH Global Foundation

The CATCH Global Foundation has been named a recipient of the Healthy Kids, Healthy Families (HFHK) grant program from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBS-OK); an initiative designed to improve the health and wellness of children through community investments by Health Care Service Corporation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. The Western Oklahoma CATCH Coordinated School Health Initiative 12-month grant is already underway in Guymon and will begin this August in Carnegie, Oklahoma. The Carnegie training will kick-off on August 10^th at the Carnegie Elementary School.

“We look forward to implementing the CATCH tools and methodology at Carnegie Public Schools and support healthy lifestyle and nutrition choices for hundreds more kids and families,” said Duncan Van Dusen, Executive Director of CATCH Global Foundation. “We’re honored to partner with the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma to help fight childhood obesity throughout the state and teach children healthy choices that will last a lifetime.”

According to the Trust for America’s Health, more than 17% of children ages 10-17 are obese in Oklahoma, the 14^th highest childhood obesity rate in the nation. In addition to their population being at higher risk due to socioeconomic status, Carnegie Public School District serves high proportions of Native American students and is a small rural community.

Since 2007, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has supported CATCH implementations in after-school programs across the state, and in 2015 OSDH and CATCH implemented the program in 14 elementary schools together. Evaluation results include an increase in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, a reduction in BMI percentile scores, decreased screen time and greater fruit and vegetable consumption. This project continues CATCH’s ongoing focus on bringing its programs to schools around the country with large portions of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.

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