Colorado Early Education Network (CEEN) Head Start

Project Summary

Colorado Early Education Network (CEEN) provides comprehensive Preschool services to 10 Head Start centers for 562 children in Weld County, Colorado.  
Through the generous funding of the Buell Foundation, CATCH Global Foundation coordinated several Train the Trainer Academies for Early Childhood (EC) professionals in Colorado. A total of 38 Community trainers were certified to deliver implementation training for the evidence-based CATCH Early Childhood obesity prevention and health promotion program. CATCH created tools and incentives for Community trainers to follow up their initial training with additional support to assist EC providers in adopting the CATCH EC program effectively, including discounted or free curriculum resources. Over two years, this partnership resulted in staff from 123 Early Childhood sites participating in CATCH EC training. The CATCH EC training is approved through the Colorado Early Childhood Professional Development Information System and is aligned to Colorado Early Learning Guidelines and the Colorado SHINES quality improvement point structure. 
In 2018, Mike Schwan, MS.RD, a Community CATCH EC Trainer from Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE), provided a CATCH EC Implementation Training to CEEN Head Start directors and staff. He followed this training with ongoing technical assistance and support including onsite visits to observe and coach staff in leading CATCH activities, work through any barriers, and set realistic goals to increase implementation. Each CEEN Head Start location also received a full curriculum set and physical activity equipment thanks to a generous donation from United Way of Weld County Promises for Children and support from CATCH Global Foundation.

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Outcomes

Since implementation at Weld County Head Start centers in 2018, the CATCH program has yielded significant results across the Colorado Early Education Network (CEEN), most notably a 40% increase in childcare workers and teachers who use lesson plans/daily schedules and curriculum to ensure children receive the standard amount of structured physical activity. 100% of the sites that completed CATCH Training now use lesson plans and curricula. There was also a 12% increase in childcare workers and teachers who agree that, “my classroom environment affects my children’s abilities to choose healthy behaviors.”