August2017– ASPHNWebinar

FarmtoEarlyCareandEducation:PromisingPractices

forHealthandEducation

LacyStephens,MS,RDNFarmtoEarlyCareandEducationAssociate

lacy@farmtoschool.org

WebinarAgenda• IntroductiontotheNationalFarmtoSchoolNetwork

• WhatisFarmtoEarlyCareandEducation

• WhyFarmtoEarlyCareandEducation

• DiggingintotheCoreElements

• MeetingStandardsandIncreasingQualitywithFarmtoECE

• StateAgenciesandFarmtoECE

• ResourceRoundup

• Q&A

WebinarObjectivesFollowingthewebinar,participantswillbeableto:• Identifythecoreelementsoffarmtoearlycareandeducation(ECE)- includingeducation,gardening,andlocalprocurement- andprovideexamplesofeach.

• ExplainthebenefitsoffarmtoECEandhowfarmtoECEinitiativescanincreasethequalityofECEsettingsbypromotinghealthandhighqualityeducation.

• UtilizeresourcesfromtheNationalFarmtoSchoolNetworkandothernationalandstatepartnerstosupportfarmtoECEimplementation.

INTRODUCTIONTOTHENATIONALFARMTOSCHOOLNETWORK

OURNETWORK

OURCOREFUNCTIONS

Information Networking Advocacy

Resources People Policy

Ahubfor:

Connectingpeopleto:

2017CELEBRATIONS

Atimetotakeaction!• Getinspired:Blogsonfarmtoschool.org

• Getinformed:Webinars&tweetchats

• Getinvolved:“TakeAction”Pledge+Sweepstakes

GETINVOLVED

• Downloadresources– FarmtoSchoolMonthposters– Stickers– Bookmarks– Coloringsheets

• Findactivitieshappeninginyourstate

• BecomeanOutreachPartnerOrganization

• Signupforournewsletter– moreresourcescomingsoon!

farmtoschool.org/month

ECEACTIVITYIDEAS• Planafieldtriptoafarm,farmersmarket,fisheryorotherfarmtoschoolsite

• Servealocalfooditemforasnackorduringameal

• Plantseedsorharvestfromagarden

• Encouragecreativitywithcoloringpages(downloadonline)

• Displaypostersandstickers(downloadonline)

• Celebratewhat’shappeninginyourcommunity– Sharelocalstoriesfarandwide– Pitchmedia,promoteonsocialmedia,sharephotos

WHATISFARMTOEARLYCAREANDEDUCATION?

FarmtoEarlyCareandEducation

• Groupofstrategiesandactivitiesthatoffer:– increasedaccesstohealthy,localfoods

– gardeningopportunitiesand

– food-basedactivities

• Targetschildrenages0-5

• AdaptstoallECEsettings

PhotoCredit:AliStoneforGardeneers

WHATISFARMTOSCHOOL?

WHYFOCUSONFARMTOEARLYCAREANDEDUCATION?

WHYFARMTOSCHOOL?

KIDS WIN

FARMERS WIN

COMMUNITIES WIN

…andmore

• FamilyandCommunityEngagement

• EnhancedEducationalExperience

• HealthandWellness

= alignment with early care and education priorities and goals

FamilyandCommunityEngagement

• Emphasisonfamilyengagement– Mostsuccessfulparentengagementactivelyengageswithexperienceandfeedback

• Meetsneedsofchildrenofallagesandabilities

• Childrenasagentsofchange• Impactoncaregivers

– Prioritizehealthyeating– Expandacceptanceofnewfoods– Encouragepositiveattitudesandmodeling

• Connecttocommunity,culture,andheritage

FamilyEngagementOpportunities

• Familydinners

• Familytastetests

• Cookingclasses

• Communitysupportedagriculture

• Storytime

• Gardendays

• Fieldtrips

EnhancedEducationalExperience

• AlignmentwithECEstandardsandsystems– StateEarlyLearningStandards– HeadStartProgramPerformanceStandards

• Experientialeducationisthenorm– Supportsappropriatecognitive,physical,socialandemotionaldevelopment

HealthandWellness

• Earlydevelopmentofeatingpatternsandpreferences

• Relyonparents/caregiverstocreatefood/activityenvironments

• Increaseavailability,acceptance,andconsumptionofhealthierfoods

• Increaseknowledgeandimprovefoodchoicesofparentsandcaregivers

PhotoCredit:WillametteFarmandFoodCoalition

CDCSpectrumofOpportunitiesforObesityPreventionintheECESetting• AlignmentwithFarmtoECE

– FacilityLevelInterventions

– CACFP

– QualityRatingandImprovementSystems(QRIS)

– AccesstoHealthyEnvironments

– EarlyLearningStandards

– FamilyEngagement

EarlyChildhoodObesity:EvidenceBasedProtectiveFactors• Introducedtoawidevarietyof

flavors,textures,andfoods

• Fruitandvegetableconsumption

• Mindfuleatingisfostered(awarenessofhungerandsatiety)

• Highfiberandnutrientrichdiet

SupportingHealthyHabits

• Earlychildhoodisacriticaltimefordevelopmentoftastepreferences3

• Repeatedexposuretofruitsandvegetablesincreasespreference,apredictoroffutureconsumption4-8

FarmtoECEandF&V

• FarmtoECEactivitiescontributetoincreasedwillingnesstotryandreportedlikingoftargetfruitsandvegetables9,10

• FarmtoECEparticipationcontributestoincreasedfruitand/orvegetableintake11,12,13

FarmtoSchoolandStudentHealth14

• Farmtoschoolparticipationcontributesto:– Choosinghealthieroptionsatschoolmeals

– Consumingmorefruitsandvegetablesatschoolmealsandathome(+0.99to+1.3servings/day)

– Consuminglessunhealthyfoodsandsodas

– Reducingscreentime

– Increasingphysicalactivity

DIGGINGINTOTHECOREELEMENTS

Education• Farmandgardenbooks

• Cookingactivities

• Tastetests

• Specialvisitors- farmers,chefs,etc.

• Sensoryexploration

PhotoCredit:FairylandFamilyChildcareandYMCAofMadison,WI

Education(cont.)

• Foodandgardenlessons– howfoodgrowsandwhereitcomesfrom

• Fieldtrips– farms,gardens,farmers’markets,etc.

• Math,science,literacylessons

CurriculumResources

• USDAGrowIt!TryIt!LikeIt!– https://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/grow-it-try-it-it

• HarvestforHealthyKids– www.harvestforhealthykids.org

• GrowingMindsFarmtoPreschoolToolkit– http://growing-minds.org/farm-preschool-toolkit/

USDAGrowit,Tryit,Likeit!

• ActivityGuidesfor6differentfruitsandvegetables

• Familyhandoutsandresources

• Planningcalendar

• CACFPrecipes

HarvestforHealthyKids

• DevelopedinpartnershipwithHeadStartprograms

• Evidencebased

• Freeactivitykits

• Picturecards

• “FamilyBites”

• Recipes

ASAPFarmtoPreschoolToolkit

• ThisWeekintheGarden

• FarmtoSchoolGoesHome

• ReachfortheStars– FarmtoPreschoolAlignmentwithECERS-R

Gardening

• Containers

• RaisedBeds

• Ingroundgardens

• Hydroponics

• Verticalgardening

PhotoCredit:NFSN

PhotoCredit:FairylandFamilyChildcare,YMCAofMadison,WI,TakingRootTennessee,IATPFarmtoHeadStart

LocalFoods

• Meals

• Snacks

• TasteTests

PhotoCredit:FairylandFamilyChildcare,IATPFarmtoHeadStart

UniqueOpportunitiesforLocalFood

• Flexibilityofpurchasing• Varyingclassandprogramsizes

• Yearroundprogramming

• ECEPriorityAreas• Experientiallearningopportunities

• Familystylemeals

• BestPracticeinCACFP

CACFPMealPatternFinalRule

“Localfoodscanplananimportantroleincreatingandpromotingahealthyenvironment.Agrowingbodyofresearchdemonstratesseveralpositiveimpactsofservinglocalfoods andprovidingfoodeducationthroughCNP’sincluding:• Increasedparticipationandengagement

inschoolmealprograms,• Consumptionofhealthieroptions,such

aswholefoods,• Supportoflocaleconomies.”

PhotoCredit:HealthyCommunityFoodSystems,CO

LocalFoodsinthenewCACFPMealPattern

• Additionalfruitandvegetablevarietyrequirements,increasedwholegrainsandreducedsugarinsnacksandbeverages,canallbesupportedwithfarmtoearlycareandeducationactivities.

• Usinglocalfoods,gardeningexperiences,andfoodandnutritioneducation,youngchildrenlearntoacceptandenjoythevarietyofhealthyfoodsincludedinthemealpattern.

PhotoCredit:IATPFarmtoChildCare

BestPracticesinCACFP

FarmtoECEsupports“BestPracticesinCACFP”:• Incorporateseasonalandlocallyproducedfoodsintomeals.• Makeatleastoneofthetworequiredcomponentsofsnacksa

vegetableorfruit.• Serveavarietyoffruitsandchoosewholefruitmoreoften

thanjuice.• Provideatleastoneservingeachofdarkgreenvegetables,

redandorangevegetables,beansandpeas,starchyvegetables,andothervegetablesonceperweek.

USDACACFPGuidance

• March2015USDAMemo– LocalFoodsintheChildandAdultCareFoodProgram

– http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/f2s/CACFP11_2015_Local%20Foods%20in%20CACFP_03%2013%202015.pdf

– Localpurchasing– SAEfunds– Gardensandgardengrownproduce

– Foodsafety– Donatedfoods

PhotoCredit:IATPFarmtoChildCare

USDACACFPGuidance– BuyingLocal

• Institutionsvs.Facilities– Procurementregulations– Geographicpreference

• Documentation– Dateofpurchase,nameofvendor/farmer,itemcost,amount,totalcost

• Purchasingfromfarmers– GAP,liability

USDACACFPGuidance– Gardens

• AllowableCosts– Itemsforgarden(seeds,fertilizer,wateringcans,labor,plotrental,etc.)togrowfoodthatwillbeusedinfoodservice

• Documentation– Weightand/orvolumeofproducefromgarden

PhotoCredit:NFSN

MEETINGSTANDARDSANDINCREASINGQUALITY

HeadStartProgramPerformanceStandards

PerformanceStandard FarmtoECEActivity

1302.11Determiningcommunitystrengths,needs,andresources

Localfoodsandnutritioneducationresourcescanbeincluded incommunityassessment

1302.31Teachingandthelearningenvironment

FarmtoECEeducationalinitiativespromoteinteractivelearning opportunitiesthroughfood,makingeverymealtimealearningtime

1302.32Curricula Peer reviewed,evidencebasedfarmtoECEcurriculaisavailableforimplementation

1302.34Parentandfamilyengagementineducationandchilddevelopmentservices

FarmtoECEinitiatives offerengagingandmeaningfulopportunitiesforparentvolunteerandengagementintheclassroom

EarlyLearningOutcomesFramework

EarlyLearning OutcomeGoal FarmtoECEActivity

Nutrition:GoalP-PMP5.Childdevelopsknowledgeandskillsthathelppromotenutritiousfoodchoicesandeating habits

Gardening,tastetests,cooking,sensoryexplorationoffermultipleexposurestohealthy,localfoods,promotingincreasedwillingnesstotryandreportedlikinghealthyfoods.

Logic andReasoningStandards:GoalIT-C1.Childactivelyexplorespeopleandobjectstounderstandself,others,andobjects.

Childusesgardeningtoinvestigatequestionslike,“Whattoplantsneedtogrow?”Childmakespredictionsandobservationslike,“Ithinktheplantneedswatertogrow.”

A Guide to Using The Creative Curriculum® for Preschoolto Support Farm-to-ECE ModelsMay 2017

CreativeCurriculumObjectivesforDevelopmentandLearning

Areaofdevelopmentandlearning FarmtoECEActivity

Physical:Demonstratesfine-motorstrengthandcoordination

Childrensortseeds andusetheirfingerstodigandplantinthegarden.

Language: Usesappropriateconversationalandothercommunicationskills

Children andteacherstalkwithoneanothertoplanagarden,makingdecisionstogetherbyaskingquestionsandlisteningtotheideasofothers.

Mathematics:Comparesandmeasures. Childrenexploredifferentfruitsandvegetables bycomparingshapes,sizes,andtextures.

STATEAGENCIESANDFARMTOECE

IntegrateFarmtoECEintoExistingSystems

• Specialguestsatin-persontraining

• Topicspecifictrainings

• Promotionalactivities

• FarmtoECEwebsites

• Webinars

• Datacollection

PhotoCredit:RenewingtheCountryside

DevelopStateSpecificResourcesandMaterials

• Trainingmodules

• Seasonalityandpurchasingguides

• HarvestoftheMonthprograms

DevoteStaffTimeandManpower• AppointfarmtoECE“specialist”

• HouseorsupportfarmtoECEcoordinatorposition

LeverageFundingOpportunities

• TeamNutrition

• 1305CDC(StateHealthDepartment)

LeadandParticipateinStateWideNetworkBuilding

FARMTOECERESOURCES

FarmtoECELandingPage

www.farmtoschool.org/earlychildhood

FactSheets

• GettingStartedwithFarmtoEarlyCareandEducation

• LocalPurchasingforFamilyChildCareHomes

• LocalProcurementforChildCareCenters

ResourceDatabase

www.farmtoschool.org/resources

Connecting with NFSN – Our Network

www.farmtoschool.org/our-network

ConnectingwithNFSN

• Website:www.farmtoschool.org– OurNetwork:

• www.farmtoschool.org/our-network

– FarmtoECE:• www.farmtoschool.org/our-work/early-care-and-education

– ResourceDatabase:• www.farmtoschool.org/resources

• Stayconnected:– eNewsletter:www.farmtoschool.org/join– Facebook:NationalFarmtoSchoolNetwork– Twitter:@farmtoschool

Lacy Stephens, MS, RDN Farm to Early Care and Education Associate

National Farm to School Networklacy@farmtoschool.org

816-914-0597