Overview 1) Setting the stage

• Our world/environment

2) Key challenges to bridging the gap between research , policy , and practice

3) Three examples of innovative opportunities to overcome the challenges

Who we are

HEALTHY, ACTIVE CHILDREN!

STEPS to Healthy Start

A 10 month long

intervention designed to

improve physical activity

and healthy eating in 3-5 year olds in childcare centres

Where we are…so far

Saskatchewan New Brunswick

Saskatoon

Where we come from

1. Our brief history

2. Our funder

3. Our lead

Partnerships

Our extensive partnership of committed individuals and

organizations :

FOUR KEY OBJECTIVES

1. IMPLEMENT

2. REPLICATE

3. EVALUATE

4. DISSEMINATE

Intersectoral Partnerships

Implementation Guide

Training, Modeling & Monitoring

COMMUNICATION AND KT PLAN

APPROACH

Additional Resources as

needed

MULTI-LEVEL,

INTERSECTORAL

INTERVENTION

Healthy Start / Départ Santé

PHAC HEALTHY

WEIGHTS

GROUPS (Innovation

Strategy Project)

STEERING COMMITTEE

SK AND NB PARTNERS

IMPLEMENTATION

COMMITTEE

RSFS Staff and Trainers

Local implementation advisory group

EVALUATION

COMMITTEE

Research Team

(Data Collection)

Nutrition Working group

KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT &

EXCHANGE COMMITTEE

Communications / Internet

development & tools (Site, Social

Media)

Advisory Groups (ENG / FR /

Cultural / First Nations)

Intersectoral Partnerships

Implementation Guide

Training, Modeling & Monitoring

COMMUNICATION AND KT PLAN

APPROACH

Additional Resources as

needed

MULTI-LEVEL,

INTERSECTORAL

INTERVENTION

KDE

But…

“Promoting the health of an entire generation is no simple

task…especially when it comes to young children!”

A complex playing field

Key Challenges

• Staff turn-over

• Geographical area

• Cultural and local adaptation

• Evaluation challenges, e.g.

drop-out, sufficient sample size, etc

• Unlicensed childcare

Key Challenges

REGULATED CHILD CARE SPACE (2010)

Saskatchewan 7%

Québec 37%

Ontario 15%

New Brunswick 20%

Manitoba 17%

Newfoundland 10%

NWT 22%

So where do the other children go?

Source: http://findingqualitychildcare.ca/

Three compelling examples

Acting on opportunity!

1. Health Region and policy:

Eat Well, Play Well

Engaging government partners!

2. SK Public Health Nutritionists

Revamping the healthy Start implementation manual - nutrition guidelines

Healthy STARS in action!

3. Healthy Start in action at the Tisdale Tiny Tornadoes Daycare:

• Staff member appointed to plan and lead daily activities to keep kids moving

• An indoor active space created

• Menus revamped to more closely reflect Canada’s Food Guide

• Children prepare food and try a variety of new foods

• Educators sit and eat with children

• Teaming up on a collaborative activity increasing physical activity

Key Elements of our KM approach summarized

• If the wheel works, why reinvent it?

• (Re-)using ‘old’ knowledge (Ecological model)

• Existing networks: EY stakeholder distribution lists, partnership expansion

• Recognize the need to act at multiple levels and multiple entry points

• Frontline to policy-makers

Remember our fun model…?

Key Elements of our KM approach summarized

• Create calculated chance

• Jump on opportunities when they arise

• Never a linear approach

• Engage whoever is ready to be engaged

• Continually revising our content based on feedback

• Be honest…We do not have all the answers!

• We are not always the content experts, but someone probably is

Questions? Comments?

Thank You!

www.healthystartkids.ca