Creating a Wellness Plan for your Child Care Facility
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Why do Child Care Facilities need Wellness Plans? A Wellness
Plan is a set of statements around the specific practices promoted
at your program. The day- to-day practices of your program play a
key role in helping children develop healthy eating and physical
activity habits. Adapted from The Nemours Child Care Wellness
Policy Workbook
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Defining your policies Defining a programs policies around
day-to-day practices can: Communicate core values and principles
regarding healthy habits to child care providers, to current and
potential families and to the community. Help child care providers
and families act as role models for children by practicing healthy
habits themselves. Help guide those teaching children about the
importance of these healthy habits. Adapted from The Nemours Child
Care Wellness Policy Workbook
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Use Strong Language to Support your Policy Use words like:
Shall, Will, Must, Have to, Insist, Require, Comply, Enforce give
clear guidance and leaves little room for ambiguity or
misinterpretation. Weak language leaves room for multiple
interpretations as to how the facility would enforce the policy or
handle a situation. Words like: may, can, could, should, might,
encourage, suggest and urge are vague, unclear and potentially
confusing.
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Steps for a Successful Wellness Plan 2 Plan for change 3
Implement the changes 4 Evaluate for effectiveness 1 Assess where
you are Adapted from Healthy Bites, Wisconsin DPI
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1. Assessment Use the Quick Start Guide on the CACFP website to
get a picture of your current program and to prioritize areas that
need improvement.Quick Start Guide The Quick Start Guide will lead
you step-by-step through the process of identifying areas that need
the most attention and help you see that you are already doing a
lot to promote a healthy environment.
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Assessment Quick Start Guide The Quick Start Guide is broken
into 7 sections: 1. Meals oBreakfast oSnacks oLunch/Supper 2.
Physical Activity 3. Nutrition Education 4. Eating Environment 5.
Parties/Celebrations/Fundraising 6. Wellness Team 7. Staff
Wellness
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Wellness Plan Quick Start Guide
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2. Plan Using the results of the self-assessment, prioritize
the areas that need improvement. Ask yourself questions like: What
area or areas do we want to address? What do we hope to achieve
with the plan? Who will be responsible for this task? Who or what
might stop us from achieving our desired outcome? What steps will
we take to achieve our desired outcome? What is our timeline and
how will we measure our progress?
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Plan Also ask: Is the plan worth it? Yes means you believe
achieving your desired outcome will have positive effects for
children, families, staff, and your business. Is the plan concrete,
specific and measureable?
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3. Implement Start implementing the changes that you have
identified as necessary or desirable. Begin with those changes that
are easiest to implement. Take your time but dont be afraid to push
yourself past your comfort zone! Work at a pace that is comfortable
for you, your staff and your facility.
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4. Evaluate Repeat assessment to understand whether your policy
and program changes were effective. Assessment tools are available
and they can direct your program toward additional opportunities
for improvement. Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool (WellCCAT)
http://www.yaleruddcenter.org/resources/upload/docs/what/communities/WellnessChildCareAssess
mentToolForResearch.pdf
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Wellness Child Care Assessment Tool
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Overview of Wellness Plan Requirements There are 6 basic areas
to include in a Wellness Plan: 1. Wellness Team 2.
Nutrition/Feeding Environment 3. Nutrition Education 4. Physical
Activity 5. Staff Wellness 6. Wellness Policy Evaluation
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Establish a Wellness Team Before you begin creating your
wellness plan, identify and form a team of individuals to assist
you. Wellness Team may include: Teachers/ Caregivers Food Service
Staff Parents/ Guardians Board members Community health care
professionals/ local Registered Dietitian Extension Educator A team
of 3 or more people, depending on the size of your organization,
will make conducting the assessment easier.
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Nutrition/Feeding Environment Meals Guidelines for all meals
served What type of foods are available to the children? Children
should not have access to vending machines. Breastfeeding
Guidelines for breastfeeding mothers. Training for proper handling
and storage of human milk. Environment Safety/Sanitation Employee
roles models Parties/Celebrations Guidelines for foods used during
birthday parties or holiday celebrations. Fundraising Regulations
for food items/goods sold for fundraisers.
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Nutrition Education How do you implement nutrition education in
your child care facility? Nutrition education activities planned.
Nutrition education offered to the parents. Nutrition promotion
through posters, newsletters, flyers, etc
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Physical Activity How much physical activity do the children
receive each day? Physical activity is not denied as a form of
punishment. Children participate in structured physical
activities.
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Staff Wellness Staff members receive training on nutrition,
physical activity, food safety, and program guidelines. Food
options for staff. Wellness opportunities, such as, health
screening.
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Wellness Policy Evaluation The leader of the Wellness Team
designates the responsibility to ensure the facility is in
compliance with the guidelines in the wellness plan. Policy
language will be assessed every year and revised as needed. Use an
evaluation tool to assess your wellness plan.
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Ideas for your Wellness Plan
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Example of a Child Care Wellness Plan
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Resources
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Questions? Brittany Dale Indiana Department of Education
Wellness Specialist [email protected] Phone number:317-234-2375 Toll
Free Phone number: 1-800- 5374-1142 ext.42375
