Changing the environment is best way to change behaviors.

Research shows that if healthy nutrition and physical activity policies are implemented in those places where children and families spend most of their time, health is likely to improve. We help organizations across sectors identify and implement these healthy policies.

Guided by the CDC's Spectrum of Opportunities, Jump IN leads the work to embed nutrition and physical activity best practices into early childhood provider environments and statewide early childhood systems.  Jump IN has helped secure $1.0 million in funding to provide Taking Steps to Healthy Success and Better Together, evidence-based training programs developed by Nemours Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). To date, these have been delivered to 315 providers serving more than 26,000 children. Championing the need for policy changes, in 2018 Jump IN brokered the State’s addition of nutrition and physical activity trainings for providers who access federal dollars through the child care voucher program.With national grant funding, Jump IN led a two-year statewide collaborative to sustainably integrate healthy eating and physical activity best practices into the Indiana child care system with two initiatives: 1) physical activity curricula in Indiana pre-professional training programs and 2) integrating the tools, trainings, and support materials into Indiana’s digital coaching and technical assistance platform. These Jump IN efforts suggest Indiana can incorporate stronger, best-practice health standards into child carelicensing requirements, ensuring healthier environments that support children’s growth and development.

Learn more here and here.