Ten exemplary childcare centers in WV who are demonstrating best practices in nutrition and physical activity recently received the 2021 WV Champion NAP SACC Center Award.

The award, which was developed by KEYS 4 Healthy Kids and funded by the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation, utilizes an evidence-based program called NAP SACC (Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care). Created by UNC at Chapel Hill, NAP SACC was incorporated into Key 2 a Healthy Start, an initiative created by KEYS that helps improve the health of young children by enhancing childcare programs’ practices, policies, and environments.

Each winning center received a monetary award of $3,000, a promotional video spotlighting their great work, and a plaque to proudly display in their center.

Playmates Child Care Center Site III of Huntington, WV, received the award for their efforts to encourage a healthy lifestyle to the children in their care. Director Lori Murdock promotes wellness at the center by participating in pop-up farmers markets and having an on-site vegetable garden where the kids are able to both care for and eat the crops.

Research shows that forming healthy habits in early childhood has lifelong benefits.

Currently, 16.6% of children in WV ages 2-4 who participate in WIC have obesity, and studies show that excess weight in childhood is predictive of adult obesity. Obesity increases the risk of developing both diabetes and hypertension.

For these reasons, it is imperative that we work to improve the health of our children to ensure the future health of our population.

KEYS 4 Healthy Kids partners with the Early Care and Education sector to intervene early and help make the healthy choice the easy choice. Through programs like KEY 2 a Healthy Start and Farm 2 ECE, KEYS empowers childcare centers to develop policies and translate them into effective strategies for wellness and obesity prevention.

To learn more about this award or watch the videos, visit www.facebook.com/keys4healthykids.