4/26/17 Farm to Early Childhood Education Connecting Families to Fresh Food Presented by: Rachelle Abbott, Chief Operations Officer, STEP, Inc. 2017 Families Served Ø STEP’s Early Learning programs serve approximately 600 familes in Lycoming and Clinton Counties. Ø STEP Early Head Start enrolled 121 children this past year Ø STEP Head Start enrolled 402 children this past year Ø STEP PA Pre-K Counts enrolled 156 children this past year Ø STEP Parent-Child Home Program enrolled 54 children this past year What is Farm to School? Ø Farm to school activites connect local food producers and processors with school cafeterias and kitchen Ø Food and garden based education in the classroom, lunchroom and community 1
4/26/17 Farm to Preschool : Ages 0-5 Why Farm to Preschool? Ø Childcare centers, Preschool, Head Start, daycare centers, etc. Ø Dramatic increase in obesity among preschoolers Ø Low consumption rate of fruits and vegetables amongst preschoolers Ø Early eating patterns are a determinant of later eating habits Ø Children can be catalysts of change for healthy family behavior Why Farm to Head Start? Ø Serves a vulnerable population Ø Boosts parental involvement and engagement Ø Curriculum is experiential learning = Good fit Examples: Gardening, sensory exploration of new foods, recipe development STEP Inc.’s Farm to Head Start Initiative Ø Patterned after the National Farm to School movement Ø Aligned with the Head Start Child Development and Early Learning framework Ø Consists of various programing 2
4/26/17 “Getting our hands dirty, Program Components: while eating clean!” Growing Cooking Eating STEP Farm to Head Start Timeline of Progress 1 st Annual 2 nd Annual STEP Fall Harvest & Spring Harvest Fall Harvest Fall Harvest Head Start Workshops Festival Festival Winter Fest 2014 2016 2017 2015 Harvest of the Farm to Early Development of Head Start Harvest of the Month Program available in all introduces Month program hands on (2015 – 2016) STEP Head Start classrooms cooking with parents during Playgroups Fall Harvest and Fall Harvest and Spring Harvest Spring Harvest Workshops Workshops Ø Provides opportunities for STEP Head Start families to participate in Farm to Head Start seasonal workshops Ø Introduces STEP Head Start families to healthy, locally grown food Ø Builds lifelong healthy habits that build on Head Start’s foundational elements 3
4/26/17 The Spring Harvest Workshop! Week 1 Welcome to Spring Harvest! Week 1 Learning About Healthy Foods 4
4/26/17 Week 1 Learning About Healthy Foods Week 1 Learning About Healthy Foods Week 1 Learning About Healthy Foods 5
4/26/17 Week 1 Learning About Healthy Foods Week 2 Kid Chefs Prepare a Rainbow Pasta Salad Week 2 Kid Chefs Prepare a Rainbow Pasta Salad 6
4/26/17 Week 3 Locally Grown Food & Meeting a Local Farmer Week 3 Locally Grown Food & Meeting a Local Farmer Week 3 Locally Grown Food & Meeting a Local Farmer 7
4/26/17 Week 4 Exploring Seeds & How Food Grows Week 4 Exploring Seeds & How Food Grows Week 5 All About Herbs & Planting a Garden 8
4/26/17 Week 5 All About Herbs & Planting a Garden Week 5 All About Herbs & Planting a Garden Week 6 Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers 9
4/26/17 Week 6 Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers Week 6 Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers Week 6 Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers 10
4/26/17 Week 7 Learning How Worms & Bees Help Our Gardens Week 7 Learning How Worms & Bees Help Our Gardens Week 7 Learning How Worms & Bees Help Our Gardens 11
4/26/17 Week 7 Learning How Worms & Bees Help Our Gardens Week 8 Eating the Rainbow – 5 Colors A Day Week 8 Eating the Rainbow – 5 Colors A Day 12
4/26/17 Week 8 Eating the Rainbow – 5 Colors A Day Week 9 Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market Week 9 Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market 13
4/26/17 Week 9 Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market Week 9 Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market Week 9 Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market 14
4/26/17 Week 9 Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market Fall Harvest Outcomes Report Ø Assessment that aligns with Head Start Child Development and Early Learning framework Ø Communicates the results of STEP’s Farm to Head Start program 15
4/26/17 Annual Fall Harvest Annual Fall Harvest Festival Festival Ø An inter-generational event for STEP Head Start families, STEP Office of Aging participants, and members of the community to come together for healthy, local snacks, sensory activities, and exercise Ø Introduces the larger community to fresh, locally grown food and healthy habits Ø Strengthens and unites the community by bringing a diverse audience together for a healthy event 16
4/26/17 Early Head Start Farm to Early Head Start Home Visitor Playgroups Home Visitor Playgroups Ø Nutritional information directed towards Home-based Early Head Start children (age 0-3) and their parents Ø One playgroup session per month focuses on healthy snacks Ø Head Start parents and children prepare the healthy snacks with the guidance of STEP Wellness & Nutrition Initiatives Coordinator Abbey Eschbach Ø Focus on family nutrition while integrating hands on cooking for the whole family STEP Head Start STEP Head Start Winter Fest Winter Fest Ø Fun winter themed activities and a delicious spread of healthy foods for a complete dinner for Head Start families Ø Foods included potato salad, apple & cream cheese wraps, vegetables with ranch-yogurt dip, and beverages Ø Families were able to take food home with them or enjoy it at the festival Harvest of the Month Ø Funded by a mini grant from The Food Trust Harvest of the Month Program Ø Developed by students of Lycoming College’s Teacher Certification Program in partnership with STEP Head Start Ø Introduces STEP Head Start children to fruits and vegetables through sensory exploration Ø Teaches the health benefits of a different locally grown fruit or vegetable each month Ø Provides monthly classroom activities and snack ideas to build lifelong healthy eating habits 17
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4/26/17 Collaborative Impacts STEP Lycoming College The Food Head Start & Local Farming Students Trust WIC Families Community Head Start Moving Forward Ø Expand to two events a year: Spring Harvest and Fall Harvest in each county. Ø Expand the Farm to Head Start program to all classrooms through Harvest of the Month activities. Ø Expand to Home-Base Early Head Start through Early Head Start Playgroups with hands-on cooking with children and parents. Any questions? Ø Rachelle Abbott STEP Chief Operations Officer raabbott@stepcorp.org Ø Abbey Eschbach STEP Wellness and Nutrition Initiative Coordinator aseschbach@stepcorp.org 19
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