Families Served STEPs Early Learning programs serve approximately - - PDF document

▶
families served
SMART_READER_LITE
LIVE PREVIEW

Families Served STEPs Early Learning programs serve approximately - - PDF document

Jan 29, 2023 325 likes •539 views

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 STEPs Early Learning programs serve approximately 600 familes in

slide-1
SLIDE 1

4/26/17 1 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

slide-2
SLIDE 2

4/26/17 2

Why Farm to Preschool?

Farm to Preschool:

Ages 0-5 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

  • f 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

slide-3
SLIDE 3

4/26/17 3

Program Components:

Growing Cooking Eating

“Getting our hands dirty, while eating clean!” STEP Farm to Head Start Timeline of Progress

2014 2015 2016 2017

Fall Harvest & Spring Harvest Workshops Harvest of the Month Program available in all STEP Head Start classrooms 1st Annual Fall Harvest Festival 2nd Annual Fall Harvest Festival STEP Head Start Winter Fest Farm to Early Head Start introduces hands on cooking with parents during Playgroups Development of Harvest of the Month program (2015 – 2016)

Fall Harvest and Spring Harvest Workshops

Fall Harvest and Spring Harvest 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

  • n Head Start’s foundational

elements

slide-4
SLIDE 4

4/26/17 4

The Spring Harvest Workshop!

Week 1

Welcome to Spring Harvest!

Week 1

Learning About Healthy Foods

slide-5
SLIDE 5

4/26/17 5

Week 1

Learning About Healthy Foods

Week 1

Learning About Healthy Foods

Week 1

Learning About Healthy Foods

slide-6
SLIDE 6

4/26/17 6

Learning About Healthy Foods

Week 1

Kid Chefs Prepare a Rainbow Pasta Salad

Week 2

Kid Chefs Prepare a Rainbow Pasta Salad

Week 2

slide-7
SLIDE 7

4/26/17 7

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

Week 3

slide-8
SLIDE 8

4/26/17 8

Exploring Seeds & How Food Grows

Week 4

Exploring Seeds & How Food Grows

Week 4

All About Herbs & Planting a Garden

Week 5

slide-9
SLIDE 9

4/26/17 9

All About Herbs & Planting a Garden

Week 5

All About Herbs & Planting a Garden

Week 5

Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers

Week 6

slide-10
SLIDE 10

4/26/17 10

Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers

Week 6

Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers

Week 6

Edible Stems, Leaves, & Flowers

Week 6

slide-11
SLIDE 11

4/26/17 11

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

Week 7

slide-12
SLIDE 12

4/26/17 12

Learning How Worms & Bees Help Our Gardens

Week 7

Eating the Rainbow – 5 Colors A Day

Week 8

Eating the Rainbow – 5 Colors A Day

Week 8

slide-13
SLIDE 13

4/26/17 13

Eating the Rainbow – 5 Colors A Day

Week 8

Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market

Week 9

Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market

Week 9

slide-14
SLIDE 14

4/26/17 14

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

Week 9

slide-15
SLIDE 15

4/26/17 15

Family Day & Visiting Our Local Farmers’ Market

Week 9

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

slide-16
SLIDE 16

4/26/17 16

Annual Fall Harvest Festival

Annual Fall Harvest 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

slide-17
SLIDE 17

4/26/17 17

Farm to Early Head Start Home Visitor Playgroups

Early Head Start 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 Winter Fest

STEP Head Start 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 Program

Harvest of the Month

Ø Funded by a mini grant from The Food Trust 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

slide-18
SLIDE 18

4/26/17 18

slide-19
SLIDE 19

4/26/17 19

Head Start & WIC Families

Collaborative Impacts

Local Farming Community The Food Trust STEP Head Start Lycoming College Students

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