Early Ages Healthy Stages

 

Early Ages Healthy Stages

Vision

All early care and education (ECE) programs in Cuyahoga County are healthy.

 

Priority Population

  • Young children ages 0-5 attending a licensed ECE program.
  • Families and caregivers of young children ages 0-5.
  • Classroom teachers, administrators, and support staff in center and school based ECE programs.
  • Family child care professionals

 

For more information about Early Ages Healthy Stages and to get involved, please visit www.earlyageshealthystages.org

 

What is the problem we are working to address?

  • Ohio is below the national average for addressing nutrition and physical activity in ECE programs.
  • Chronic disease is impacting young children ages 2-5 in Cuyahoga County, impacting their ability to learn and grow. By the numbers in our community:
    • 1 in 10 children ages 2-5 are affected by asthma
    • 1 in 7 children ages 3-5 are affected by elevated blood pressure
    • 1 in 4 of children ages 2-5 are affected by overweight or obesity

 

Why does it matter? 

  • Young children ages 0-5 spend an average of 32 hours a week in a licensed ECE program.
  • ECE educators are a trusted resource for parents and families on their child’s health and wellbeing.
  • EAHS is uniquely positioned to build the capacity of ECE programs to create healthy environments.
  • Prioritizing the physical and social emotional health needs of young children supports kindergarten readiness.

 

What are the solutions?  

  • Providing technical assistance to ECE programs to achieve the Ohio Healthy Program
  • Implementing Farm to ECE initiatives that support the physical and social emotional health needs of young children.
  • Breaking down barriers for families to access preventative care and routine childhood vaccines
  • Advocating for the inclusion of health into early childhood rules, regulations, and standards to bridge the gap between health and education in early childhood

Key Partners