LEWISTON – Let’s Go! has honored ten schools, three out-of-school programs and 25 child care programs in Androscoggin County for making a positive impact on children’s health.
A total of 30 sites are implementing the program’s five evidence-based strategies to increase healthy eating and active living.
Let’s Go! sites in Androscoggin County are committed to making it easier for children to eat well and be active. Eighty-seven percent provide opportunities for physical activity outside of recess on a daily basis, 80% limit or eliminate sugary drinks and promote water as the drink of choice, and 82 percent prohibit the use of food as a reward.
“Let’s Go! is proud to partner with over 1,500 sites to promote healthy changes in the places where children and families live, learn, work, and play,” said Tory Rogers, M.D., senior director of Let’s Go!. “Our partners play a crucial role in the success of this program. and they work hard every day to encourage healthier choices throughout our communities.”
Sites incorporate various activities to promote healthy habits.
“I gave out bracelets and engaged second-grade classes in the 5-A-Day bracelet activity I read about it in your toolkit,” recalled a teacher at Sabattus Primary School. “The kids were very receptive. I taught them about portions and the importance of eating five fruits and vegetables every day. I think they learned a lot and they enjoyed having the bracelets to remind them of how many fruits and veggies they were eating. Weeks later, I had kids still telling me, ‘I’ve eaten three of my fruits so far today.’ ”
Introduced in 2012, the Let’s Go! recognition program identifies and celebrates schools, out-of-school programs, and child care programs for their roles in improving the health of all children. The program focuses on sustainable change. A Bronze award reflects a site implementing the program’s five evidence-based priority strategies. Silver acknowledges a site for implementing the five strategies and communicating Let’s Go! messages to parents and family members. Gold, the highest level of recognition, is reserved for sites that have implemented the strategies, communicated messages, and written all five strategies into policy.
Let’s Go! also recognizes school cafeterias and health care practices for the role they play in helping kids make healthy choices, partnering with 1,587 sites across 292 towns. More than a thousand Let’s Go! sites met the criteria for recognition this year – a 13 percent increase from 2018. A listing of all recognized sites can be found at sites.letsgo.org/
Let’s Go! is a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program that reaches children and families where they live, learn, work and play. Let’s Go! is committed to promoting policy and environmental changes at child care programs, schools, out-of-school programs, health care practices, and workplaces.
