Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
PORTLAND — Schools, early care and education programs, out-of-school programs, and health care practices are working together to decrease childhood obesity, one healthy choice at a time.
Lets Go! has honored four schools, 27 school cafeterias, eight out-of-school programs, 25 early care and education programs, and seven health care practices in Androscoggin County for making a positive impact on children’s health. A total of 43 sites are implementing the program’s five evidence-based strategies to increase healthy eating and active living.
This is a particularly special achievement in light of all the changes that the pandemic has brought this past year. Let’s Go! sites in Androscoggin County are committed to making it easier for children to eat well and be active. Ninety-three percent limit or eliminate sugary drinks and promote water, 85 percent prohibit the use of food as a reward, and 100 percent provide opportunities for physical activity outside of recess on a daily basis.
Let’s Go! sites use creative strategies to promote healthy habits. Owen Sterrs, the site champion at Auburn Middle School Community Learning Center, — engaging Auburn students in year-round learning, enrichment and wellness after school and in summer — reported that he “was able to purchase equipment for my site to provide fruit-infused water once a week on Wellness Wednesdays and regular water every day. This was a huge success and helped to eliminate sugary beverages from our program 100 percent!”
Introduced in 2012, the Let’s Go! recognition program identifies and celebrates schools, out-of-school programs, and early care and education programs for their role 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.
More than 900 Let’s Go! sites across Maine and Mt. Washington Valley, N.H. were recognized in 2020. 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 early care and education programs, schools, out-of-school programs, health care practices and workplaces. Strong leadership from The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center and collaboration across health systems and community health coalitions contribute to the program’s success.
