CATCH

CATCH is the Official Child Wellness Program of the Jared Foundation

Every child should have the opportunity to grow up healthy. Overweight children are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. They are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, overweight children and adolescents are likely to become obese adults. Children need to engage in physical activity and learn healthy eating habits to overcome this widespread issue.

CATCH is a Coordinated Approach to Child Health. CATCH transforms a child's environment, culture and society by coordinating child health efforts across all aspects of the educational experience: classroom, food services, physical education, and family. CATCH adds healthy eating and physical activity to the school environment and drives the message home to parents through family and community outreach. Teachers like CATCH because it gives them proven expert guidance. Kids embrace CATCH because it's fun! When schools embrace CATCH, and they fully implement it, it works in the fight against childhood obesity. CATCH reaches preschool through middle school aged children and teaches healthy habits for a lifetime.

CATCH is an affordable evidence based program that has been proven to reverse childhood obesity. Over 20 years of research have gone into the CATCH program and it is recommended by the National Institutes of Health, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and many other school and health organizations. Adopted by more than 8500 schools in the United States and abroad, it is the most widespread coordinated school health program in the world. The cornerstone of a healthy world is a healthy school, and the cornerstone of a healthy school is CATCH.

CATCH is the obvious choice...

  • CATCH is the best program proven to reduce childhood obesity. There is no other program that has the 20 years of evidence and research that CATCH does.

  • Of all the published research, CATCH is also the most economical solution; found to be the most cost effective way to prevent childhood obesity.

  • CATCH is unique in that it coordinates healthy messages throughout the community, and it was designed and proven to work this way. In the school, through classroom, cafeteria, and physical education; in after school and early childhood centers; community partners and health agencies, all integrating CATCH related messages, and reinforcing healthy behaviors.

  • CATCH changes school environments. You can see that health and wellness are part of the everyday school culture. Teachers, students, staff, administration all participate, and together make CATCH work.

  • CATCH students know the value of good nutrition and physical activity. In fact, their healthy behaviors have been proven to last even three years after their CATCH school lessons have ended. These kids are more likely to be healthy adults.
For more information on CATCH, please visit www.catchinfo.org.
To learn more about implementing CATCH at your school, email rtaylor@jaredfoundation.org.