Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH)
CATCH was created in the late 1980's and early 1990's by teams from four different Universities.
Their purpose was to develop an elementary school-based
program to reduce the risk factors related to cardiovascular disease. At the completion of the study,
CATCH succeeded in producing lasting changes in dietary and physical activity behaviors. Students who
participated in CATCH consumed less fat and participated in more physical activity outside of school;
CATCH school cafeterias provided meals that were lower in fat; and students were more physically active
during physical education classes.
CATCH builds an alliance of parents, teachers, child nutrition personnel, school staff, and
community partners to teach children and their families how to be healthy for a lifetime.
CATCH’s four components include:
- The CATCH Go For Health Series -- a classroom health education curriculum that teaches
children to identify, practice and adopt healthy eating and physical activity habits.
- CATCH PE—a
physical education program which develops health-related fitness,
skill competency, and cognitive understanding about the importance
of physical activity for all children.
- The CATCH School Cafeteria is literally a hands-on
learning environment. At meal time, children learn, practice
and utilize healthy eating habits. CATCH classroom and physical
education lessons come to life as children experience first
hand the concepts of GO, SLOW, and WHOA Foods.
- CATCH Family - a component designed
to get students, parents and extended family members involved
in practicing and adopting healthy eating and physical activity
behaviors at home. Creating a strong link between teachers and
parents greatly enhances the chances that the lessons learned
at school will become a permanent part of a child's life.
In 2004 CHPPR partnered with eight elementary schools across the state
of North Dakota to conduct CATCH in their schools for three
years. CHPPR provided technical assistance, as well as the materials, equipment and
resources needed to implement the CATCH components in a particular year. CHPPR also
sponsored a CATCH training for teachers, administrators, and
food service personnel.
To determine the effectiveness of the program, CHPPR followed a cohort
of students as they moved through 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade at each participating school.
Each year, students at each site completed questionnaires
regarding attitudes, behavior and knowledge about nutrition and physical activity.
They also were assessed for performance on certain physical fitness activities,
height, weight and body mass index. During the program participating teachers also completed
online questionnaires that provided information about the content and implementation of each
lesson from the CATCH curriculum.
If you would like to learn more about the CATCH program, please contact us at
(701) 777-4046 or email vogeltan@medicine.nodak.edu
