Research Accomplishment Reports 2007

LEAP

P. Riley
HEEL

 

Project Description

The Literacy, Eating, Activity for Preschoolers (LEAP) program is changing the way Kentucky preschoolers eat and participate in activity through advancing their literacy skills.  The LEAP program uses storybooks to show children about eating healthy and taking part in physical activity.  Parents are sent a newsletter which further encourages parent and child to take part in nutrition as well as activity.  From July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, 10,731 pre-school children have participated in LEAP program activities.  LEAP has been used by extension agents, extension homemakers, day care centers, head start programs, EFNEP, and other volunteers. The Fayette County Community Action Council has adopted the program for use with their Head Start Programs.

Involvement in the LEAP program has created an interest in children to learn more about good nutrition through preparing healthy meals and to increase the amount of physical activity they participate in.  Through parent-child interaction both parents and children are learning the improved health benefits of good nutrition and increased physical activity as well as increasing reading literacy.

Collaboration has been formed with Oregon extension to pilot Spanish translated LEAP materials. Materials were translated in collaboration with the Bluegrass Migrant Farm worker Program in Fayette County and the UK College of Public Health's Southeast Center for Agricultural Health and Injury Prevention.  A new curriculum was added for oral health by Extension Specialist for Oral Health, Sharlee Birch. 

LEAP in-service training was provided for 20 head start programs in Franklin County through FCS agent Tamara Thomas and 50 4-H agents in Clark County and Hardin County.  A presentation about LEAP and childhood obesity was made in Lee County to 20 head start professionals in collaboration with FCS agent Ann Hollon.

Impact

From July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007, 10,731 pre-school children have participated in LEAP program activities.  LEAP has been used by extension agents, extension homemakers, day care centers, head start programs, EFNEP, and other volunteers. The Fayette County Community Action Council has adopted the program for use with their Head Start Programs.  Since implementation of LEAP in August 2004, approximately 33,811 preschool children have participated in the LEAP program. The States of Oregon and Virginia are using the LEAP curriculum with their EFNEP program.  LEAP has been chosen as a model program through the Foundation for Healthy Kentucky.

        Additonal story books and curriculum are being added wth the State Department of Education providing $15,000.00 to purchase story books for each county Extension Office. A formal evaluation is being developed to assess the impact of the new curriculum and the impact since LEAP's inception. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky has designated LEAP as a model program.